Rotimi EWEDEMI Very keen Bible Researcher

"The righteous shall inherit the land, and dwell upon it for ever" (Psalm 37:29 ESV). Similar rendering is found in virtually all the English language bibles in eBible website. 

In order for us to understand what "land" means, we need to read the whole chapter 37. Clearly, the Psalmist was pontificating on life of humans living on the planet earth, which, as the Bible says, was created by God as an everlasting home for humankind. The following scriptures are relevant:

"The heaven, even the heavens, are the LORD’s: but the earth hath he given to the children of men" (Psalm 115:16 KJV). 
"For thus saith the LORD that created the heavens; God himself that formed the earth and made it; he hath established it, he created it not in vain, he formed it to be inhabited: I am the LORD; and there is none else" (Isaiah 45:18 KJV).
"One generation passeth away, and another generation cometh: but the earth abideth for ever (Ecclesiastes 1:4 KJV). 
"Bless the LORD, O my soul. O LORD my God, thou art very great;...who stretchest out the heavens... Who maketh his angels spirits; Who laid the foundations of the earth, that it should not be removed for ever (Psalm 104:1 - 5 KJV).
In addition, the creation story in Genesis makes us to understand that God's clear intention or purpose was for Adam and his offsprings to live on the earth everlastingly, provided Adam obeyed God's instruction, Genesis 2:15-17; 3:22-24. It was this disobedience that caused Adam to lose his life in death. And, of course, as the study of the Bible shows, God provided a way of salvation for Adam's offspring through the RANSOME sacrifice of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Jesus' sacrifice will ultimately enable "obedient" or " righteous" or " meek" humans to live on the earth FORVEVER. In other words, Jesus came to reverse or undo what Adam had done, Gen 3:15.

Now, let us get back to Psalms 37. The Psalmist is advising people (who of course are inhabitants of the earth) not to be wicked or do evil but to do good and trust in and wait upon the Lord. He realizes that most will be wicked and evil, but he is advising that those kind of people should not be emulated or even envied as they may appear to prosper. Why? Because such wicked and ungodly people will ultimately be removed from the earth and will not be allowed to continue living in the God-given place of habitation...the earth. He assures the righteous that if they continue on their godly path, they will be allowed by God to continue to dwell on the earth after the wicked have been cut off, or destroyed. 

Hear the Psalmist: 
"For yet a little while, and the wicked shall not be: yea, thou shalt diligently consider his place, and it shall not be. But the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace (Psalm 37:10-11 KJV). "Wait on the LORD, and keep his way, and he shall exalt thee to inherit the land: when the wicked are cut off, thou shalt see it (Psalm 37:34 KJV).

The words of the wise King Solomon also are in line with the Psalmist's: 

"For the upright shall dwell in the land, and the perfect shall remain in it. But the wicked shall be cut off from the earth, and the transgressors shall be rooted out of it" (Proverbs 2:21-22 KJV). 

Jesus himself gave the following assurance in confirmation of Solomon's and the Psalmist's words: " Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth "(Matthew 5:5 KJV).

This very planet earth that we live on now is referred to as "old" or " first earth" in Revelation 21 because it is mainly inhabited by ungodly people, and full of trouble. God will bring a change through his kingdom under Jesus by wiping out the ungodly and troublesome mankind from this earth. Only those who love God and neighbours; who worship him with spirit and truth; and have faith in Jesus (the righteous) will be "left over" to remain" on earth. 

This same very earth will then become the " new" earth, now filled with a new society of godly happy humans.

December 30 2016 • 5 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report