Psalms 37: Do Not Fret

Several place here the psalmist calls fretting (or worry) as something we should not do. Right at the outset, in verse one, fret is in the negative, "Fret not" then the positive follows, "For they will fade". Verse 7 the imperative is waiting, "Be still before the Lord" and it is in the positive - it is a good thing to do this. But the negative is fretting, "fret not". Verse eight points out the fretting leads to evil. So with this in mind, I'd like to explore a little more about what fretting actually is. In these three verses someone who frets is contrasted against the proper behavior the psalmist wants us to have. Verse one again connects fretting and envy together which is in turn connected to what evildoers do. We are reminded that the things evildoers do will fade from view. The second reference to fretting is in verse 7 where firstly, we are shown the proper behavior that is being patient and waiting on God's will and instruction. The contrast to this is the man who gets what he wants when he wants it without regard for what God might want for him. This is described by the psalmist as evil. This could be contrasted with the man that James describes in his New Testament book starting at 4:13. It is no coincident that James then launches into a diatribe on the attitude of the rich man and concludes with the value of being patient and waiting on the coming of the Lord. Waiting is a discipline and being established in any endeavor requires time and fortitude no less discipline and perseverance through hardship. Therefore we move into the psalmists last point in the very next verse where he declares that fretting leads directly to evil tendencies. So what is learned here? Jesus in in the book of Matthew starting at 6:25 commands his followers not to worry. He didn't give them merely a suggestion or a request that they ought not worry. But a straight imperative, "do not be anxious about your life". The point we must learn is a matter of trust in a God who is so far greater and good than we are that we should simply say to Him, "Yes, Lord I do trust and will obey you." But the reason these are teachings for us is that this is difficult, though we know we mess up all the time and get things wrong all the time. So why can we not take His word on its face? The reason is control. We do not want to give up control (as if we ever had it anyways!). There is something about the thought of thinking we have the reigns and can steer the car wherever, whenever and how we want and there is some satisfaction in the thought of it. But it is a lie and the car was never meant to be driven by us. Christ still serves us therefore the car is designed to be driven by him and he is able to do it far better than we. As it is we find ourselves being pulled out of car wreck after car wreck when our pride and hunger for power prevent us from allowing Christ have complete control. We say we trust Him, and it is right to trust Him for our very lives but our actions demonstrate we resent Him and do not trust him since we are so reluctant to let go of the steering wheel and move over. The head agrees but the heart will not heed the Word of God. I raised several key issues: control, pride, power and trust. More precisely - the desire or need to be in control; the unwillingness or reluctance to admit I am not in control; the feeling of power and the error of misplaced trust in our own abilities. I want to break these down next time. -Joe