The pompous and arrogant rich get richer while the poor only get poorer. Corrupt world leaders yield their power to persecute while God’s people around the world suffer. Newsweek reported in the years 2015-2017 Christian persecution worsened and is increasingly more violent over previous years. Criminals get away with horrendous crimes while victims are denied justice. And we wonder—why do the wicked prosper while good people suffer?
This is an age-old question. Asked by many, including Job, in the Old Testament known for his extreme suffering. Job asks, “Why do the wicked prosper, growing old and powerful? They live to see their children grow up and settle down, and they enjoy their grandchildren. Their homes are safe from every fear, and God does not punish them” (Job 21:7-9 NLT).
However, Psalm 37, written by David, provides instructions for us on how to handle this ancient dilemma.
The wicked eventually get what they deserve.
Because of sin entering the world, evil exists on earth until the day when Jesus comes again for the final judgment. (Revelation 20:11-15) However, God is in control. His ways are higher than our human brain can understand. (Isaiah 55:8-9)
Therefore, we should not worry because God will punish the wicked in His time, not ours. (Though, of course, we would like retribution and punishment for evil now.) God’s ways may seem slow to us, but He is always on time and He is never late.
For example, David writes that the wicked will wither away and die (Psalm 37:1-2), will be destroyed (Psalm 37:9), will disappear (Psalm 37:10), and will perish and be consumed (Psalm 37:20).
And finally, “But the LORD will not let the wicked succeed or let the godly be condemned when they are put on trial” (Psalm 37:33 NLT).
So, what do we do in the meantime?
Psalm 37 tells us what to do. Simply put—trust God, do good, do not worry, be patient.
God promises rewards for our efforts. (These are conditional promises, which means there are requirements to receive the promises.) Not because of our goodness, but because of God’s faithfulness to fulfill his promises. Psalm 37 is jam-packed with promises for us if we trust God, do good, do not worry, and be patient.
For example, David starts Psalm 37 with, “Don’t worry about the wicked or envy those who do wrong. For like grass, they soon fade away. Like spring flowers, they soon wither” (Psalm 37:1-2). Therefore, don’t worry or envy the wicked. Their power never lasts.
In addition, verse 3 continues, “Trust in the LORD and do good. Then you will live safely in the land and prosper” (Psalm 37:3 NLT). God promises if we trust him and do good, we will be safe.
Last, Psalm 37:7 commands us to be still, wait patiently and don’t fret about evil. Because God will deal with the wicked in His time, “But the wicked will die. The LORD’s enemies are like flowers in a field—they will disappear like smoke” (Psalm 37:20 NLT).
Foremost, trust God. Eventually, doing good, not worrying and being patient becomes easier as you trust God with your life.
But how do we trust God?
I admit, I struggle to explain exactly how to trust God. But I am convinced that it is a journey, one step at a time. I will tell you about the beginning of my journey to trusting God.
Decide that trusting God is better than trusting yourself
All my life, I trusted myself or other people. Mostly myself. I lived my life exactly how I wanted. There was no room for God. Then, my life fell apart when I was diagnosed with cancer. I realized my way was not working out, and I had no alternative than to trust God. I knew there had to be a better way to live. So, I opened a small crack in the door to my heart and let God in. It was a tiny crack. But, as Jesus said, you only need faith as small as a mustard seed (Matthew 17:20).
Get to know God
It’s hard to trust a stranger. In fact, we are taught as children not to trust strangers. Therefore, when we open the door to trusting God, then we must get to know him. God makes himself available in His Word. Read and study the Bible. Be still. Pray. Be thankful. Ask God for faith to trust him. As God said to His people through the prophet Jeremiah, “If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me” (Jeremiah 29:13, NLT)
Believe that God is who He says He is
There are countless verses in the Bible telling us who God is. To trust God, we must believe what the Bible says about Him. I could write an entire blog post on the attributes of God. In fact, there are innumerable books on the subject. (I will list a few of my favorites at the end of this post.)
Briefly, here are some attributes of God: all-knowing, all-powerful, always present, wise, holy, faithful, gracious, merciful, loving, just, never changing and infinite.
As you trust God and get to know him, you realize that there is no one like our God. Go to God with your questions, doubts, and fears about why the wicked prosper while good people suffer.
Conclusion
Psalm 37 deals with the age-old question: why do the wicked prosper while good people suffer? But this is only temporary. In the end, God punishes the wicked and good triumphs over evil. In the meantime, trust God, do good, don’t worry, and be patient.
Two of my favorite books about God
Spangler, A. (2008). Praying the Names of God: A Daily Guide. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.
Swindoll, C. R. (n.d.). The Mystery of God’s Will. Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson.
