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New Defender's Study Bible Notes
37:3 Trust in the LORD. Note the progression in Psalm 37:3-7 with respect to our growth in the Lord. (1) “Trust in the LORD” (Psalm 37:3); (2) “Delight thyself also in the LORD”( Psalm 37:4); (3) “Commit thy way unto the LORD” (Psalm 37:5); (4) “Rest in the LORD”( Psalm 37:7).
37:3 verily thou shalt be fed. The Hebrew word here for “verily” is also translated “truth.” For example, “all His works are done in truth” (Psalm 33:4). It is said here that God’s people will be fed not just with bread; more importantly, God shall feed them with His truth! The unbeliever, on the other hand, feeds on spiritual “ashes” and “wind” (Isaiah 44:20; Hosea 12:1), and even “wormwood” and “gall” (Jeremiah 23:15).
37:11 inherit the earth. See also Psalm 37:9,22,34. This wonderful promise was also cited by Jesus as one of His beatitudes (Matthew 5:5).
37:13 The Lord shall laugh. The concept of God laughing at the wicked seems strange in contrast to His mercy and longsuffering. But God’s mocking laughter occurs only after the wicked have conclusively rejected His proffered love and mercy, and then continued in their arrogant rebellion against Him. Note Proverbs 1:24-26; Psalm 2:1-5; Psalm 59:8, etc.
37:23 steps of a good man. Note that the Lord “delights” in the ways of those who “delight [themselves] in the Lord” (Psalm 37:4). In fact, He “orders their steps.” See also Proverbs 3:6, and note Psalm 37:31.
37:25 his seed begging bread. This is David’s personal testimony, not a statement of universal law. Nevertheless, similar testimony could be given by countless believers.
37:35 green bay tree. This is probably the bay laurel, a tall evergreen often used as a symbol of prosperity.
Psalm 38 (title) to bring to remembrance. The superscript to this psalm indicates that David wrote it “to bring to remembrance”—most likely remembering the sins of earlier days, and their baleful effects on others, even though God had forgiven him because of his faith. However, it does seem that the language in some cases goes beyond David’s experience and can only be explained in terms of Christ bearing the sins of every man in His body on the tree (I Peter 2:24). See also the title to Psalm 70.