While this Psalm begins with the exhortation, “Fret not thyself” (as considered in the previous study), it continues with an examination of the characteristics on the people who do not fret.

The leading characteristic of God’s people is that they will inherit the earth. For the Jew, this represented their heritage, the inheritance that was promised them since Abraham their father. Whatever their problems and adversities they looked to the God who would keep His Word. In like fashion, in this wicked world we trust the God Who cannot fail; the covenant keeping God of Israel.

When our Saviour was delivering His mandate for the New Testament Church He took up the words of the 37th Psalm making them applicable for the new age that He was ushering in:

Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.

Matthew 5:5

The power of the Christian faith comes into focus with this promise; God’s people have promises to claim where this world is concerned. The Christ Himself through His gentleness, grace, submission to suffering and humiliation in death became the conquering Saviour, rising again from the grave. So likewise His bride becomes strong through weakness:

As unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and, behold, we live; as chastened, and not killed; As sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.

2nd Corinthians 6:9-10

The meek really do inherit the earth becoming Kings and priests, stepping into the power of His resurrection.

The Permanence of God’s People

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.
The wicked plotteth against the just,
and gnasheth upon him with his teeth.
The Lord shall laugh at him:
for he seeth that his day is coming.

Psalm 37:10-13

While the wicked may appear to prosper, their success will be short lived as the judgement day approaches. Whatever they possess in this life will be lost, all their power and influence will count for nothing in the light of eternity. As we observe the ungodly secular mindset in its constant assaults upon God, let us remember that God laughs at their puny rebellion.

The Church of Christ on the other hand represents something which will never pass away. Truth is permanent, the Word of God never passes away, the Gospel will flourish in the world and the Christian will reign as King and Queen with Christ in the new heaven and new earth.

Those that are sure of an everlasting inheritance in the other world have no reason to envy the wicked in their transitory possessions and pleasures in this world, That in the worst of times it shall go well with them
They shall not be ashamed of their hope and confidence in God, nor of the profession they have made of religion; for the comfort of that will stand them in stead, and be a real support to them, in evil times

Matthew Henry

This is especially relevant as we consider Satan’s current role as “the god of this world’ and ‘the Prince of the power of the air”. When cast out of heaven Lucifer was exiled to Earth where he creates menace, evil and suffering. His dominion, however, is temporary and his power is not absolute because God is in ultimate control. Nevertheless, the Devil’s attempt to coerce Jesus into worshipping him to receive the Kingdoms of the World would indicate that he actually believes the planet and its people are his! It is no wonder that man thinks He owns the Earth and that he has supreme authority. The human race is as delusional as the one who has created the delusions!

The Scripture gives us a different perspective. The future belongs not to the Governments of this world with their theories and philosophies, nor does it belong to the various Christless religions with their billions of adherents BUT to the simple followers of the man from Galilee, born of a virgin, died and resurrected.

The Prosperity of God’s People

A little that a righteous man hath
is better than the riches of many wicked.
For the arms of the wicked shall be broken:
but the LORD upholdeth the righteous.
The LORD knoweth the days of the upright:
and their inheritance shall be for ever.
They shall not be ashamed in the evil time:
and in the days of famine they shall be satisfied.
But the wicked shall perish,
and the enemies of the LORD shall be as the fat of lambs:
they shall consume; into smoke shall they consume away.

Psalm 37:16-20

The wealth of the ungodly is only for a little while. There is no profit to be had in the accumulating of money and property if one is without God. To be spirituality poor is to be bankrupt in the sight of God.

On the other hand, the Christian may have little in the eyes of the world and be blessed with much more than the world will ever have, being an heir of God.

Elijah was a remarkable example of this, living in days of famine. The Lord supported His servant through the ministry of ravens and a poor widow woman. While Ahab was sending his servants to look for grass, Elijah, living a life of obedience, was abundantly satisfied.

This challenges us regarding the value we place upon material things and our sensitivity to that which is of eternal worth. Striving for God’s blessing and seeking the treasure that is in heaven must be the preoccupation of God’s children.

The Propriety of God’s People

The wicked borroweth, and payeth not again:
but the righteous sheweth mercy, and giveth.
For such as be blessed of him shall inherit the earth;
and they that be cursed of him shall be cut off.

Psalm 37:21-22

He is ever merciful, and lendeth;
and his seed is blessed.
Depart from evil, and do good;
and dwell for evermore.
For the LORD loveth judgment,
and forsaketh not his saints;
they are preserved for ever:
but the seed of the wicked shall be cut off.
The righteous shall inherit the land,
and dwell therein for ever.
The mouth of the righteous speaketh wisdom,
and his tongue talketh of judgment.
The law of his God is in his heart;
none of his steps shall slide.

Psalm 37:26-31

Those who rebel against God may appear to be liberal and kind with their emphasis upon equality and freedom. One only has to scratch the surface of the secular mindset though, to discover that the niceties are just a veneer; there is a hidden darkness which is not difficult to find. That which is opposed to God and His Word as the source of all wisdom and goodness will always be bad, wicked.

The people of God are the genuine liberals, because they uphold God’s righteous cause; with convictions grounded upon the grace, love and righteousness, which are contained in the wisdom of God’s precious Word.

The Preservation of God’s People

The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD:
and he delighteth in his way.
Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down:
for the LORD upholdeth him with his hand.
I have been young, and now am old;
yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken,
nor his seed begging bread.

Psalm 37:23-25

The wicked will not be preserved, whereas God will protect and strengthen His people. We may lose earthly riches, we may become poorer but never destitute. We may stumble along life’s journey but the Lord will lift us up, rescuing us from being downtrodden.

The Prayerfulness of God’s People

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

Waiting is a frequent description of prayer by the Psalmist. We plead the promises, we continue being faithful always believing that God’s righteous cause will be vindicated.

Bind Him not to a day, wake not my Beloved till He please

John Trapp

While we are waiting, let us take heed of wavering

Thomas Watson

The Peace of God’s People

I have seen the wicked in great power,
and spreading himself like a green bay tree.
Yet he passed away, and, lo, he was not:
yea, I sought him, but he could not be found.
Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright:
for the end of that man is peace.
But the transgressors shall be destroyed together:
the end of the wicked shall be cut off.
But the salvation of the righteous is of the LORD:
he is their strength in the time of trouble.
And the LORD shall help them,
and deliver them: he shall deliver them from the wicked,
and save them, because they trust in him.

Psalm 37:35-40

The wicked will either be forgotten or remembered only for their infamy. This is in spite of the fact that in their lives they appear rooted, like the Green Bay tree in its natural habitat. By contrast the righteous man will end his days in peace. In trouble the weakness of the ungodly is exposed whereas the people of God will experience God’s power in their days of natural weakness. God will never forget His own.

Oh shame on our faithlessness, mistrust and vile unbelief that we do not believe such rich, powerful, consolatory, declarations of God

Martin Luther