Psalm 37:1 A Psalm of David. Fret not thyself because of evildoers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity.
Psalm 37:7 Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass.
Psalm 37:8 Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not thyself in any wise to do evil.
 

We who know the Lord have a spiritual dimension of life that is not seen nor temporal. It is eternal. We can see life through eyes that have been opened to truth. But because we live in a world that is full of evil, we sometimes allow the seen and temporal things to cause us to fret. We see evil prospering and it upsets us.

I knew a Christian man who years ago became incensed over the pornography industry, so he began to study it to see what he could do to stop it. He became addicted to pornography. It destroyed him and brought great damage to his family.

The word ‘fret’ means ‘to blaze’ or ‘to get hot.’ It has to do with being incensed and provoked. We might be feeling indignation and jealousy toward those who do evil. Some might even get angry with God.

We live in a world that is full of evil, yet we cannot allow that evil to consume us (1 John 5:19-20). The way the phrase ‘fret not thyself’ is worded tells me that we have control of our own emotions. Romans 12:21 “Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.” We must walk in the Spirit (Galatians 5:16). In this Psalm David is teaching us that the workers of evil will be cut off. Their days are short. They have no peace. They will wither away. But our leaf will not wither. We who trust the Lord and rest in Him shall prosper.

Psalm 1:3 And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.

Ron Cox – Director of HOPE Ministry