A Little That a Righteous Man Hath Is Better - Psalm 37:16-17

Outlines in Psalms

This is a companion outline to two previous outlines:  
    Fret Not Thyself Because of Evildoers – Psalm 37:1-2, 7-10
    Trust in the Lord, and Do Good – Psalm 37:3-8, 27, 34
    But the Salvation of the Righteous is of the LORD – Psalm 37

The purpose of Psalm 37 is to exhort and encourage God’s faithful servants concerning the prosperity of the wicked, which certainly appears at first to be an unfair and unrighteous reality of this life.  Indeed, it can be a great frustration unto the hearts of the faithful to see “the wicked in great power, and spreading himself like a green bay tree” (Psalm 37:35).  In fact, if we dwell on this frustration, it can easily and quickly turn us back from our walk with the Lord and lead us down into the pit of sinful iniquity (See Psalm 73:2-3).  So then, how does Psalm 37 exhort us and encourage us concerning this matter?  In three previous outlines (see above), we considered the prohibition concerning our attitude at the prosperity of the wicked, the proclamation concerning the judgment of the Lord against the wicked, the precept concerning our walk with the Lord, and the promise concerning the favor of the Lord upon the righteous.  In this outline we shall consider the practice of the wicked and of the righteous and the principle concerning righteousness’ being the better way.

The Practice

The Practice of the Wicked

   I.  He Brings Wicked Devices to Pass.

       Psalm 37:7b – “Fret not thyself because of him 
       who prospereth in the way, because of the man
       that bringeth wicked devices to pass.” 

  II.  He Plots against the Righteous.

       Psalm 37:12 – “The wicked plotteth against the
       just, and gnasheth upon him with his teeth.”

 III.  He Seeks to Destroy the Righteous.

       Psalm 37:14 – “The wicked have drawn out the
       sword, and have bent their bow, to cast down the
       poor and needy, and to slay such as be of upright
       conversation.”

       Psalm 37:32 – “The wicked watcheth the right-
       eous, and seeketh to slay him.”

IV.  He Dishonestly Borrows & Doesn't Pay Back.

       Psalm 37:21a – “The wicked borroweth, and
       payeth not again.”

The Practice of the Righteous

IV.  He Sets His Trust in the Lord.

       Psalm 37:40b – “He [the Lord] shall deliver them
       [the righteous] from the wicked, and save them,
       because they trust in him.”

  III.  He Follows God’s Word from His Heart.

       Psalm 37:31a – “The law of his God is in his
       heart.”

 II.  He Speaks Forth the Wisdom of God.

       Psalm 37:30 – “The mouth of the righteous
       speaketh wisdom, and his tongue talketh of
       judgment.”





 I.  He Mercifully Gives to Those in Need.

       Psalm 37:21b – “But the righteous sheweth
       mercy, and giveth.”

       Psalm 37:26a – “He is ever merciful, and lendeth.”

The Principle

       Psalm 37:16-17 – “A little that a righteous man hath is better than the riches of many wicked.  For the arms
       of the wicked shall be broken: but the LORD upholdeth the righteous.”

Posted in Outlines in Psalms, Rebellion against God, Walk in Righteousness, Word of God, Godly Giving,
Blessing of the Lord, Judgment of Our Lord

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