The Parts:

shaken – Isaiah makes jest of idols that fall, Isa40.20; 41.7. Speaks of great insecurity. When negated (as here) and used with God it speaks of great certainty! Regarding the “righteous” not shaken, cf: Ps61.1-2; 112.6; 15.5; 16.8; 21.7; Isa54.10; Pr15.29; 11.19; 10.25; 12.3; 2.21-22.

{forever} – typically not translated in English versions to avoid redundancy, but it is part of the Hebrew text to emphatically to stress the “righteous” forever-never being shaken.

dwell – tabernacle, not “sojourn,” but be at home

land – this is a major concept in understanding the Old Testament. God redeemed His people so He could dwell among them! The “land” was His gift to them, and the place of His blessing, provision, protection, fruitfulness, and most of all, His Person! To “not dwell” in the land is the exact opposite of no blessing, provision, protection, fruitfulness, and most of all, His Person (cf: Ex29.46)!

righteous – already mentioned in Pr10.3, 6, 7, 11, 16, 20, 21, 24, 25, 28! A righteous person is one who conforms their life to a standard. It is not simply a state or condition, but is a word of relationship with another person where claims are to be met. Cf: Mic6.6-8; Ps15.1-5. Note carefully the relationship in Mal3.18 –

¹⁸ So you will again distinguish between the righteous and the wicked, between one who serves God and one who does not serve Him.

References to consider:

Ps61.1-2
¹ Hear my cry, O God;
Give heed to my prayer.
² From the end of the earth I call to You when my heart is faint;
Lead me to the rock that is higher than I.

Pr10.25
²⁵ When the whirlwind passes, the wicked is no more,
But the righteous has an everlasting foundation.

Pr12.3
³ A man will not be established by wickedness,
But the root of the righteous will not be moved.

Mic6.6–8
⁶ With what shall I come to the Lord
And bow myself before the God on high?
Shall I come to Him with burnt offerings,
With yearling calves?
⁷ Does the Lord take delight in thousands of rams,
In ten thousand rivers of oil?
Shall I present my firstborn for my rebellious acts,
The fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?
⁸ He has told you, O man, what is good;
And what does the Lord require of you
But to do justice, to love kindness,
And to walk humbly with your God?

So, why should there be, why is there . . . conformity to God’s standard? Because He gave, by His grace, the place of blessing, provision, protection, fruitfulness, and most of all, His Person! We are never driven to God; we are drawn to God by His grace!

Ps37.23–26
²³ The steps of a man are established by the Lord,
And He delights in his way.
²⁴ When he falls, he will not be hurled headlong,
Because the Lord is the One who holds his hand.
²⁵ I have been young and now I am old,
Yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken
Or his descendants begging bread.
²⁶ All day long he is gracious and lends,
And his descendants are a blessing.

Sharpening for my life today:

A good place to start would be describing where you see “confidence” in life. Take some moments here and don’t be afraid to take a look at your thoughts!

This gem of wisdom turns us clearly to the core of confidence. In a “God-ward” way, it’s His gracious Work, Word, Promises, and Provision! In a “man-ward” way, it’s my conformity, yieldedness, integrity, and obedience to Him because of my love of Him!

Reread the marks of a “righteous” person and spend some time talking with the Lord about your spiritual journey, seeing where He has grown you and you’ve walked in His blessings, and, where you need to grow to partake of even more of His great, gracious provisions for you.