Inherit the Land… (Psalm 37) 100308
I found myself very tired and drained yesterday. I went to the service with a pounding headache. My spirit was weary, my soul was restless, and my body was tired. I knew that I have stretched myself a bit too much on Saturday. I woke up early to go for Boys Brigade ministry which ends around 1.30pm. After packing up and having lunch I reached home physically tired. I did some house chores and napped for about an hour and it was dinner time. I got myself ready for the BAG later. After all had left, I was happy that I did it, but surely, my physical, spiritual and even mental capabilities were challenged. I was completely drained. I am weak.
The difference, I have joy and desire to serve. I do not dread to go for the Boys Brigade and prepare for the BAG. I have a sense of joy. I am recovering! But I have to go slow. Just like an injured soccer player should not play a full game after his recovery from his injury, he would have played only half time or just as a substitute. I will have to go slow. But I am recovering. I just need to find out where is the leak in my fuel tank!
Today’s Psalm reminds me many truths. I am reminded to trust in the Lord and do good, and cultivate faithfulness (v3). I am also reminded to take delight in the Lord and have the assurance that He will give me the desire of my heart (v4), that is to be in His presence. And I am reminded to commit my way to the Lord, trust in Him and He will do it (v5), He will carry me through, He will fulfill His promise.
Most importantly, I am called to rest in the Lord and wait patiently for Him (v7). It is very easy for me to be frustrated of my slow recovery process. It is very easy for me to be angry with my weakness. It is very easy for me to blame myself for being so incapable. It s very easy for me to give it up. But I am reminded to wait. I am to wait patiently. I am to wait patiently for the Lord. I am to wait patiently for the Lord as I rest in Him. Because those who wait for the Lord will inherit the land (v9).
Inherit the land? Yes, inherit the land. It is a land of peace, a land of refuge, a land of grace, a land of rest, a land where the fountain of life can be found, a land where rivers and streams of living water can be found, a land where refreshing pasture can be found, and a land where my Lord dwells. Land motif is very important in the Old Testament. It is a promise God has given to Abraham and his descendants. Land is the fulfillment of God’s faithfulness to His people. And land is whereby a place the salvation plan of God being unfolded throughout its history.
How to inherit the land? The Psalmist (likely to be king David, who understand the full meaning of the land) planted the "formulas" throughout this Psalm. In order to inherit the land, I must: 1) wait for the Lord (v9), 2) I must be humble (v11), 3) I must be blameless (v18), 4) I must be gracious and gives (v21, 22), 5) I must be righteous (v29), and 6) I must wait for the Lord and keep His way (v34). What a handful ways to inherit the land.
As I pause and reflect, will I ever inherit the land? No, never, if not by the grace of God. I might be learning how to wait for the Lord and I try to be humble, but how can I be blameless in all honesty? I might try to be gracious and gives with some ulterior motive (maybe just a very small ulterior motive, but still ulterior motive), but how can I be righteous without the blood of Christ? I can never be able to inherit the land, unless the grace of the Lord is given to me.
I pause again. I pray. I ask God to be merciful on me. It is not because I want to have the inheritance of the land. The land will be given to me, not by the work I have done, but simply by the grace of God. It is by the grace of the Lord that allows me to wait for Him and to enjoy His presence. It is the grace of the Lord that I can be humble as I know how weak I am, especially after walking through the spiritual wilderness. It is the grace of the Lord that I might be reckoned as blameless and righteous, not because of anything I have done, but because of what the Son has done on the Cross and the love of my Heavenly Father. It is by the grace of God that I can be gracious and gives, for I have received much more than I deserve from the Lord, so much so that I cannot keep all to myself, but to be gracious and gives. It is by the grace of the Lord that I can keep His way, for the Lord is walking with me, step by step, keeping me on track and on the way into His presence.
I will inherit the land. I will find peace, rest, and the Lord’s presence in the land. I am on my way into this land. Where are you heading? Are you going to inherit the land too?
HHS…
Abel…
