Build Up People!

March 3, 2026

Scripture

“The wicked draw the sword and bend their bows to bring down the poor and needy, to kill those who walk uprightly; their sword shall enter their own heart, and their bows shall be broken.”  Psalm 37:14-15

Build Up People!

I am struck by the contrast David makes between those who are righteous (i.e., their first love is Jesus;  see Revelation 2:4) and those who are wicked (i.e., their first love is self; see II Timothy 3:2-5). 

Throughout Psalm 37, David says the righteous will receive (i.e., “inherit”) good things from the Lord God.  In contrast, he says the wicked will be destroyed.  In Psalm 37, we hear again that even though the wicked will attack and attempt to destroy the righteous, especially those who are poor and needy, in the end the wicked will ultimately be destroyed by the Lord God.

In Psalm 37:14-15 David writes; “The wicked draw the sword and bend their bows to bring down the poor and needy, to kill those who walk uprightly; their sword shall enter their own heart, and their bows shall be broken.”    

Although the wicked will attack and try to destroy the righteous and the poor and the needy, their wicked ways will come to an end.  The destruction the wicked attempt to perpetuate on others will come back to destroy them.

David says the sword they use to attack the righteous, will eventually destroy their own heart.  The violence the wicked propagate and perpetuate will eventually enter their own heart.  The wicked are often destroyed from the inside to the outside. 

The obsession of the wicked with power and position and prosperity and possessions consume their heart and motivate their attempts to destroy those they perceive to be in their way.  They allow pride, greed, lust, envy, overindulgence, anger, and spiritual apathy to rule their heart.  They choose to adore self rather than adore the Lord God.  Their first love is self. 

These things stand in sharp contrast to the things the Lord God desires to fill our heart.  In Galatians 5:22-23 the Apostle Paul describes the fruit of the Holy Spirit; “…the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.”  The fruit of the Holy Spirit will fill the hearts of those whose first love is Jesus.

The violence and the distress, the hatred and the anger, the hostility and the loathing, the bitterness and the malice, the injustice and the prejudice, the resentment and the bullying, the terrorism and the coercion that the wicked release on other people will eventually enter their own heart and destroy them.

David also says the bows used to inflict harm on the righteous will be broken.  The things and the methods the wicked use to attack or harass or strike the righteous will eventually be destroyed by the Lord God.  Both the strategies the wicked use to attack the righteous as well as the heart of the wicked will be destroyed. 

If you are being attacked or feel you are about to be destroyed by a wicked person, there is a word of hope in Psalm 37:14-15.  David reminds us the attacks of the wicked will come to an end and the heart of the wicked who do not turn to the Lord will be destroyed. 

In the gap between now and whenever the wicked are put away, you will need strength and courage.  I encourage you to memorize the promise of the Lord God in Joshua 1:9; “I (the Lord God) hereby command you:  Be strong and courageous; do not be frightened or dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” 

It might also be helpful to ask if you are or have perpetuated harm on another person.  If you are not sure, ask a couple of close friends if they believe you are inflicting harm and hurt on someone.  If so, it is time to do a careful and prayerful heart check.  This might be your opportunity to spend some time listening for a Word from the Lord God. 

What is filling your heart and influencing your behavior today?  Is it pride, greed, lust, envy, overindulgence, anger, or spiritual apathy?  Or, is it love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control?  The former leads to death and destruction.  The latter leads to life and building up other people.      

Reflect

What is filling your heart and impacting your relationships most today?  Why do you suppose those things have risen to the top in your relationships with and attitude towards other people?  How might you begin to pray differently for the wounds the wicked have caused you?  How might you begin to pray differently for the hurt and harm you have inflicted on another person? 

Pray

Lord God, I confess there are days when all my motivations do not flow from a heart filled with the fruit of the Holy Spirit.  Forgive me for not allowing the Holy Spirit to produce good fruit in my heart, mind, and soul.  Holy Spirit, I surrender to you today with the confidence you will heal the hurt in my heart, do a purging of what is wicked and self-centered in my heart, and create in me a clean and right heart.  I pray in the name of Jesus.  Amen.

Act

What would it look like to invite two or three friends together to help you discern (honestly!) the things that are motivating you towards wickedness or are guiding you towards a life of holiness?  Consider extending the invitations and setting a time to visit.