Fret Not Yourself

Lesson Text: Psalms 37 May 31, 2009

I. Introduction
A. What does it mean to fret?
1. Fret: to rub or wear away by friction, to become hot with anger
2. Matthew 6:33-34 ESV Butseek first the kingdom of God and his
righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. (34) "Therefore
do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for
itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.
B. How often does our frustration lead to anger
1. To be hot, furious, burn, become angry, be kindled
2. Sometimes you just want to hit something, some even direct towards God
C. Read Psalms 37:1-13
II. Fret Not Yourself because of Evildoers
A. Why should we ever envy wrongdoers, verse 1
1. They will soon fade and wither
2. They hate the godly
3. They are slated for destruction, 2 Thess. 1:7-9
B. We should trust in the Lord
1. Proverbs 29:25 ESV The fear of man lays a snare, but whoever trusts in
the LORD is safe.
2. Song Trust and Obey, Heb. 11:1
C. Commit your way to the Lord
1. Literally roll your way
2. Psalms 22:8 ESV "He trusts (rolls himself onto) in the LORD; let him
deliver him; let him rescue him, for he delights in him!" (Matt. 27:43)
3. 1 Peter 5:7 Casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.
III.Fret Not Yourself Over the one who prospers in his way
A. Evil often prospers on earth
1. Matthew 5:44-45 ESV But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for
those who persecute you, (45) so that you may be sons of your Father
 who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good,
and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.
2. John 21:21-22 ESV WhenPeter saw him, he said to Jesus, "Lord, what
about this man?" (22) Jesus said to him, "If it is my will that he remain
until I come, what is that to you? You follow me!"
B. Be patient, Psalms 37:7
1. Patience - The suffering of afflictions, pain, toil, calamity, provocation or other
evil, with a calm, unruffled temper; endurance without murmuring or
fretfulness. Patience may spring from constitutional fortitude, from a kind of
heroic pride, or from Christian submission to the divine will.
2. Read James 1:2-4
C. Righteousness shines, Psalms 37:6
1. First and foremost to God, Matthew 5:16 ESV In the same way, let your
light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give
glory to your Father who is in heaven.
2. Rom. 8:28 ESV And we know that for those who love God all things work
together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.
3. Righteous – obedient to God, patiently trust God, gracious like God,
receive God’s blessings
IV. Fret Not Yourself; it tends only to evil
A. Fretting like anger and wrath leads to sin, Psalms 37:8
1. Remember Simeon and Levi – Read Genesis 49:5-7
2. Eph 4:26Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger,
3. James 1:15 ESV Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and
sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.
B. The Wicked plots against us
1. This can’t be news to us, Rev. 6:10 - how long?
2. Read Luke 18:1-8
C. The meek shall inherit, Psalms 37:8-13
1. Hebrews 10:30-31 ESV For we know him who said, "Vengeance is mine; I
will repay." And again, "The Lord will judge his people." (31) It is a
fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
2. Matt. 5:5 ESV "Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.
3. Gal. 3:27-29