Psalm 37:1 Of David. “Fret not yourself because of evildoers;” instead, “Trust in the Lord and do good” Psalm 37:3.
[In the face of evildoers and workers of iniquity mentioned in verses 1 & 2, we have these two commands.
First, trust in the Lord. That means we have to lay aside our natural desire to focus on these evil people and their negative actions. Instead we are to willfully look away to the Lord, our Rock, our Fortress, our Deliverer, our Shield and High Tower.
These evil people are nothing in contrast to Him. We must remember that He is our security and significance, that the difficult situation before us is not a problem–but an adventure with Him, if we choose to view it so.
When we move into this truth, a lot of negatives drop away and we can dwell in the Light and Truth He gives us.
Then, second, we are to do good in the face of evil. This is certainly a worldview shift away from what is natural. It is a supernatural worldview.
The first good we can do is to forgive those who have done evil. I think of the recent incident where an ex-police white woman came home to find an African-American man in her kitchen. She shot and killed him. Only it turned out that it wasn’t her kitchen, but his; she’d gone into the wrong apartment!
At the end of her trial where she was found guilty of murder, after her sentencing the 22 year old brother of the murdered man got up, went to her, told her he forgave her and gave her a hug. Then he begged her to open her heart to Jesus and be born again! And the judge gave her his own Bible!
How different from the world’s way! Compare that to the shootings of the last year where everything devolved into riots, destruction and bitterness. God’s way is much better, bringing healing rather than ever deepening hurt.
Beyond forgiving, each situation may offer a different opportunity to do good. It may be confronting the person in love and firmness. It may be letting go and moving on, which we can only do if we have forgiven the person. It may be praying consistently for that person’s salvation. It may be doing some good deed for him. We need to ask for wisdom in what good we can do.
And when we do such good to those who harm us, watch out ,for God is going to use this for some greater good!
