and do good;
The call to "do good" is a practical outworking of one's trust in God. It reflects the ethical and moral standards expected of God's people. In the cultural context of the psalm, doing good would involve acts of justice, mercy, and righteousness, aligning with the Law given to Israel. This phrase connects to the New Testament teaching in James 2:17, where faith without works is considered dead. Doing good is a demonstration of faith and a reflection of God's character, as seen in Jesus Christ, who went about doing good (Acts 10:38).

dwell in the land
"Dwell in the land" refers to the covenant promise given to Abraham and his descendants regarding the land of Canaan. For the Israelites, dwelling in the land was both a physical and spiritual reality, symbolizing God's provision and blessing. This phrase can also be seen as a call to contentment and stability, encouraging believers to remain faithful where God has placed them. The land is a recurring theme in the Old Testament, representing God's faithfulness to His promises (Genesis 12:7). In a broader sense, it points to the ultimate rest and inheritance believers have in Christ (Hebrews 4:9-10).

and cultivate faithfulness.
Cultivating faithfulness involves a commitment to living a life that is consistent with God's will and character. The agricultural metaphor of cultivation suggests ongoing effort and care, much like a farmer tending to crops. In the historical context, faithfulness was a key attribute of God's covenant relationship with Israel, and the people were called to mirror this faithfulness in their own lives. This phrase aligns with the New Testament fruit of the Spirit, where faithfulness is listed as a key characteristic of a Spirit-led life (Galatians 5:22-23). It also points to the steadfastness of Jesus Christ, who is described as faithful and true (Revelation 19:11).

Psalm 37:3 opens with a clear command: “Trust in the LORD.” Trust here is not passive; it is a deliberate resting of the whole heart on God’s character and promises.

• Proverbs 3:5–6 tells us, “Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.” The same wholehearted reliance is in view.

• Jeremiah 17:7–8 pictures the blessed man “who trusts in the LORD” as a tree that never fears drought—God Himself guarantees stability.

• Isaiah 26:3 affirms that the one whose mind is stayed on the LORD enjoys perfect peace.

Together these passages underline that biblical trust centers on God’s faithfulness, not our circumstances. The psalmist calls believers to stake their security, identity, and future on the Lord alone.

Trust immediately flows into action: “and do good.” Genuine faith produces visible righteousness.

• Ephesians 2:10 says we are “created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance as our way of life.”

• Galatians 6:9–10 urges us not to grow weary in doing good, promising harvest “at the proper time.”

• James 2:17 reminds us that “faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.”

Doing good ranges from practical kindness to moral integrity; it is the outward proof that inward trust is real.

Next comes, “dwell in the land.” For David’s audience this meant living securely in the promised land, confident that God would keep His covenant despite the apparent success of evildoers.

• Psalm 37 repeats the promise: “The meek will inherit the land” (v. 11) and “the righteous will inherit the land and dwell in it forever” (v. 29).

• Deuteronomy 11:8–9 links obedience to long life in the land God swore to give His people.

• Jeremiah 29:4–7 tells the exiles to settle down, plant gardens, and seek the welfare of the city—showing that “dwelling” includes active engagement where God places us.

For believers today, this phrase encourages staying faithful in the sphere God has assigned, trusting Him to secure our place and provide our needs.

Finally, the verse says to “cultivate faithfulness.” Some translations read “feed on faithfulness,” emphasizing both receiving and producing fidelity.

• Lamentations 3:22–23 exalts that God’s “compassions never fail; they are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness!” Because God is faithful, we can cultivate steady commitment.

• 1 Corinthians 4:2 insists, “Now it is required of stewards that they be found faithful.”

• Luke 16:10 shows that faithfulness in little prepares us for greater trust.

• Revelation 2:10 calls believers to “be faithful unto death,” promising the crown of life.

Cultivating faithfulness means developing habits—daily prayer, Scripture intake, honest dealings—that demonstrate reliability over time, mirroring God’s own steadfastness.

Psalm 37:3 strings together four inseparable duties:

1. Place unwavering confidence in the Lord.

2. Let that trust produce active goodness.

3. Remain where God has planted you, assured of His covenant care.

4. Nurture a lifestyle of steadfast fidelity, sustained by God’s unfailing faithfulness.

Taken literally, the verse sketches a balanced life of inward reliance, outward righteousness, settled stability, and persistent integrity—a pattern God still blesses today.

So shalt thou dwell . . .--The Authorised Version is quite right in taking the verbs in this clause as futures. (Comp. Psalm 37:11; Psalm 37:18; Psalm 37:22.) Emigration, when referred to by the prophets (Jeremiah 25:5; Jeremiah 35:15), is always represented as compulsory, and it was a promise of preservation from it, not a warning against it, that the pious Israelite needed. . . .