The expression “the birds and the bees” can be applied to more things in life than the talk a parent has with his teen or preteen about his/her sexual maturity into adulthood and the capacity for procreation. Psalm 37 was written by David in the wisdom and insightfulness of old age. He has been young and now he is old (v. 25), and from this vantage point of experience and seasoned perception, he writes about the spiritual facts of life. He lists these nine immutable truths:
- Evil doers are cut off; those who wait upon the Lord thrive (vv. 9-11).
- The wicked plot against the just and self-destruct (vv. 12-15).
- A righteous man with little is better off than a wicked rich man (vv. 16-17).
- The Lord knows the days of the upright and preserves them; the wicked perish (vv. 18-20).
- The wicked borrow and do not repay; the righteous show mercy and give (vv. 21-22).
- The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord and are blessed (vv. 23-26).
- The Lord loves justice and is faithful; He cuts off the wicked (vv. 27-29).
- The mouth of the righteous is trustworthy (vv. 30-31).
- The wicked ever opposes the righteous (vv. 32-33).
In light of these immutable facts of life, David’s wise counsel is: “Wait on the Lord, and He shall exalt you to inherit the land; when the wicked are cut off, you shall see it. I have seen the wicked in great power and spreading himself like a native green tree. Yet he passed away, and behold, he was no more; indeed, I sought him, but he could not be found. Mark the blameless man and observe the upright; for the future of that man is peace. But the transgressors shall be destroyed together; the future of the wicked shall be cut off. But the salvation of the righteous is from the Lord; He is their strength in the time of trouble. And the Lord shall help them and deliver them; He shall deliver them from the wicked and save them, because they trust in Him” (vv. 34-40).
