Psalm 37:8-11, 39-40

“But the meek shall inherit the land, and delight themselves in abundant prosperity.” vs. 11

While we’re quite familiar with the beatitudes found in Matthew 5, one of them is likely to leave us puzzled. Just what did Jesus mean when he said, “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth?” Obviously he was remembering this verse from the Psalms, but on the surface, his words could easily be called counterfactual. This isn’t how things happen! In this broken world it’s the powerful who get the land. Whatever they want they take, either by stealth and force, and the meek are generally left with nothing. For years Palestinian Christians have clung to this verse as a point of hope in their dismal circumstances. Perhaps one day the land they’d once owned would be restored! But now the West Bank is being colonized by Israel. Settlers have been coming in by the thousands and Palestinians are being displaced. Some Americans are saying that all of them should be removed from the land and resettled in other countries. But land is precious, and hope is persistent. The gentle and meek among the Palestinians continue to trust that one day their prayers and claims will be heard, and the words of Jesus and the psalmist will become a reality. Even if the turmoil over land ownership continues for generations, the faithful will continue to hope, and perhaps one day the meek will inherit the land.

Thought for the Day: What chance do gentle people have in this world?