psalm 37: Trust in the Lord

verse 3: Trust the LORD and live right! The land will be yours, and you will be safe.

verse 4: Find your delight in Yahweh. He will fulfill the desires of your heart.

verse 5: Let the LORD lead you and trust him to help.

Psalm 37 exudes a testament-like atmosphere from David. Each section of this Psalm follows the order of Hebrew letters. In other words, this Psalm is everything David prayed and praised for throughout his life (from A to Z). Therefore, this Psalm appears as David's final words to future generations.

All of David's language, that is, his lifelong prayers and praises, are focused on "trusting in the Lord." We should not simply seize the "trusting in the Lord" keyword from this Psalm. Although "trusting in the Lord" is precious as David's testament, we should not take it for granted easily. David's lifelong prayers and praises are not simple and easy things. David's "trusting in the Lord" contains his numerous failures and despair, the thorny vines of pride that grew within him, as well as his simple joys and happiness.

The human David cannot simply answer "yes" to "Can you trust in the Lord?" He knows both the lowest and highest of humanity. Therefore, "trusting in the Lord" turns into David's prayer that holds his hope. Psalm 37 is David's prayer, which he pours out with all his remaining strength. Those who lament the wickedness of human nature become one with David in his prayer, saying, "May I trust in the Lord alone. Help me."

David's prayer is not a means to achieve success. Only relying on the Lord, finding joy in Yahweh, and entrusting my path to the Lord cannot be a condition for achieving my wish or making my path smooth. We cannot deceive God with such conditions. We have prayed countless times with conditions, in other words, prayers that we mistakenly think can hide God's eyes.

Even to such prayers of ours, God responded with goodness instead of repaying evil for evil. David realized this fact throughout his life. All that remained for him was "trusting in the Lord."

Oh God, I only want to trust in You. Help me. Grant me the grace to leave a testament like David's. Amen.