What does Psalm 37:29 mean?
ESV: The righteous shall inherit the land and dwell upon it forever.
NIV: The righteous will inherit the land and dwell in it forever.
NASB: The righteous will inherit the land And dwell in it forever.
CSB: The righteous will inherit the land and dwell in it permanently.
NLT: The godly will possess the land and will live there forever.
KJV: The righteous shall inherit the land, and dwell therein for ever.
NKJV: The righteous shall inherit the land, And dwell in it forever.
Verse Commentary:
Although Israel has not yet possessed all the land God promised to Abraham and his descendants, someday Christ-honoring Jews will dwell securely in that land. God said to Abraham: "To your offspring I give this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the river Euphrates" (Genesis 15:18). In Genesis 17:8 he promised Abraham again: "I will give to you and to your offspring after you the land of your sojourning, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession."
The time of this possession awaits the second coming of the Messiah to establish His kingdom (Isaiah 9:6–7; Zephaniah 3:14–20). The prophet Micah wrote about the Messiah's kingdom and identified Jerusalem as its capital. He described it as a time of security, when every man will sit under his vine and fig tree, and no one will make him afraid (Micah 4:4). In verse 7 he pictured the Lord reigning from Mount Zion [Jerusalem] over the returnees to the Promised Land.
Verse Context:
Psalm 37:21–31 points out the blessings of the righteous. David describes not only their blessings but also their character and conduct. The Lord blesses the righteous with the promise of an inheritance, personal guidance, protection, provision, a good posterity, and His presence.
Chapter Summary:
In this psalm, David contrasts the way God protects and saves His people, contrasted with the ruin which awaits the wicked. Much of this seems to be based on David's own experiences (Psalm 37:25, 35). As with many other passages in Psalms and Proverbs, this passage encourages godly wisdom. Those who reject God and His ways can expect uncertainty on earth and disaster in eternity.
Chapter Context:
Psalm 37 lies in the first division of Psalms and addresses mankind. Its tone resembles that of the book of Proverbs. The psalm dispenses wisdom about the security of the righteous man and the insecurity and fate of the wicked man. Psalms 36 and 39 also describe the insecurity and fate of the wicked. The covenant God made with Israel in Leviticus 26 and Deuteronomy 27—30 is the basis for David's assurance that the righteous are secure. The issue of the prosperity of the wicked is also featured in Psalms 49 and 73. David most likely wrote Psalm 37 in his old age.
Book Summary:
The book of Psalms is composed of individual songs, hymns, or poems, each of which is a ''Psalm'' in and of itself. These works contain a wide variety of themes. Some Psalms focus on praising and worshipping God. Others cry out in anguish over the pain of life. Still other Psalms look forward to the coming of the Messiah. While some Psalms are related, each has its own historical and biblical context.
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