Psalm 37 - Don't Sweat the Evil

When I was a little boy, my mother memorized some portions of scripture with my two older brothers and me. In King James English, no less!

One of those passages, Psalm 37, began this way:

"1 Fret not thyself because of evildoers, Neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity. 2 For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, And wither as the green herb. 3 Trust in the Lord, and do good; So shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed. 4 Delight thyself also in the Lord; And he shall give thee the desires of thine heart." (Psalm 37:1-4, KJV)

The rest of the psalm expands on that theme. But if this is true, then why do the wicked prosper so much and for so long, while the good and innocent suffer? What is going on when there is more injustice than justice? More apathy and hatred seem to swallow up love and compassion?

Even the writer admits that sometimes the wicked person is "in great power, and spreading  ...like a green bay tree." (v.35)

Still, he is confident that at some point, "...evildoers shall be cut off. 
On the other hand, the ones to inherit the earth will include:
Those who wait for God (v.9)
The meek (v.11)
The merciful (vv.21-22)
The righteous (v.29)

Jesus Himself echoed this in the Beatitudes in the Sermon on the Mount:
"Blessed are the poor in spirit... the merciful... those hunger and thirst for righteousness," but He also blessed those who would be persecuted for doing the right thing for Jesus' sake. (Matthew 5:1-11)

Injustice should not surprise us. But God will have the final say when He rewards His children for their faithfulness (Matthew 5:12)

Lord, Expand our perspective beyond injustice and evil we may encounter today. At the same time, Keep our hearts and motives humble... and looking for Your "promise [of] new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells." 2 Peter 3:13 (NASB95)  In Jesus Name, Amen.