By Lisa Hansen-Tice
Psalm 37:
1 Do not fret because of the wicked;
do not be envious of wrongdoers,
2 for they will soon fade like the grass,
and wither like the green herb.
It seems that in the course of history, we need to be reminded over and over again to stop worrying about people who do bad things. We sloganize and trivialize our propensity to worry, as is demonstrated by the recent resurgence of “Keep calm and carry on” posters. If we could just keep calm, stop worrying, and carry on, everything might just turn out all right. Trivial as it might seem, David is saying just that: keep calm, trust in God, carry on with your life as a faithful follower, and let God take care of people who do bad things.
David reminds us that there is something more important than worrying about the prosperity of the wicked, and that is focusing on the everlasting faithfulness of God. The psalm weaves back and forth between the action of trusting and waiting for God to act in God’s time and the justice that God will serve toward the actions of the wicked. In the end, patiently doing what God calls us to do and finding refuge in following God’s ways leads to security and hope in the future.
Lent is a season of waiting and refocusing on God’s ways. In this psalm, David reminds us that our words and deeds make a difference. So, set aside worry. Refrain from negative, destructive emotions like anger and envy. Be satisfied with what you have, for it is enough. Trust that God will provide you with eternal security, even if you feel threatened by the evil around you. Care for the weak and helpless and give to those in need, because it helps everyone. Basically, keep calm and carry on speaking words of justice, seeking peace, and following the righteousness of God.
Prayer: Righteous Lord, help us to wait patiently for your justice. Keep us from envying those who have much because of their wrongdoing. Bend our actions toward the poor and those in need. May your law live in our hearts, and may our mouths utter your wisdom. In this time of great anxiety, may we find refuge in you and your ways. Amen.