The Land of the Living

"I would have lost heart, unless I had believed That I would see the goodness of the LORD In the land of the living. Wait on the LORD; Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the LORD!" Psa 27:13-14 NKJV

 In the first place the phrase "I would have lost heart," is supplied by the translators.  If you leave that out the statement becomes even more compelling.  "Unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living - ." 

Unfinished.  What despair!  It goes so deep into the soul as to be unable to express the grief that would follow.

We have this confidence that "He who has begun a good work in us will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ," - Philippians 1:6.  If that doesn't comfort our hearts our present distresses will overtake us.

Second, David says he expects to see the goodness of the Lord "in the land of the living."  The living, not the land of the dying.

 I found a great quote from Charles Spurgeon:

            Faith puts its bottle of cordial to the lip of the soul, and so prevents fainting.     

            Hope is heaven's balm for present sorrow.  In this land of the dying, it is

            our blessedness to be looking for our fair portion in the land of   the living,     

            whence the goodness of God has banished the wickedness of man, and where    

            holy spirits charm with their society those  persecuted saints who were vilified        

            and despised among men.             (The Treasury of David)

 We are living in a dying world.  It is cause for grief for many are perishing so unnecessarily and we look on at times with frustration because they will not listen to the message of hope Christ offers them.

I am reminded of Jesus' words to the disciples:  "Let not your hearts be troubled."  Boy is that difficult at times.

 David ends his psalm by encouraging us:  "Wait on the Lord; be of good courage, and He (God) shall strengthen your heart..."  Then to emphasize the point he admonishes:  "Wait, I say, on the Lord."

We will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living!  It is a sure thing.

 While this present world is passing away we must remind ourselves there is new one coming and it will be a world "wherein dwells righteousness."

Stay the course, child of God, stay the course.