The wicked plotteth against the just, and gnasheth upon him with his teeth.
The wicked harbor bitter hatred toward the just and scheme to harm them, grinding at them in hostility. This belongs to a psalm that sets forth two classes of character and their opposite fates. The Lord laughs at the plotter, for He sees that his day of judgment is coming. The wicked will be cut off and perish and be no more, consumed away into smoke when their place is sought and not found. Then the meek and righteous will inherit the earth, preserved by God to dwell securely in lasting peace forever on the renewed earth made new.
Plotting Against the Just
Psalm 37 sets out two classes of character, the wicked and the just, and sets their fates in contrast with one another. The wicked for a time prosper and oppose the righteous, while the righteous have an inheritance still future, and the apparent prosperity of the wicked gives no reason to envy them or fret over them. That inheritance is the earth itself possessed by the saints after the wicked receive their reward and are destroyed and consumed, and it contrasts the future of God's children with the destruction of those who remain impenitent and finally refuse salvation.
The verse pictures the present side of that contrast, with the wicked plotting harm against the just and gnashing upon him with the teeth in bitter hatred and hostile intent. They target the righteous with hostile schemes and opposition, expressing anger and hatred toward them. That present opposition does not prevent the outcome the psalm promises, for God preserves the righteous, their confidence rests in trusting Him, and the meek inherit the earth and reach their peaceful home when the wicked are finally cut off.
This plotting hatred is the way the wicked always regard the just. It belongs to the present experience of those who live godly lives, before the wicked are destroyed. A change will come, the righteous will ultimately be upheld by God and inherit the earth in lasting peace, and they will reach a peaceful, happy home.
Joseph's brothers acted out the verse when, moved by envy, they conspired to slay him. They stripped off his coat of many colors, took him and cast him into an empty pit with no water, and then sold him to the Ishmaelites for twenty pieces of silver to be brought into Egypt.
Judgment and Inheritance
The plotting of verse 12 is answered at once in the next verse, where the Lord laughs at the plotter because He sees that his day is coming. That coming day is the wicked person's day of judgment, which his hostility cannot prevail against or prevent. The oppressed are therefore to endure in trust that God will defeat their persecutors and preserve His faithful saints.
The psalm promises that the wicked will be cut off, perish, and be no more, including those who obey not the gospel and those who remain impenitent. After yet a little while the wicked shall not be, and when his place is diligently considered it shall not be found. The enemies of the Lord shall be as the fat of lambs, consuming away into smoke, while the meek inherit the earth made new. Their temporary prosperity and present opposition to the righteous give no reason to envy them or to fret, since their inheritance is not future but cut off.
Their reward and punishment come on this earth where they did their deeds, not in a separate place apart from this earth called hell for endless misery. That punishment is death and extinction of life, bringing sin and rebellion to an end. The psalm is among the Old Testament passages implying a resurrection of the wicked to face it, after which the consumed wicked leave the earth to the righteous.
After the wicked are consumed, the meek and righteous possess the earth and inherit the land, preserved and upheld by God. This inheritance is still future, not merely the blessings of this present life. It is the renewed heaven and earth made new, not a system made of new materials, just as the new creature in Christ is a renewed man. There the righteous dwell securely in lasting peace forever to eternity upon the land of promise.
Patience in Oppression
The psalm sets the temporary success of hostile opponents against a still future inheritance, so their apparent prosperity gives no cause to envy them or to fret over them, and confidence is to rest in trusting God. The wicked are allowed to prosper for a time while they plot against the just and vent hostility upon him, yet they will be cut off while God preserves the righteous. The portion promised to the meek is the earth made new, not merely the blessings belonging to this present life.
For lone and oppressed pilgrims the plotting and gnashing of teeth means fierce hatred and raging opposition, but the call is not to despond or faint and instead to endure with patience unto the coming of the Lord. Persecutors will not prevail forever, for the Lord laughs at the plotter because He sees that his day of judgment is coming. God will not forsake His saints but will ultimately defeat their persecutors and preserve His faithful people.
The present pressure serves as a furnace that purifies away dross until Christ sees His own image reflected in the sufferers. The Jubilee of promise is drawing near, when One stronger than the strong man armed will come, spoil his goods, and loose His prisoners to bring them homeward.
The wicked harbor bitter hatred toward the just and scheme to harm them, grinding at them in hostility. This belongs to a psalm that sets forth two classes of character and their opposite fates. The Lord laughs at the plotter, for He sees that his day of judgment is coming. The wicked will be cut off and perish and be no more, consumed away into smoke when their place is sought and not found. Then the meek and righteous will inherit the earth, preserved by God to dwell securely in lasting peace forever on the renewed earth made new.
Plotting Against the Just
Psalm 37 sets out two classes of character, the wicked and the just, and sets their fates in contrast with one another. The wicked for a time prosper and oppose the righteous, while the righteous have an inheritance still future, and the apparent prosperity of the wicked gives no reason to envy them or fret over them. That inheritance is the earth itself possessed by the saints after the wicked receive their reward and are destroyed and consumed, and it contrasts the future of God's children with the destruction of those who remain impenitent and finally refuse salvation.
The verse pictures the present side of that contrast, with the wicked plotting harm against the just and gnashing upon him with the teeth in bitter hatred and hostile intent. They target the righteous with hostile schemes and opposition, expressing anger and hatred toward them. That present opposition does not prevent the outcome the psalm promises, for God preserves the righteous, their confidence rests in trusting Him, and the meek inherit the earth and reach their peaceful home when the wicked are finally cut off.
This plotting hatred is the way the wicked always regard the just. It belongs to the present experience of those who live godly lives, before the wicked are destroyed. A change will come, the righteous will ultimately be upheld by God and inherit the earth in lasting peace, and they will reach a peaceful, happy home.
Joseph's brothers acted out the verse when, moved by envy, they conspired to slay him. They stripped off his coat of many colors, took him and cast him into an empty pit with no water, and then sold him to the Ishmaelites for twenty pieces of silver to be brought into Egypt.
Judgment and Inheritance
The plotting of verse 12 is answered at once in the next verse, where the Lord laughs at the plotter because He sees that his day is coming. That coming day is the wicked person's day of judgment, which his hostility cannot prevail against or prevent. The oppressed are therefore to endure in trust that God will defeat their persecutors and preserve His faithful saints.
The psalm promises that the wicked will be cut off, perish, and be no more, including those who obey not the gospel and those who remain impenitent. After yet a little while the wicked shall not be, and when his place is diligently considered it shall not be found. The enemies of the Lord shall be as the fat of lambs, consuming away into smoke, while the meek inherit the earth made new. Their temporary prosperity and present opposition to the righteous give no reason to envy them or to fret, since their inheritance is not future but cut off.
Their reward and punishment come on this earth where they did their deeds, not in a separate place apart from this earth called hell for endless misery. That punishment is death and extinction of life, bringing sin and rebellion to an end. The psalm is among the Old Testament passages implying a resurrection of the wicked to face it, after which the consumed wicked leave the earth to the righteous.
After the wicked are consumed, the meek and righteous possess the earth and inherit the land, preserved and upheld by God. This inheritance is still future, not merely the blessings of this present life. It is the renewed heaven and earth made new, not a system made of new materials, just as the new creature in Christ is a renewed man. There the righteous dwell securely in lasting peace forever to eternity upon the land of promise.
Patience in Oppression
The psalm sets the temporary success of hostile opponents against a still future inheritance, so their apparent prosperity gives no cause to envy them or to fret over them, and confidence is to rest in trusting God. The wicked are allowed to prosper for a time while they plot against the just and vent hostility upon him, yet they will be cut off while God preserves the righteous. The portion promised to the meek is the earth made new, not merely the blessings belonging to this present life.
For lone and oppressed pilgrims the plotting and gnashing of teeth means fierce hatred and raging opposition, but the call is not to despond or faint and instead to endure with patience unto the coming of the Lord. Persecutors will not prevail forever, for the Lord laughs at the plotter because He sees that his day of judgment is coming. God will not forsake His saints but will ultimately defeat their persecutors and preserve His faithful people.
The present pressure serves as a furnace that purifies away dross until Christ sees His own image reflected in the sufferers. The Jubilee of promise is drawing near, when One stronger than the strong man armed will come, spoil his goods, and loose His prisoners to bring them homeward.