0501. The Attitude of the Righteous Toward the Wicked

The Attitude of the Righteous Toward the Wicked

"Fret not thyself because of evildoers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity.

"Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not thyself in any wise to do evil" (Psa_37:1,Psa_37:8).

The 37th Psalm does not develop the attitude that the believer should hold toward the wicked, as it is developed in other parts of the Holy Scriptures. The chapter first sets forth the wrath of the wicked against the righteous, and then declares to the righteous, three different times, "Fret not." To be sure the righteous should love their enemies, and pray for those who despitefully use them. They should seek always to do them good, and never evil. By their kindliness they should heap coals of fire upon the heads of the ungodly. They should never draw the sword; they should never avenge themselves. This is always true.

The Holy Spirit, however, is particularly emphasizing in the 37th Psalm that the righteous should never fret; that is, never become filled with anxiety, never become irritated, never gloomy or despondent, never overwhelmed because of evildoers. The wicked may prosper in their way. The wicked may be in great power, as described in Psa_37:35. They may spread themselves like a green bay tree. The righteous may, at the same time, be overwhelmed with trouble–yet the righteous must fret not. They must never, under any conditions, do evil for evil.

O, that those who truly know the Lord might lean upon Him! O, that they might experience that rest ‘mid the storm, that trust ‘mid the conflict, which is their blessed heritage! Christ said: "Peace I leave with you, My peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid."

The "fret nots" of the 37th Psalm may well be compared with the "let not your heart be troubled" of the 14th chapter of John. Both form a parenthesis, within which you will find many reasons why the believer should not fret, and should not be troubled.

‘Gainst workers of iniquity.

The righteous should fret not, nor ever

They should not be angry, nor wrathful,

Of wicked ones, envious be;

Our swords should remain in their scabbard,

Nor troubled should e’er be our heart;

We’ll pray for the ones who despise us,

And evermore do the good part

Autor: R.E. NEIGHBOUR