But the humble will inherit the land and will delight themselves in abundant prosperity.
Psalm 37:11 NASB
Abraham reasoned that if Isaac died, God was able to bring him back to life again. And in a sense, Abraham did receive his son back from the dead. Hebrews 11:19
Long before David wrote Psalm 37, the godly who had received the promise of God thought outside the box. They trusted that God could work miracles to keep His promise. And in fact this Psalm 37 leans heavily on the promise of a land given to Abraham (Genesis 12:1-3,7, 15:18–20). David mentions the land 6 times.
v.3 “Dwell in the land”
v.9 “they will inherit the land.”
v.11 “will inherit the land”
v.22 “inherit the land”
v.29 “inherit the land”
v.34 “inherit the land”
David writes Psalm 37:11 But the humble will inherit the land and will delight themselves in abundant prosperity.
As I read Psalm 37 I kept hearing snippets from the sermon on the mount spoken by Jesus and recorded for us in the gospel of Matthew 5-7. But you will notice that Jesus has expanded the promise to the whole earth. Matthew 5:5 “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.
The promise of a place is paramount in God’s plan for the godly from Eden to heaven. The land expanded to the earth is a path worthy of a book and definitely a Bible study in and of itself. But Jesus takes this promise and not only expands it from the promised land to the whole earth, but then takes it even further. Matthew 5:10: “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”
Heaven and earth belong to the Lord, and He lives and rules in both. God is bringing heaven and earth together in unity under the reign of King Jesus. So when David speaks of the promises of God being applied to the righteous in ways that seem unbelievable, you must take into consideration how Abraham believed God’s supernatural abilities to keep His promise and God’s ultimate end game of uniting heaven and earth. Thus the land in such a context is the kingdom and even heaven. Matthew 5:12: Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”
“For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass from the Law until all is accomplished.” Matthew 5:18
So David knew God could keep His promise. And that is the point of Psalm 37.
MAIN POINT: The godly can be sure God will keep His promise, and they will live with God in His promise.
So now when you think of David, Joseph, Daniel, Job or Jesus, you can see this promise in a much larger context, just as Abraham did and Jesus taught us to.
Psalm 37
32 The wicked wait in ambush for the godly, looking for an excuse to kill them.
33 But the Lord will not let the wicked succeed or let the godly be condemned when they are put on trial.
Jesus was condemned. He did die. His enemies did kill him.
But He rose from the dead. God is calling you to have faith in His promise beyond the grave.
Abraham knew this. I believe David had it in mind when writing Psalm 37 and Jesus clarifies it for us in the sermon on the mount and in the Lord’s prayer.
Matthew 6:8-13
8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.
9 “This, then, is how you should pray:
“‘Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
10 your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
11 Give us today our daily bread.
12 And forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
13 And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from the evil one.’
Live here knowing you are receiving an inheritance that can not be taken away.
Abraham “was looking for the city which has foundations, whose architect and builder is God.” Hebrews 11:10
Matthew 6
19 “Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. 21 Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.
1 Peter 1:4 To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you
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