RR Psalm 37:37,38 Part 23

Shalom,

Psalm 37:37 Notice the man of integrity and watch the upright—for the man of shalom has a future. 38 But transgressors will be destroyed altogether. The future of the wicked will be cut off.

The first word of these two verses is “Shamar,” which starts with a “Shin” (the second to the last letter of the “Aleph-Bet.”  And yes, it is from the same Shoresh as the first name of our congregation (Shomair Yisrael).  It means (selected from Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance), “Guard; generally, to protect or to attend to,… be circumspect, take heed (to self), keep(-er, self),… save (self), sure, (that lay) wait (for), watch(-man).  It is translated here as “notice.”  I would have said, “Watch for….”

Watch over the blameless [man] (“Tam” in Hebrew), translated here as a “man of integrity.”  “Tam” is first used to describe Jacob (Genesis 25:27) and later to describe Job (Job 1:1), and then the beloved bride of Messiah in Song 5:2.  Back to our subject verse… verse 37 goes on to talk about how this perfect man will end up.  It says that after everything else, he will be a man of “Shalom.”  Shalom means more than the usual translation of “peace.”  Shalom means complete, whole, lacking nothing, and satisfied.  

Verse 38 discusses the fate of “transgressors.”  It describes the one thing they do together, they get destroyed.  The appositive to that is that these “wicked” men are “cut off.”  This word for “cut” in Hebrew is “Karah.”  It is used consistently in Scripture to describe God’s action, whenever He “cuts covenant” throughout history.  The cutting of covenant is how God joins Himself to those who are righteous and follow Him.  

Now, this same word is being used to describe the separation of the wicked from the presence of the Lord.  The distinction is clear, the righteous are “cut in” to the presence of God, while the wicked are cut off FROM the presence of God.  Family and friends, make wise choices that will lead to eternal shalom in the presence of God.  Be the “wise man.”

Matthew 7:24 Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock.

Shalom shalom.  (The double portion of “Shalom” is the superlative, “Shalom-y-est” shalom you can get.)

Daily Bread, reading plan by Lars Enarson (https://www.thewatchman.org/)
Tue28-Oct-20256th of Cheshvan, 5786
Ge 13:5-18Jos 16-17Ps 17Mt 12(2 Pet 2)