“For evildoers shall be cut off; but those who wait on the LORD, they shall inherit the earth. For yet a little while and the wicked shall be no more; indeed, you will look carefully for his place, but it shall be no more. But the meek shall inherit the earth, and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.”
Psalm 37:9-11
How do we live in a perverse and wicked generation? How are we supposed to react when evil goes unpunished? What are we supposed to do? This is what Psalm 37 teaches those who will follow the word of the LORD, those who will place their trust in Him and not in their own wisdom.
So far, we have been warned: do not be overcome by anger, do not be overcome by anger, do not be overcome by anger, cease from anger, flee from wrath it only causes evil, and you cannot overcome the evil you see with more evil. We are also commanded not to fall into the other ditch by being envious of the wicked and their prosperity. This is what we are not supposed to do. What are we supposed to do? Trust in the Lord, trust in the Lord again, continue doing good, live, take ownership of the land in which you dwell among the wicked, feed on the faithfulness of the Lord, delight yourself in His ways, rest in His promises, and wait patiently for Him to act. The battle is the Lord’s. And the Lord promises that He will cut the wicked down, they will wither and dry up, and He will vindicate you in the sight of all. Your righteousness will shine as a light in the day of the Lord’s reckoning.
Today’s meditation in verses 9-11 continues this same thought. In these verses we see that our response to wickedness is to be meek. And an essential aspect to true meekness is patience, waiting on the Lord. Meekness is power under control and confident humility. It means being submitted to the will of the Lord even though you have the power to strike back. John Piper describes meekness wonderfully as, “The power to absorb adversity and criticism without lashing back.” This restraint is not because of fear, or weakness but rather in submission to the word of the Lord. Moses embodied this in his leadership of Israel. David embodies meekness in refusing to kill Saul even though he could have done so.
Of course, Jesus is the perfect example of meekness. Jesus’ quality of meekness was clearly seen in the Garden of Gethsemane when Peter took out a sword and attacked those who came to arrest Him. Jesus tells Peter that He could call down more than twelve legions of angels if He wanted to, but He will submit to the word of the Lord and the will of the Father and go to the cross. That is true meekness!
Jesus, in the Sermon on the Mount, quotes this section of Psalm 37, “Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.” In Matthew 5:5. This is His character and it is to be the character of all His disciples. Christians are called to be meek. Meekness is manifesting the image of Christ in us. Like Jesus, like David, and like Moses, in the face of the wicked we are to absorb adversity and criticism, submit ourselves to the word of the Lord not lashing back in anger or giving up in frustration, but waiting patiently and confidently on the Lord for our vindication. And in Psalm 37 the LORD promises that the wicked will be cut off, they will disappear and we will inherit the earth. Indeed, meekness is how we inherit the earth.
Glory to the Lord of hosts!
His mercy endures forever!
Pastor Flynn
