Psalm 37: A Map for the Righteous

by Darci Steiner

Published on October 22, 2025

Sometimes, after I sit with some biblical text, I visualize it more clearly in pictures; it’s just how my brain works. My brain saw the summary chart below as I meditated on Psalm 37. This chart does not encapsulate the entirety of Psalm 37, but three primary themes stand out:

1. The whole of the Psalm discusses the “righteous” versus the “unrighteous.”
2. The first of two repeated themes is, “Do not fret…” (3x).
3. The second of two repeated themes is, “The righteous will inherit the land” (8x).

Repeated texts shout, “This is important!”.

The red column highlights the “Do Nots,” and the green, the “Dos,” and then the “Result” of doing that thing. For example, the meek will “inherit the land,” is also outlined in Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5:5. Inheriting the land is a big deal to God. The righteous will receive it, just as David fought battles against Israelite enemies to secure land for the Israelite tribes. And the Promised Land was the lure for the Israelites, who repeatedly failed to secure it because they did not trust in him. They did not turn from evil and idols and do good. Many of them died in the desert and never entered that land of milk and honey because of their rebellion to his ways. God wants to give us good gifts, but if he gave them to disobedient rebellious children, he would not exemplify a good father, would he?

I encourage you to sit with the chart and Psalm 37. Ask yourself what you are fretting over. Ultimately, fretting leads to evil. Think about that. We are to trust that he has good plans for those who follow his ways (the righteous). He will not give a heavenly inheritance to those who do not follow his ways, so heavenly land awaits only some. This is a biblical truth made known to everyone. Some will listen and not reject him, similar to when the Israelite nation had the opportunity to inherit the Promised Land. God’s gift to the Israelites was promised, but most chose their self-serving ways over his, and so he gave the land to a few who listened and stood for him (Caleb and Joshua!) and the Israelite children 19 years and younger (see Numbers 13-14).

Listen to him, dear friend. Sit with the chart and Psalm 37, and decide where you stand in your relationship with him (on the same side or not), and determine where you want to be (on the same side or not). Do you want to trust him more? Hope in him? Commit your way to him? How will you move from point A to point B? My compass and map is my Bible.

Spend some time in the Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John) to begin grasping his truths. His Word never changes like shifting sands. He is the way, the truth, and the life. He is God.

Darci J. Steiner is the author of the award-winning biblically-based book Beauty Beyond the Thorns: Discovering Gifts in Suffering. She began writing as a way to process her pain after becoming disabled. Darci writes to encourage others always to hold on to hope. Darci is an author, inspirational speaker, and nutritionist. She loves spending time with her husband, two adult daughters, and baby granddaughter. Please visit www.darcijsteiner.com to learn about her books and speaking details.

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2 Comments

Papa moose on October 25, 2025 at 2:47 PM

Wow! This is excellent and hit home … Thank you for writing this and sharing it.
Reply
- Darci J Steiner on October 26, 2025 at 11:12 AM
  
  You are so welcome! There is so much wisdom in Psalm 37. Glad you enjoyed it!
  Reply

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