Psalm 37:29
The righteous shall inherit the land and dwell upon it forever.

Comments:

People consider it important to own land. Consider how many wars have been fought over land, either to protect one’s land from an invader, or to take new land that is needed for expansion. The Homestead Act of 1862 offered land to settlers who would develop it, and the result was a burst of westward expansion as American citizens jumped at the opportunity to own a piece of land. The most famous episode is perhaps the Oklahoma Land Run of 1889, in which an estimated 50,000 people lined up to rush in at the appointed time and stake a claim for tracts of land of up to 160 acres. Whether we are speaking of  a nation’s territory or the personal property of individual families, land is necessary to live on and for producing food and other necessities of life. This is why land rights are fundamental to personal prosperity and security. And this is why the promise of God in Psalm 37:29 is so significant!

The English word inherit is perhaps a bit misleading, although it seems the be the choice of most English translations. We usually think of “inheriting” property as the result of someone dying and leaving it to us. The Hebrew word here may include that idea, but it is actually a much broader term. It simply means to possess something, and it could be by conquest as well as by inheritance. The point is that the righteous end up with the land.

Although this promise may be applied literally to the people of Israel in the promised land, I would see a broader application in the promises of God to His people. The Lord is promising all of His people security and provision, not necessarily a tract of 160 acres in Oklahoma.

We are to understand that the righteous shall possess the land (live safely in abundance) because God will see to it that they get it. In this present world, we may well suffer loss and deprivation while we see the wicked prosper (cf. Psalm 37:1). This will be reversed because the LORD loves justice and will not forsake his saints (Psalm 37:28).

The blessing of being a “land owner” in the kingdom of God will last forever! The wicked do not realize how tenuous is their grip on what they own in this world. They will be dispossessed forever while we who know the Lord enjoy the wonders of  an everlasting life will never be taken away.

Biblical Doctrine: Eschatology – The final result of life, after we have gone through a more or less difficult life in this world, will be absolute security and provision from the Lord.

My Responsibility: Be like Abraham, who was  looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God.

Question: Have you staked a claim for your land in the kingdom of God?

Prayer: Help me to remember, Lord, that this earth is not my home, but that I have a place in glory of my own waiting for me.

All scripture quotations, unless otherwise noted, are from the English Standard Version of the Bible