DON HEBERT

From the earliest pages of Scripture, the story of humanity is marked by conflict. I’m not speaking of a conflict between nations or powers, but between good and evil. When God told the serpent in the garden that there would be hostility between his offspring and the offspring of the woman, He was declaring both a curse and a promise. Evil would remain active in the world, but hope would come through a Redeemer who would crush the serpent’s power. This struggle between righteousness and wickedness has continued throughout all history and continues in every life today.

The book of Psalms, particularly Psalm 37, offers wisdom for people who find themselves in the middle of this conflict. I understand it to teach that the righteous and the wicked live side by side, yet their paths lead to very different ends. While the wicked often appear strong, confident, and successful, their prosperity is temporary. God reminds His people not to envy or worry about them. Their success will fade like grass under the sun. Those who trust in God, however, will endure and inherit peace that cannot be taken away.

When people wrong us, it is natural to feel fear or anger. We may lose sleep or feel bitterness grow in our hearts. Yet God’s word says, “Do not fret because of evildoers.” Worry and anger can draw us into the same sin that we despise. Instead, the faithful are called to trust the Lord, do good, and find joy in Him. When we delight in God, our desires begin to change, and He gives us hearts that long for what is right.

Evil often strikes hardest when it comes from people we least expect. Sometimes even those who claim faith let us down. The pain of betrayal or injustice from within the community of believers can be especially heavy. But Scripture does not ignore this reality. It calls evil what it is and promises that God sees and acts. He is not silent. Though the wicked may plot against the righteous, God laughs at their plans because their downfall is certain. Those who harm others will one day face the results of their own actions. Their cruelty and deceit will turn back on them.

For those who are mistreated or abused, Psalm 37 offers comfort and courage. God is not distant; He is involved in the details of our lives. He upholds the righteous and does not abandon them. Even when it seems that wrongdoers are in control, their power is brief. God’s justice may not always come immediately, but it always comes. The Lord upholds His people, protects their reputation, and brings truth to light in His time.

The psalm also gives guidance for how to live while waiting for God to act. The righteous are told to keep doing good, to turn away from evil, and to stay faithful. They are to be patient and calm, not taking revenge or giving in to hatred. God promises that the meek, those who trust quietly in Him, will inherit lasting peace. The righteous may have little compared to the wealthy wicked, but what they have is blessed and secure because God sustains it.

The passage makes a strong contrast between the two sides. The wicked borrow and do not repay, but the righteous are generous. The wicked seek to destroy, but the righteous seek to bless. The Lord loves justice and will not forsake those who belong to Him. Even when trials come, He provides for His people and keeps their steps steady.

The psalm ends with this message: the future of the wicked is destruction, but the future of the righteous is peace. The salvation of the righteous comes from the Lord Himself. He is their protection in times of trouble. He delivers them because they take refuge in Him.

This promise was fulfilled most perfectly in Jesus Christ. He was wronged by evil men, yet He did not return evil for evil. Instead, He entrusted Himself to God, who raised Him from death and gave Him victory. Through Him, every believer can find safety and hope. Those who trust in Christ stand on the side of the righteous. Those who reject Him stand with the wicked.

Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Romans 12:21