The Wisdom of God When Life is Hard - Serenity in Suffering
Traveling through the hard places of life wears us down; challenging the goodness of God. Jesus told us in this world, trouble travels as our companion. (John 16:33) At times my request for a new traveling companion supercedes my desire for suffering to have its perfect work in my life. Pain distracts from the truth; pushing us for a way out, rather than a way through. But the wisdom of God when life is hard, begs us embrace the pain, befriend the suffering and in so doing, reap a heavenly reward.
I confess a level of weariness lately with life. The ebb and flow of the mundane comingled with daily irritations, and unresolved emotional pain feel like an elusive pebble in my shoe. A vexation which over time becomes raw pain. I long for the cessation of trials, spiritual battles and physical suffering. Because actually, I can no longer discern which I face, which weapon to use or how to pray, Praise God, the Holy Spirit intercedes for us when we cannot. (Romans 8:26)
A Wisdom psalm to the rescue
Most people head to the Psalms for comfort, language of lament or even thanksgiving and praise. Indeed the Psalms are poetry, songs for expression of human emotion; but the Psalms host other genres as well. Within this magnificent book we also find historical songs, royal, messianic songs, confessional songs and the imprecatory songs for justice. Another genre hosted by the psalms often overlooked are wisdom psalms. These psalms are not for worship, but for teaching the people of God principles necessary for a righteous life.
Psalm 37 is one such psalm; oddly I often find comfort in this psalm, but until recently failed to value it for the wisdom it offered. The Lord blessed me with nine imperatives; the wisdom of God when life is hard so needed by me! Finding immense value in this counsel, I share these imperatives with you today in the hope God will guide you through the hard places you face or will face in the future.
The wisdom of god when life is hard
As mentioned above, Psalm 37 is a wisdom psalm; specifically it is a “Maschil” or teaching psalm designed to teach the people of God specific principles of God for righteous living. This psalm deals with the age old question of “why do the wicked prosper?” And the seeming injustices to the righteous. But the teaching goes deeper; applying to the weariness with our own wickedness, burdens of unresolved relational conflicts, chronic pain, illness, grief, disappointments, unanswered prayer and even the fatigue of relentless battling “the wicked one”.
Psalm 37 teaches us and helps us admonish others to rightly understand the Providence of God; faithfully living righteous lives and leaving the results up to Him. Trusting Him fully with all outcomes no matter how bleak the present view, with full confidence all that fear God and faithfully follow Him will prosper in the end. The instructions through God’s imperatives speak plainly, and are easily understood. The labor is in the application and practice of the imperatives!
the wisdom of psalm 37
Consider the following nine imperatives contemplatively asking the Holy Spirit’s guidance for understanding and application. Bring each area of your life representing struggle to Him and allow the light of the scripture to open your eyes with wisdom.
Fret Not
Psalm 37:1 begins with the instruction to “Fret Not” , nor envy individuals choosing sinful ways and activities. When we see those who do not fear God, prospering, without a care in the world, inwardly we fall prey to envy and complain about the inequality between those who fear God and those who do not. But God’s wisdom reminds us in verse 2, the end of the wicked and all who forsake God; their prosperity is short-lived and cut off.
Trust
In Psalm 37:3, the Psalmist counsels the godly to trust in the LORD rather than our own wisdom or worldly pursuits. The implication here following on the heels of verses one and two, is avoiding the temptation of taking things into our own hands, providing our needs and desires. God in no way promises luxuries, but He promises in this verse, full and proper provision.
To trust God in the light is nothing, but trust Him in the dark? That is Faith.
Charles Spurgeon
Delight
Psalm 37:4 flows easily from verse three; addressing exactly where our delight rests; in God. If the LORD is our desire, then we have our heart’s desire! The wisdom of God when life is hard tells us His lovingkindness, mercy and goodness toward us provide rest and solace. So we may say with the Psalmist, “Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee. (Psalm 73:25)
Commit
Furter instruction in wisdom meets us in Psalm 37:5, with the exhortation to commit our way to the LORD. the meaning of the word “commit” from the Hebrew “galal” implies the “rolling away” of something from one place to another. Rather than controlling “our way” we are to roll it onto God for His guidance and disposition. Charles Spurgeon in his commentary on the Psalms, mentions the nuance of revelation here; that is, our revealing unto God our way, for His inspection and correction. The result promised by God for our obedience in verse 6 comes forth in the fruition of God’s plans and purposes, no matter the opposition for all committed to Him. Further, He ensures our righteous behavior will be known and protected.
Rest
Arriving at Psalm 37:7, God recommends us to rest and quiet. The Hebrew word for “rest”, “damam” means “silence” or “dumb”; a cessation of speech. As unsettling as disappointments, trials, suffering and relentless attacks from the evil one are for us, God’s wisdom bids us cease from complaint and petition for a change in circumstances. Shift our gaze from the fretful actions of evil in our lives unto the LORD, confidently waiting on Him for a righteous end.
Cease
Knowing our frame and the frailty of our constitution, God mercifully calls us in Psalm 37:8 to cease from anger. Weariness with living a godly life, but experiencing continual setbacks, strife or trials while viewing the ungody prospering can frustrate us to the point of anger. Anger at God, at unchanging circumstances, even at ourselves for perceived failures. Resulting in our tendency to “take matters into our own hands” in an effort to achieve our desired outcome. But God reminds us in verse 9 evildoers will be cut of, but those who wait on the LORD, trusting in HIM shall inherit the earth!
Depart
The Psalmist spends verses 10-22 contrasting the ways of the wicked and the ways of a righteous man. Lingering in verses 23-26 upon God’s limitless mercy in ordering the steps of the righteous, restoring the righteous when they fall, and providing every need of the righteous. Culminating in Psalm 37:27, beseeching us to depart from evil and do good, that we may dwell, “shakan” in Hebrew for “abide” with God forever.
Wait
Again, the Psalmist contrasts the ways of the wicked and the ways of the righteous in verses 28-33, but this time details the LORD’s ways with each. The wisdom of God when life is hard comforts us in verses 32-33 with the promise of His intervention even though the disappointments, trials, suffering and spiritual battles appear endless. Therefore, He exhorts us wait on the LORD, keep His ways, and we shall see the wicked punished.
Mark
The psalmist makes a point of detailing the demise of the wicked even though they seem secure and flourishing in verses 35-36. Exhuberantly encouraging us to mark, or watch the upright man who keeps God’s ways, for unlike the wicked, his end is peace. Rather than waste your time and attention on the prosperity of the wicked, watch, imitate the godly man. For as the psalmist concludes Psalm 37 in verses 38-40, the salvation of the godly man is of the LORD, who is also his strength, deliverance and help in the hard places of life.
when life is hard
The wisdom of God when life is hard calls us to fret not, cease from anger, depart from evil, mark and imitate the godly man as he trusts, delights and rests in the LORD, committing his way to the LORD and waiting patiently on the LORD. In exchange, God promises to be our salvation, strength and deliverer in every hard place we encounter.
The ultimate blessing for obeying the wisdom given in Psalm 37, promises deliverance from the wicked; from disappointments, trials, injustices, suffering, pain, and relentless spiritual attacks, which threaten to overhelm us. God will keep us safe, and secure in His love and provision; ultimately in a place where the wicked no more trouble us. Rewarding us with true joy as we trust in Him, commit our way to Him and honor Him in and through the hard places of life through which He leads us.
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