Proverbs 2:20

HE WILL RECEIVE A SPECIAL INHERITANCE

"That thou mayest walk in the way of good men,

And keep the paths of righteousness.

For the upright shall dwell in the land,

And the perfect shall remain in it.

But the wicked shall be cut off from the land,

And the treacherous shall be rooted out of it."

Although "the land" as used in these verses was probably understood by the Israelites as the Palestine, that is, "The Promised Land," it should be remembered that "The Promised Land" itself is a valid Biblical symbol of something far more wonderful, namely, heaven itself; and it is in that sense that the Christian should read these verses.

The Old Testament promises of the rewards of righteousness stressed the physical and material things of the present age rather that the eschatological wonders of the world to come; but they were not entirely wrong in this. "There is still impressive evidence that integrity pays better than treachery, that honesty is better than thievery, that truthfulness is better than falsehood, and that righteousness is better than wickedness, even in human terms."[24]