"But the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace."
Psalm 37:11
God loves His “chosen people” Israel. Throughout the Old Testament He made promises to Israel, some were fulfilled then, and others wait to be fulfilled in the future. In our verse today we find one of those promises that was partially fulfilled in the Old Testament days but is waiting to be completely fulfilled when Jesus the Messiah is sitting on the throne of His father, David, in the millennium. What a great promise!
“But the meek…” This Hebrew word used here in the original means “humble.”1 This is a word that has been noted before, it means “poor, humble, afflicted, meek.”2 So it is the “humble” that “inherit the earth.” Also in this Psalm we read that “Those that wait upon the LORD,” will “inherit the earth,” (Psalm 37:9) as well as those who are “blessed of Him shall inherit the earth,” (Psalm 37:22).
“But the meek shall inherit the earth…” Notice, it’s not the wealthy or the great or the powerful, but “the humble that inherit the earth.” Why? Because these are the kind of people, the meek, the mild, gentle, humble people, that God calls His friends. These are the opposite of the proud, arrogant, and wicked people, the ones that will do anything to get ahead in this life. The meek are those who know and trust the LORD. In verse 3 God promised to Israel that she would “dwell in the land,” this is the “land” that God promised to Abraham centuries earlier. And even though there are wicked men around them God said “verily thou shalt be fed.” He would meet their needs in the land.
To the “humble” God will allow them to “delight themselves in the abundance of peace.” Of course their Messiah would be the source of their happiness. He would provide them peace, “tranquility and quietness” though-out this earthly life.
You might be wondering what all this has to do with us today. Well the same God who wanted His people to be humble back in the Old Testament, is the same God who wants His people to be humble today also. God granted peace to the humble back then and He gives believers peace today: “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,” (Romans 5:1). And the fact that God kept His promises to Israel in the Old Testament days gives believers today great confidence that He will also take care of His children today and in the days to come!
Believers, are you trusting this promise keeping God to meet your needs today?
1. Psalm 9:12 uses the same Hebrew word and translates it as “humble.” “When he maketh inquisition for blood, he remembereth them: he forgetteth not the cry of the humble” (Psalm 9:12).
2. Brown-Driver-Briggs’ Hebrew Definitions, electronic format in eSword.