Bible Study Notes 5/20/2025

WORD ALIVE! BIBLE STUDY ©2025

Journey in the Psalms: Prayer, Praise and Promise

Concord Baptist Church of Boston in Milton – Conley Hughes, Jr., Senior Pastor

Quiet Time: Tracy M. Summer, Psalms: An All-In-One Study on God’s Song Book

Lesson 11, Part 1

20 May 2025

Lesson 11, Psalm 37:1-23, Part 1, There are moments in life when we could become aware that there’s opposition of some sort to our plans or endeavors. When sin entered the environment of our primal parents spoken of in the Scriptures (Genesis 3), the fallout brought jealousy, strife, and division. It is only through the redemptive love of God – and the atonement of sins by His Son, Jesus Christ, that we have reconciliation. The change and transformation we need to cancel the sinful course of our lives, is through our faith in Jesus as Lord and Christ (Messiah). In Psalm 37, one of the longest attributed to David, we are made aware of the contrast between the evildoer and the righteous. In that we make choices about how we should and should not live in this life; there are stark consequences to those choices. David describes the attitudes and actions of the evildoer, but he also lets us know how fatal their actions are. The righteous are expected to live by a godly moral standard. The righteous should not hate the evil person; but should neither support, nor give tacit approval to their behavior. Our trust should remain in God, and we should delight (“have confidence” in His teachings.  An ungodly life is directed by many sinful errors that will result in a futile end. The end for which all our efforts should be directed is to glorify God. We should neither fear nor concede to the sinful behavior of evildoers. God has reserved many blessings – and there will be many gains for all who faithfully serve and trust Him.  

Verses & Explanations for Psalm 37:1-23, NLT

Observe         Interpret     Apply

(Verses 1-2) – Never fear nor envy evildoers.

(Verses 3-8) – Direct all trust in God and delight in Him.

(Verses 9-17) – The errors and futility of an ungodly life.

(Verses 18-23) – The blessings and gains of the righteous. 

The Key Idea:

What We Believe!    

1. “Your word is a lamp to my feet  and a light to my path!”  - Psalm 119:105

Key Verses:

Psalm 37:1-2, NLT 1 “Don’t worry about the wicked or envy those who do wrong. 2 For like grass, they soon fade away. Like spring flowers, they soon wither.

Psalm 37:3-8, NLT

3 Trust in the Lord and do good. Then you will live safely in the land and prosper. 4 Take delight in the Lord, and He will give you your heart’s desires. 5 Commit everything you do to the Lord. Trust Him and He will help you. 6 He will make your innocence radiant like dawn, and the justice of your cause will shine like the noonday sun.  7 Be still in the presence of the Lord and wait patiently for him to act. Don’t worry about evil people who prosper or fret about their wicked schemes.  8 Stop being angry! Turn from your rage! Do not lose your temper – it only leads to harm.

Psalm 37:9-17, NLT

9 For the wicked will be destroyed, but those who trust in the Lord will possess the land.10 Soon the wicked will disappear. Though you look for them, they will be gone. 11 The lowly will possess the land and will live in peace and prosperity.  12 The wicked plot against the godly; they snarl at them in defiance.   13 But the Lord just laughs, for He sees their day of judgment coming. 14 The wicked draw their swords and strings their bows to kill the poor and the oppressed.  15 But their swords will stab their own hearts, and their bows will be broken. 16 It is better to be godly and to have little than to be evil and rich. 17 For the strength of the wicked will be scattered, but the Lord takes care of the godly.

Psalm 37:18-23, NLT

18 Day by day the Lord takes care of the innocent, and they will receive an inheritance that lasts forever. 19 They will not be disgraced in hard times; even in famine they will have more than enough. 20 But the wicked will die.  The Lord’s enemies are like flowers in a field – they will disappear like smoke. 21 The wicked borrow and never repay, but the godly are generous givers. 22 Those the Lord blesses will possess the land, but those He curses will die. 23 The Lord directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives.”