Psalm 37: 20 Reasons Not to Give a Bribe

By Priscilla
Psalm 37 (NIV)


Friends in my home country in India often lament about the corruptness of public officials they come in contact with. Whether it is getting a house or vehicle registered, voter’s card, moving furniture from one state to another – there seems to always be some official or paper pusher who wants their palm greased. And in the determination not to succumb to the pressure of giving a bribe – the work is delayed, a file goes ‘missing’, the only person available to sign the final document is, err…away and will be back in ‘two weeks’. This and lots of other excuses routinely cropped. And everyday as they wait patiently at reception, hoping that surely their file will be signed today. They watch as other people stroll in, get their paperwork signed and walk out smiling. It’s tempting when they know that they are only a few hundred rupees away from sauntering out of that office - registration signed and completed.

But this psalm is one of amazing hope to those of us who find ourselves surrounded by people who look like they are batting one six after another and never get out despite all their LBWs.

Psalm 37 clearly promises that if we follow God wholeheartedly then:

• We will dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture (vs 3) 
• God will give us the desires of our heart (vs 4) 
• Our righteousness reward will shine like the dawn (vs 6) 
• Our vindication like the noonday sun (vs 6) 
• We will inherit the land (vs 9, 11, 29, 34) 
• We will enjoy peace and prosperity (vs 11) 
• In famine, we will enjoy plenty (vs 18) 
• Though we may stumble, we won’t fall. God will uphold us (vs 24) 
• We will not be forsaken, nor will our children go hungry (vs 25) 
• Their children will be a blessing (vs 26) 
• God will not forsake those who are faithful (vs 28) 
• God will not leave us to the power of the wicked (vs 33) 
• God will be our stronghold in times of trouble (vs 39) 
• God will deliver us from the wicked (vs 40) 

I’m not quite sure what half of the above mean, i.e. our righteousness reward will shine like the dawn (vs 6) but it sounds pretty awesome! More so everything else.


As for the wicked, this psalm tell us that:

• Like the grass, they will wither and die (vs 2) 
• Those who are evil will be destroyed (vs 9 & 28) 
• Their swords will pierce their own hearts (vs 15) 
• They will go up in smoke (vs 20) 
• Their children will perish (vs 28) 
• There is no future for the wicked (vs 38) 

When we read it together like that – it’s a sure motivation to run as far away from doing evil as possible.

Let’s run instead towards our Holy God. By staying close to Him and allowing our lives to be moulded by His Word, let us persevere in doing what is right. It may take longer to get our paperwork sorted but in doing that we know that we are pleasing God and building into the earthly and eternal rewards that He has promised.