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Dear Disciple,
We continue in our look at the beatitudes in the Sermon on the Mount. So far Jesus has pronounced good news and blessing on two kinds of folks that are not normally associated with blessing, and certainly not with the expected blessing of the coming kingdom of God – the poor in spirit and those who mourn.
In his third pronouncement of blessing he does the same, this time on a group of people who are also not expected to end up in the winner’s circle – and that is the meek. These first beatitudes are full of the unexpected – the poor and poor in spirit are blessed. Why? They are blessed because to them belongs the kingdom of heaven. Those who mourn are blessed. Why? They are blessed because they will be comforted. So far the kinds of folks singled out for the great news of kingdom blessing aren’t the leaders of the righteousness brigades, the truth warriors, the activists, the rich, the one’s who have made it, whether by hard work or by life’s lottery. The trend continues.
Blessed are the meek. Who are the meek? What does it mean to be meek? What is meekness?
Indeed, the Greek work translated here is “meek” is often translated as “gentle.” Sometimes the English word “meek” is better, sometimes “gentle.” Clearly here the better translation is the word “meek.” But what does it mean?
Let’s approach its meaning from two directions. First, from the pattern of the beatitudes, and second from a Psalm, Psalm 37, which says pretty much the same thing about the meek inheriting the earth.
We notice so far that these patterns are counter intuitive. They pronounce blessing on the wrong people. Specifically thinking of the first beatitude, the promise seems not to fit directly with the trait. Who would we expect would inherit the earth? Well, we might expect those who take matters into their own hands and conquer to inherit the earth. Since we are talking about the kingdom of God here we might think of those who join ranks with the hoped for messiah in the great conquest of the last days.
But instead, kingdom blessings, and the specific kingdom blessing of possessing the earth (this is the promise of the land in the old testament expanded), are for the meek, those who aren’t likely to lead battalions of army troops.
The meek are those who let God take care of the business of being God. They are fully aware of evil, and do not crumble at the sight of it. The meek are strong. They are strong in faith. They are strong in prayer. They wait for God. They entrust their well being to God. Yes, they work hard, but they wait for God to deal with their enemies. They wait for God to deal with His enemies. The meek go about doing good, and trusting God to be God.
Sometimes the meek have to make a stand and say “no.” The meek are active when it comes to caring for the weak and poor and oppressed. The meek can be very very stubborn. They can even be absolutely exasperating. They can refuse to be made to do a wrong thing but at the same time refuse to speak badly against anyone, or lash out, or be hurtful in any way. I want to be meek.
The best biblical commentary on meekness is Psalm 37. It’s too long to quote here in full but I hope you’ll read it. Here are a few lines:
Fret yourself not because of evildoers; be not envious of wrong doers! For they will soon fade like the grass and wither like the green herb (verses 1-2).
Trust in the Lord, and do good; dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness (verse 3).
Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart (verse 4).
Commit your way to the Lord; trust in Him, and He will act (verse 5).
Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for Him (verse 6).
Refrain from anger, and forsake wrath! Fret not yourself; it only tends to evil (verse 8).
In just a little while, the wicked will be no more…but the meek will inherit the earth and delight themselves in abundant peace (verses 10-11).
Wait on the Lord and keep his way, and will exalt you to inherit the land (verse 34).
Fellow disciple, I have pondered the meaning of this word for twenty five years, because I am very aware, in my natural state, that I am not a meek person. I want to lash out, fight evil (or perceived evil, or just people that bother me) with a sharp tongue and quick wit. I want to ACT! It’s hard to wait and trust and be still, especially in the face of injustice. But meekness recognizes that God is sovereign and will act in His timing. Meanwhile, I live in and interact with a world that is often dark and quite full of evil. I am not to fret over it. I trust God. But I don’t just sit there, passive. I go about doing good. I go about seeking justice. I go about helping the needy. I go about loving my neighbor. I leave dealing with the evil to God, and to His ordained civil authority.
Indeed, this is the mantra of the meek – “trust in the Lord and do good.” Jesus is the King. His people, Kingdom people, are the meek. When Jesus comes back in His kingdom, those who will inherit it with him will be those who have trusted in and believed in Him, and who actively trust Him. “Trust in the Lord Jesus, and do good as His servant.” Do that, fellow disciple, and when the time comes, when Jesus comes back, the earth will be yours. You don’t need to try to take it, or anything else for that matter, by force,
Trust in the Lord, and do good.
Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. |
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