Psalm 37:7

Context

Psalm 37 in the Book of Psalms is a wisdom psalm whose superscription reads "A Psalm of David." A wisdom psalm is a poem that teaches wisdom for living. This psalm is an alphabetic acrostic, in which the stanzas begin with successive letters of the Hebrew alphabet, generally advancing to the next letter every two verses. Verse 7 begins with the fourth letter, and its first word means "be still" (rendered "Rest" in the KJV). In the Septuagint and the Latin Vulgate, this psalm is numbered as Psalm 36.

The phrase "Fret not thyself" from verse 1 recurs in verses 7 and 8. Through this repetition, counsel to those who are angered by the success of the wicked runs through the whole psalm. The psalmist declares that the prosperity of the wicked is short-lived and that those who wait upon the LORD shall inherit the earth (vv. 9, 11). The verse is also paired with the preceding Psalm 37:5, "Commit thy way unto the LORD."

Interpretation

• Reading within the wisdom tradition: The verse is read within the framework of wisdom literature, which holds that the righteous and the wicked meet different ends. On this reading, the success of the wicked is merely outward appearance, and the conviction that God will ultimately set things right is the ground for "being still."
• Reading focused on waiting: Some scholars hold that the Hebrew word translated "wait patiently" carries the sense of earnest waiting. They interpret the verse not as a call to resignation but as a call to active waiting upon God.
• New Testament and eschatological reading: It is widely noted that verse 11, "But the meek shall inherit the earth," is echoed in Matthew 5:5 in the Sermon on the Mount. On this basis, Christian tradition sometimes reads the verse as an expression of hope that leaves the final verdict to the Last Judgment.
• Reading in the spiritual tradition: The expression "be still" is also cited as an exhortation to silent prayer and meditation.

Questions Concerning Application

Denominations do not differ markedly in their interpretation of this verse. Nevertheless, the following questions have been raised.

• Does it mean tolerating injustice? Some point out that the psalm warns only against anger that spills over into evil (v. 8) and does not call for abandoning concern for justice. It is often read together with Romans 12:17–21, which calls believers to leave vengeance to God.
• The prosperity of the wicked: In reality, the wicked sometimes seem to prosper to the very end. Some therefore hold that the verse should be read alongside Psalm 73 and the Book of Job, which treat this question in greater depth.
• Quotation out of context: Some note that when "be still" is used merely as a general exhortation to inner peace, its original context as a response to the prosperity of the wicked is obscured.

In Korean Churches

In Korean Protestant churches, the verse is commonly used in sermons and pastoral visits to comfort church members who are suffering or have been treated unjustly. It is often quoted together with verse 5 when speaking of patience and of entrusting oneself to God.

Related Passages

• Psalm 37:5
• Psalm 46:10 (Psalm 46:8–11)
• Psalm 27:14 (Psalm 27:14)
• Isaiah 30:15 (Isaiah 30:15)
• Romans 12:19