In part one of my meditation on Psalm 37, King David told me to not fret about those who do evil because they will perish. In part two, he told me to instead trust in the Lord and do good. Part three reminded me that God does in fact care for the righteous and brings justice. Now to my fourth and final meditation on this rich psalm. David delineates what I can look forward to when I live as the righteous person he has declared me to be¹, and trust in him as the God who cares for me.

God grants spiritual and physical rewards to the righteous.

David emphasizes three times that I’ll “dwell in the land” (3, 27, 29). Dwell is such a beautiful theme throughout scripture because from the very beginning God desired to dwell with his people and went to great lengths to dwell in me. I don’t have a physical land to reside in as the Israelites did, but I abide in the Lord (1 John 4:13). And as such I have everything I need.

I’ll also “enjoy safe pasture” (3) or, more literally, “graze on his faithfulness” (NKJV). David, the quintessential shepherd, uses terms he understands to describe life in God’s pastures. He means that I’ll be shepherded well. Faithfulness “summons believers to a life anchored in God’s steadfast character … and fulfilled in the Lord Jesus Christ.”²

Five times David tells me I’ll “inherit the land” (9, 11, 22, 29, 34). In addition he says my “inheritance will endure forever” (18). Because Jesus quoted this line in his Sermon on the Mount (Matt 5:5), I know that there is a promise in here for me too. God calls me his heir and as such, I inherit “every spiritual blessing in Christ” (Eph 1:3–14, 1 Pet 1:3–4).

The meek will “delight in the abundance of peace” (11 NKJV). This is the same word translated as delight in verse four. Peace is shalom. “Shalom embraces completeness, soundness, welfare, safety, tranquillity, friendship, and covenantal harmony. Across some 237 Old Testament occurrences it describes right relationship with God, neighbor, and creation, extending from internal serenity to societal order.”³

David then says I’ll have enough to eat (19) and my children won’t beg for bread (25). He means that we’ll be satisfied. This is David speaking from his own experience of seeing God take care of his children. (“I was young and now I am old, yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken or their children begging bread.”).

This verse has long been a comfort for me, a reminder that God will take care of me and my family. But what does this mean during the lean times which inevitably come? Have I been a bad parent if my children go wanting? Have I failed to trust God or delight in him? No, this verse does not promise that I or my children won’t suffer. It’s David’s reminder that God will be with us in the times of plenty and in times of want.

I “will not fall” (24). “Even when the righteous are “cast down,” they are not abandoned. The verb’s violent overtones magnify the assurance: whatever knocks the believer off his feet, God’s grasp keeps him from ruin.”⁴

I also “won’t slip” (31). The New Testament writer, Jude, concurs: “Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling” (Jude 24). This is “a subtle but potent reminder that every steadfast step is grace bestowed. Whether cried from the battlefield, the ash heap, or the sanctuary, the word invites God’s people to trust the One who enlarges their path and ensures that their feet—physical and spiritual—do not slip.”⁵

According to the psalmist, my “children will be a blessing” (26). However other translation put the emphasis on the children being blessed (NET, NKJV). Interestingly, The Passion Translation combines both possible meanings: “Their children are blessed and become a blessing.”

David says I’ll speak wise and just words (30). And God’s teachings and ways remain deep in my heart (31). The Message translation describes this vividly, “His heart pumps God’s Word like blood through his veins.”

I will see the wicked destroyed (34). This word encompasses both literal and figurative seeing, so I don’t know if David means I will literally watch the wicked’s demise but reality tells me probably not. Whichever it is, I can rest assured it will happen.

And lastly, “a future awaits those who seek peace” (37) whereas “there will be no future for the wicked” (38). The Hebrew literally says,”For the end of the [blameless and upright] is peace” or shalom.

I realize that by separating this psalm into topics, I ran the risk of conveying the false idea that I can in some way manipulate God to give peace and abundance by acting righteously. I think David’s point is this: As a righteous person (a new creation in Christ), I will enjoy shalom and have what I need whereas the wicked will disappear, if not now, certainly in the eternal future.

If you are one of God’s righteous, which of these rewards have you enjoyed?

PRAYER

Lord God, I am grateful for your rich rewards and blessings I inherit as your child. I don’t doubt your promise to care for me, but I do doubt my ability to live righteously, uprightly, and meekly. By your Spirit, complete the good work you started in me (Phil 1:6). I take David’s reminder to heart, that you will cut off the wicked. And while I wait, I trust that you will never abandon me or my family. You will give me a rich inheritance of shalom.

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1. I am righteous because Jesus has declared me to be so: “and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith” (Phil 3:9). ↩︎
2. https://biblehub.com/hebrew/530.htm ↩︎
3. https://biblehub.com/hebrew/7965.htm ↩︎
4. https://biblehub.com/hebrew/2904.htm ↩︎
5. https://biblehub.com/hebrew/4571.htm ↩︎