John Gill Commentary Psalms 37

Fret not yourself because of evildoers
The saints may be grieved at them and for them, because of their evil doings, and may be angry with them for them; yet are not to show any undue warmth, at least in an indecent way, by calling them opprobrious names; for the words may be rendered, "do not show yourself warm" or "angry" ^F9 : in a sinful way; or fret not at their outward prosperity, as it is explained (Psalms 37:7) . The Targum adds, "to be like them", which agrees with (Psalms 37:8) ;

neither be envious against the workers of iniquity ;
that is, at their present temporal happiness; see (Psalms 73:3) . The Targum adds, as before, to be joined with them; which sense some parallel places seem to incline to, (Proverbs 3:31) (23:17) .

FOOTNOTES:

• F9: (rxtt) "ne accendaris ira", Junius & Tremellius; "ne exardescas", Gejerus, Michaelis.

For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither as
the green herb .
] Which in the morning looks green, pretty, and flourishing, and in the evening is cut down, and then fades away; see (Psalms 90:5Psalms 90:6) ; and so the wicked prosper and flourish for a while, and then they perish with all their honour, riches, and wealth; so that their happiness is a very short lived one, and therefore need not be envied and fretted at.

Trust in the Lord
Not in men, who are fading and perishing like the green grass and tender herb; nor in riches, which are very uncertain things; but in the Lord, in whom is everlasting strength; and with whom are riches and honour, yes, durable riches and righteousness; trust in him both for things temporal and spiritual, for soul and body, for time and eternity; the way to have peace and quietness of mind under all dispensations is to exercise faith on a promising God. The Targum is, "trust in the Word of the Lord", in the essential Word of God, the promised Messiah;

and do good ;
in general, all good actions, in faith, and as the fruits and effects of it, without trusting to them, but in the Lord; doing them in his strength, and with a view to his glory; or in particular, acts of beneficence to the poor, to which the encouragement follows;

[so] you shall dwell in the land ;
either in the land of Canaan, a continuance in which depended upon the obedience of the people of the Jews to the commands of God; see (Isaiah 1:19) (Ephesians 6:1Ephesians 6:2) ; or rather in the good land which is afar off, the heavenly and better country, which those that trust in the Lord, and have that faith in Christ which works by love, shall dwell in to all eternity;

and verily you shall be fed ;
either temporally, shall have food and raiment, even all the necessaries of life; or spiritually, with the word and ordinances, and with Christ the bread of life now; and hereafter shall be fed by him, the Lamb in the midst of the throne, and by him led to fountains of living water: some read the words as an exhortation, and render them, "feed truth" ^F11 , that is, teach it, as Abraham taught his household, and as faithful pastors feed with knowledge and understanding; or "feed by faith" ^F12 , as the just live by it; or, as the Targum renders it, "be strong in faith", as Abraham was, (Romans 4:20) ; or rather, "feed upon truth" ^F13 , the word of truth, the Gospel of salvation, and the several truths and doctrines of it, which are food for faith, and nourish up to everlasting life.

FOOTNOTES:

• F11: (hnwma her) "pasce veritatem", Pagninus, Montanus.
• F12: "Pascere fide", Junius & Tremellius, Cocceius.
• F13: "Pasce te veritate", Gejerus; "ut alimentum tuum", Gussetius, Ebr. Comment. p. 942. "feed on faith", Ainsworth.

Delight yourself also in the Lord
In the persons in God, Father, Son, and Spirit; in the perfections of God, his power, goodness, faithfulness, wisdom, love, grace, and mercy; in his works of creation, providence, and redemption; in his word, his Gospel, the truths and ordinances of it; in his house, and the worship of it; and in his people, the excellent in the earth, in whom was all the delight of the psalmist; and each of these afford a field of delight and pleasure, to attend unto, contemplate, and meditate upon;

and he shall give you the desires of your heart ;
such as are according to the will of God, and for the good of his people; such as relate to communion with him, and to the communication of more grace from him, and to the enjoyment of eternal glory.

Commit your way to the Lord
Or "your works", as in (Proverbs 16:3); that is, all the affairs and business of life, which are a man's ways in which he walks; not that men should sit still, be inactive, and do nothing, and leave all to be done by the Lord; but should seek direction of God in everything engaged in, and for strength and assistance to perform it, and go on in it, and depend upon him for success, and give him all the glory, without trusting to any thing done by them:

Or, as some render the words, "reveal your way to the Lord" ^F14; not that God is ignorant of the ways of men, and of their affairs, and of their wants and necessities, but it is their duty to ask, and it is his delight to hear; they may come and use freedom with him, and tell him their whole case, and leave it with him, believing he will supply all their need:

Or, as others render it, "roll your way on the Lord" ^F15; see (Psalms 55:22); meaning not the burden of sin, nor the weight of affliction, but any affair of moment and importance that lies heavy upon the mind;

trust also in him ;
it is an ease to the mind to spread it before the Lord, who sympathizes with his people, supports them under and brings them through their difficulties;

and he shall bring [it] to pass ;
as he does whatever he has appointed and determined shall be, and whatever he has promised, and whatever will be for his own glory and his people's good.

FOOTNOTES:

• F14: (lwg) (apokaluqon) , Sept. "revela", V. L. Junius & Tremellius, Piscator; so the Targum, Cocceius, Gejerus, Michaelis.
• F15: "Devolve super Jehovam", Tigurine version.