Psalm 37:20,But the wicked shall perish; And the enemies of the Lord, Like the splendor of the meadows, shall vanish. Into smoke they shall vanish away.
Key Thought: Wickedness has an expiration date
Prayer: Fix my heart on eternal things while I address conditions in the present time
Psalm 37:20 teaches that evil is not permanent. Its seeming beauty and power are temporary because its end is disappearance. Verse 20 magnifies themes already introduced in verses 2, 9, 10, and 13. Evil has an expiration date.
“But the wicked shall perish” As stated in previous verses, the Hebrew word for perish means lost, ruined, or brought to nothing. It does not always mean immediate physical death. It indicates loss of standing, loss of influence, and removal from covenant blessing.
“The enemies of the Lord” This verse shifts from “the wicked” to describe those who are actively opposed to God’s purposes. Being an “enemy of the Lord” is not merely personal immorality; it includes opposition to righteousness, justice, and harm toward people.
The psalm reassures those of us who serve God that our conflict is not merely with people, but with forces that resist God’s way. As Paul wrote, we don’t “wrestle” (or fret with) “flesh and blood” (people). We contend with spiritual forces that manifest through people.
“Like the splendor of the meadows” The psalmist uses this beautiful picture to describe the suddenness of the removal of the wicked. He makes reference to a lush pasture with green grass and fields in full bloom. But grass in the ancient Near East was seasonal. After rain, it flourished brilliantly, but under the heat of the sunlight, it withered quickly.
David’s point: Wickedness may look vibrant and powerful, but it is seasonal. Like “smoke,” the wicked and enemies of the Lord “shall vanish away.” He is not describing a gradual fade, but a disappearance that leaves no trace.
Again, we do not need to worry and fret about evildoers. We should stay focused on serving God, doing His will, and serving others. We will address systems that adversely affect people, but we won’t engage in warfare against people, rather against the spiritual forces that motivate them.
Reflection question: How do you keep your heart at peace in times like these?
Watch Brief Video from Black History Exhibit at the Ford Museum in Dearborn, Michigan
Psalm 145:4, “One generation shall praise Your works to another, And shall declare Your mighty acts.”
While my wife and I vacationed in Michigan in 2022, we visited the Ford Museum in Dearborn. We happened upon an excellent Black History exhibit that included a replica of the bus on which Rosa Parks sat. Her refusal to yield her seat to a White man triggered the Montgomery bus boycott. This was one of the key moments of the Civil Rights movement that began to break down the wall of racial segregation and injustice against Black People.
Her simple, courageous act of civil disobedience, along with the efforts of many other such as Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, eventually led to the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965.
This was an interactive exhibit, so I was able to sit where Rosa Parks sat in the famous re-enactment photo.
This brief video shares my reflections in that moment. We thank God for our ancestors and all other courageous Americans, whether well known or “hidden figures” on whose shoulders we stand.
An important takeaway as we reflect on the legacy of people like Rosa Parks:
We should not only remember that we continuing legacy, we are also creating legacy for those who follow us by our service to God's kingdom and our community.
Psalm 37:18–19, The Lord knows the days of the upright, And their inheritance shall be forever. 19 They shall not be ashamed in the evil time, And in the days of famine they shall be satisfied.
Key Thought: God pays attention to you
Prayer: Teach me to trust You every day, regardless of the circumstances.
“The LORD knows the days of the upright” God cares for you, is overseeing you, and is not missing any details. We think of days in terms of calendar dates, special events, and conditions. God sees our days over the entire span of life. God sees days as seasons, including seasons of ease and seasons of hardship.
“Their inheritance shall be forever” The Lord sees seasons because He is a generational God. The Lord was thinking about you when your great-grandparents were in the prime of their lives. Not many of us had the opportunity to know our great-grandparents, but what God put in them was also an inheritance for you. And what God is putting in you will be an inheritance for your children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and people with whom you relate over the course of your life.
Sometimes circumstances can make you feel insignificant, but we are all here by God’s design and purpose. That’s why your days are very important – it’s not about a feeling. God knows your days.
Part of our inheritance is not simply material things that are handed down to us from family members. Most of our ancestors did not have the material possessions that we have today. Many had something much greater: They had faith in God, integrity, talents, and the will to overcome and succeed.
The most significant inheritance is the virtues we have from the Lord that we can leave for others. God Himself is our ultimate inheritance.
“And in the days of famine they shall be satisfied.” Famine is extreme scarcity, whether material or spiritual. Amos 8:11 reads, When I will send a famine throughout the land, not a famine of food or a thirst for water, but rather a famine of hearing the words of the Lord.
The present famine of “hearing the words of the Lord” leaves a void that material things cannot fulfill. We cannot overemphasize the importance of receiving the Word of God, being a doer of the Word, and recognizing that Jesus is the Word.
Because the inheritance is forever, we always overcome famine—whether material or spiritual—because, as Jesus said, “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.” (Matthew 6:33)
Reflection question: What are some specific ways you are aware that God knows your days?
Psalm 37:16,A little that a righteous man has is better than the riches of many wicked.
Key Thought: More without God is emptiness.
Prayer: Teach me gratitude and sufficiency.
The word “little” does not equate to poverty. It acknowledges modest or middle-class means. Most people in the world have limited resources, influence, recognition, and limited visible success. But none of these are the factors that define personal righteousness.
What makes the “little” valuable is not the amount, but the person who possesses it and the God who sustains him. A righteous person’s resources are honestly obtained, spiritually supported, and shared with others.
The Hebrew word for “better” means good, beneficial, and advantageous. The “better” that the righteous possess is dedicated to better purposes. Things that are small but blessed surpass what is great but corrupted. The righteous do not need excess to be secure.
Wicked wealth may look impressive, but it lacks divine backing. The righteous may operate in modest conditions, but they are supported by an eternal Kingdom system. Jesus Christ embodied this principle.
Ultimately, we measure our lives by faithfulness and serving others, not by accumulation.
Reflection question: How do you measure "more" and "better?"
Psalm 37:12, The wicked plots against the just, And gnashes at him with his teeth. 13 The Lord laughs at him, For He sees that his day is coming. 14 The wicked have drawn the sword And have bent their bow, To cast down the poor and needy, To slay those who are of upright conduct. 15 Their sword shall enter their own heart, And their bows shall be broken.
Key Thought: Violence ultimately destroys its source.
Prayer: Help me maintain my hope in You.
Remember that Psalm 37 is wisdom instruction, not lament. David contrasts the temporary activity of the wicked with the enduring stability of the righteous. These verses intensify that contrast by describing active hostility, and God’s response.
“The wicked plots against the just, And gnashes at him with his teeth.” In our sinful world, we cannot underestimate the depravity of people who are wicked and self-serving. It is our nature to believe the best in people, but there are some, as the Bible highlights, who are wholly committed to taking advantage of others. The wicked engage in deliberate scheming and premeditated evil, not just impulsive wrongdoing. They are strategic, thoughtful, and intentional.
Gnashing teeth in Scripture signifies rage and violent resentment. This is emotional fury combined with calculated malice. Those who possess "upright conduct" are not simply ignored; they are targeted because of the threat they pose to evil schemes. Integrity provokes opposition.
The derogatory images in February of Barack and Michelle Obama illustrate the malice that is present in the hearts and minds of evildoers. “The Lord laughs at him, For He sees that his day is coming.” The laughter of the Lord is not amusement but derision. God mocks the intentions of the wicked. He is never anxious about the schemes of evildoers, nor should we be anxious. The coming “day” refers to the appointed time of reckoning. The wicked operate on borrowed time.
“The wicked have drawn the sword And have bent their bow, To cast down the poor and needy, To slay those who are of upright conduct.”
This does not speak of random violence, but targeted injustice. The wicked exploit vulnerability and exercise power with cruelty. Psalm 37 reminds us that injustice is not permanent.
“Their sword shall enter their own heart, And their bows shall be broken.” The instruments of their violence become instruments of self-destruction. We see this principle throughout Scripture: wicked people are self-destructive.
~ Haman’s gallows (Esther 7) ~ Daniel’s accusers (Daniel 6) ~ The principle of sowing and reaping (Galatians 6:7) ~ "Whoever digs a pit will fall into it; if someone rolls a stone, it will roll back on them" (Proverbs 26:27)
The “breaking of the bow” signifies the removal of power and capacity to harm. Evil carries the seeds of its own collapse. It is amazing how Scripture not only exposes human nature but also outlines the consequences of behavior—good or bad.
Even with difficult passages like this, we can take hope that God sees everything. He has given humans free will, so people can choose to do wrong or to do well. Those of us committed to doing well must continue shining our light.
Put another way, Jesus said that we are “the light of the world.” He intends for us to shine our lights in every area of life.
The Apostle Paul wrote, “Where sin abounded, grace much more abounded.” (Romans 5:20).
Our hope in God is always greater than the schemes of the wicked.
Reflection question: Why is God not "stressed" about evildoers? What gives you hope?
