“The Lord lifts up the humble; He casts the wicked down to the ground.” Psalm 147:6

In His Sermon on the Mount, Jesus said: “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth” (Matt. 5:5).

Though it would seem today as if those who are proud, self-sufficient and outgoing will inherit the earth, Jesus says the opposite. It is the meek and humble who will inherit the earth and all its blessings.

The psalm says the same thing: “The Lord lifts up the humble; He casts the wicked down to the ground.”

Those who fail to take note of God’s power and glory and exalt themselves, living for self and seeking to fulfill their own will and desires, will be thrown down to the ground. All their work and efforts will pass away and return to dust. They and their works will not be established and take root in the earth (cf. Isa. 40:21ff.).

But, on the other hand, those who are meek – who humble themselves before the LORD and His Word and acknowledge their sinfulness and justly deserved condemnation and look to Christ and His cross in faith – will be lifted up of the LORD. He will have mercy upon them, forgive their sins for Jesus’ sake and receive them into His everlasting kingdom.

Though in this life, they may be penniless, they have an eternal inheritance in the new heavens and earth for the sake of Jesus’ blood shed for them upon the cross when He suffered and died for the sins of the world and rose again.

God takes no pleasure in the strength and accomplishments of man. Rather, “The Lord takes pleasure in those who fear Him, in those who hope in His mercy” (v. 11).

God says: “But on this one will I look: on him who is poor and of a contrite spirit, and who trembles at My word” (Isa. 66:2).

God desires that we humble ourselves before Him and give Him the honor and respect due unto His name as the almighty and all-wise Creator of all (cf. Psalm 96). He desires that we hear His Word and humbly repent of our sinful and rebellious ways and place our trust in Him who created all things and gave His Son to suffer and die to redeem us.

And, we have the promises of God’s Word: “The Lord lifts up the humble; He casts the wicked down to the ground.”

Consider what God says to you and to me. Don’t harden your heart against Him and reject His Word. Rather, repent in dust and ashes and look to Him for mercy for the sake of Christ Jesus, our Savior.

O gracious and merciful God, grant that we humble ourselves before You, acknowledge our sinfulness and the just punishment we so deserve and look to You for mercy, forgiveness and a place in the new heavens and earth which have no end. Amen.

Scripture is taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.