Psalm 37 Continued…
Psalm 37:11 But the meek will inherit the land and enjoy great peace.
In the sermon on the mount Jesus takes verse 11 from Psalm 37 and turns it into the third beatitude. Jesus said…
Matthew 5:5 Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
Jesus’ point here is that those who follow him and are persecuted for it in this life will be repaid many times over in heaven when they die. The meek may not have much in the way of earthly reward for their meekness, but their meekness is a quality that will be rewarded in heaven, for God blesses them.
In our Psalm, David’s use of inheritance is a strong theme. The Israelites were rewarded, for their faithful commitment of obedience to Yahweh, the Promised Land. This land was divided up and given to the 12 different tribes.
David uses the word “meek” which literally means “poor” or “helpless” or “impoverished.” Coming from a very impoverished family himself, David understood this promise of God in a unique way. But this was the truth of all Israelites at one point. They were “poor” “meek” slaves in Egypt. And God gave them this new land as a fulfillment of his promise to them.
Jesus expands on this historical reality of the meek’s possession of the earth and he makes it an expressed spiritual truth. That following him will not bring much on this earthly plain, but the promises of a beautiful hope-filled future on this earth is awaiting those who are faithful to him in this life.
This smacks hard against the teachings of the prosperity gospel charlatans who preach that God’s will is for every follower of Christ to experience material blessing in this life and not encounter suffering or sickness. But Christ beckons us to “follow in his steps” (1 Peter 2:21) and walk the path marked out for suffering and shame and hardship. That path ends in the promise of a new land where we dwell forever with God as his people and possession. Hallelujah!
PRAY
Thank you Father for your call on our lives to follow your Son. The path is not easy, but there is no greater Way.