Firm Foundation with Bryan Hudson

Psalm 37:2 (NKJV), “For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, And wither as the green herb.”

Key Thought: Wicked success is short-lived

Prayer: Help me remember what truly lasts

The first thing to recognize is that Psalm 37 is a wisdom psalm, not a lament. Some passages in the Bible only express the heartbreak of the writer. Here, David is instructing God’s people on how to live faithfully when the wicked appear to prosper.

The Hebrew word for “soon” does not necessarily mean immediately. In biblical time, “soon” is measured against eternity, not according to our frustration and impatience. This is another reason why we don’t want to fret. The prosperity of the wicked that looks stable now is already on a countdown.

The Hebrew word for “cut down” is often used of harvesting or mowing, not violent destruction. The “green herb” mentioned in this text refers to quickly growing plants without a deep root system. Some plants grow fast, and they fade fast. During the summer, we had an abundance of beautiful plants in our yard; now, in the middle of winter, they’re all gone. That’s how God will ultimately deal with the wicked.

What looks alive is already dying. So we don’t want to overreact to wicked people. That’s not to say that a civil justice system should not deal with evildoers before God’s judgment. This psalm emphasizes the importance of believers not fretting or living in lament and frustration.

Psalm 37 reminds us that evil has visibility, not viability. Wickedness has momentum, not longevity. God does not need to rush judgment—but judgment is certain.

However, remember that in a pluralistic democratic republic, we have both the ability and the duty to resist evil and seek justice. Some believers make the mistake of thinking they should sit back and let God handle everything. That mindset only allows oppressors to hurt people more.

Encourage yourself in the Lord by keeping these realities in your heart and mind.