Read Psalm 37
Key word – land
dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture. (v.3)
but those who hope in the Lord will inherit the land. (v.9)
But the meek will inherit the land (v.11)
those the LORD blesses will inherit the land, (v.22)
then you will dwell in the land forever. (v.27)
the righteous will inherit the land (v.29)
He will exalt you to inherit the land; (v.34)
To keep still is a real challenge to the generation of postmodernism. Despite God’s constant passionate pursuit, we are still restless beings who struggle to sit down and sit in the Lord’s banquet. I hope by now after more than two weeks’ in confinement at home, we would have learned to a certain degree to command our inner man to be still and soak in him. It is a simple command. Yet it is not easy to follow.
The Psalmist chides us again in Psalm 37:7, “Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him;” No fidgeting. No looking around. Engage with God. Wait.
In seclusion of our home, away from society now, are we really still? Pause.
Let us thank God for this redeemed time. It is said, twenty-one days to form a habit. Prayerfully, we would have reset our spiritual discipline by this weekend. This is the provision of the answer to our prayer early this year asking God to reset us for the new season. The year 2020 is a significant year. We were just not ready for a twist in the plot. Yet God coax us not to fret in Psalm 37 for if we learn to wait patiently for him and do just as he says, he promises us the land.
Seven times it is mentioned in this psalm that we will inherit the land. Seven – the perfect number. Listen to him what must we do to appropriate that promise. Inheriting land in this context does not necessarily mean we own pieces of land property. It could. But not always the case. It is a representation of the blessing of spiritual spaces we occupy, the exercising of our authority and the presence of God we carry that will affect the land.
We are to wait on God, as we dwell in the land and he promises in the seventh time of the mention of land in verse 34 – “He will exalt you to inherit the land… you will see it.” Do you see it?
Do we see what God sees?
“Heavenly Father, open our eyes to see what you see. For the earth is the Lord’s and everything in it. Heal our land as we speak in faith. In Jesus’ name. Amen.”
© Pr Selina Khoo Lim, Gateway City Church, Penang. 3 April 2020.