“Do not fret because of evil doers, be not envious of wrongdoers.” Psalm 37:1
From fretting to favor! What a move many need to make! And God appointed David to convey these truths, for who better could demonstrate an unwavering trust in God during difficult moments than David. Well, except for Moses, Abraham, Paul, Job, Isaac, Amos, John, Peter, etc. Most of the great figures of faith who have gone before us knew all too well the friction between trusting God and heated moments of fretfulness. And here in this verse, one of the great leaders of Biblical history offered in the midst of troublesome times the simple encouragement, “fret not.”
How real is a fretful spirit? In the book Desert Experiences, Jill Briscoe authored a chapter titled “You Should Have Come Sooner.” Concerning the struggles of a missionary’s wife, she writes,
Trouble came to me in a series of difficult things. First, I came through the painful season of my dad losing his battle with cancer. This was incredibly painful – seeing a loving parent slowly disintegrate before your eyes takes its toll. Then, our daughter broke her arm the day Stuart left for a long trip. I hurt my back quiet seriously, and on top of all this we had a series of dangerous threats from some neighborhood kids we had been working with in our ministry. One of these doubtful characters had just been released from jail and insisted on knocking on our windows at night to scare me and my children. The long absence of my husband away on ministry assignments became overwhelming, and the accumulated pressure became unbearable. I found out to my chagrin that I was not the good little missionary’s wife I thought I was. Resentment that had been festering in my heart began to surface, and I realized a whole lot of issues lay unresolved.”[1]
Jill’s predicament resonates with familiarity, for many of us, regardless of occupation or status, become good prospects for a spirit of fretfulness. And this is usually the case because we have grown to resent some part of our lives, or maybe our life as a whole. Like Jill, maybe this fretfulness settles in, and many issues below the surface begin to reveal themselves.
Not a new problem! In Psalm 37, none other than King David identified the reality of a fretful spirit, and he did so in a form of writing that is poetic, yet didactic in nature (as this Psalm was intended to offer significant instruction for the people of God). When one considers the back-story of this Psalm, one notices a direct corollary with the previous Psalm – a Psalm that was written in reference to David running for his life from King Saul. Psalm 37 prescribes teaching that David seemed to have gained first-hand from his encounters with such evil as Saul (and some of David’s closest friends), who conspired against him. In one specific account, David was running for his life, and in a series of mistakes found himself out from under God’s favor. David lied to Ahimelech and retreated with a stolen sword. Then, David sought refuge in Gath, Goliath’s hometown. He pretended to be a mad man, drooling on his beard, and banging his head against the city gate. David was hoping to hide his identity, but the King of Gath knew him primarily because David was holding Goliath’s sword which he had taken during his defeat of Goliath years earlier. And, just when it seemed things could not get any worse, David eventually hid himself in a cave surrounded by 400 other men who were just as troubled. And all this started when David panicked in the face of Saul’s vengeance, and David moved out from under God’s favor and protection.
When we read “fret not,” we are reading more than simply good advice. We are witnessing David who poured His heart out passionately from a mistake-filled past, encouraging us to fret not, but to seek God’s presence and favor. Certainly many, including myself, can identify with you if you have ever felt the tendency to fret. But one of the greatest kings of Israel’s history identifies with your fretfulness as well. I can imagine David would say, “fretful, I get it, I know what you mean.” But, more than this . . .
Jesus understands. There is a God in Heaven who became man. He dwelt among men and mankind beheld His unmistakable glory. The God-man, Jesus, was tempted in every way that we are, yet without sin (Hebrews 4:15). So, God Himself knows your struggles intimately. And I believe this is why God led David to address the issue of fretfulness; this is why the setting of this Psalm resonates with the reality for many people very moment. Your God and your Savior truly understands.
Seek God’s favor (His presence, His rest, His protection, His comfort, and His truth), and do not fall to the disadvantages and disappointments we experience in this life! Regardless of the setting of stress and anxiety you may find yourself in, take the advice King David offered.
So today, the choice is ours: fall to a fretful spirit or dwell with rest under the favor of God? Fretting or favor? The answer is obvious. Fret not. Seek the favor of God.
Blessings,
Ken
[1] Briscoe, Jill. You Should Have Come Sooner. The Desert Experience – Personal Reflections on Finding God’s Presence in Difficult Times. Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2001, p.33.
