The Meek

Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.  Matthew 5:5

Meekness is most often thought of in a human relationship context. That is, as a personal trait demonstrated by the manner in which we interact with others. This is true to an extent. However, as used in the text, meekness is more properly a description of how a man interacts with God.

It is a function of being poor in spirit and possessing a spiritual attitude of mourning. Meekness manifests as holy reverence before God and a desire to be obedient to His word. That is something impossible to do without a measure of the first two attributes.

I’ve heard that meekness is an attitude of a slave in the presence of his master. The analogy seems to fit Christianity in that He is our Lord, and we are awed by His presence. This analogy quickly falls apart when we examine how we became slaves and the bond that holds us in slavery.

It is true, as Peter says, that we are bought with a price, the blood of Christ. Nevertheless, until the price is applied, the deal is not sealed. If it were, all are saved. Christians are servants of God, because of the price paid and the willing surrender of one’s life to service to the King. If we are servants, it is our love for Christ that holds us to Him.

Meekness sees God as worthy of worship and adoration. It is not self-abasement but a holy exaltation that draws us up into heavenly places with Christ.

God considered Moses the meekest man on earth (Numbers 12:3). Compare Moses’ relationship with God to that of Adam. Adam saw the face of God and he received God’s law from God Himself. He responded with a willful disobedience that he thought would put him on God’s level. (“Ye shall be as gods...” Genesis 3:5). He then went and tried to hide from God. When that failed, Adam attempted to blame God for his sin. “The woman whom thou gavest to be with me…” Adam wasn’t blaming Eve. He was blaming God for giving him a wife.

Moses only got a glimpse of God’s back. He too received God’s law from God Himself. He made excuses based on his broken state, but Moses went and did as God commanded. In a fit of anger, he did not follow the letter of the law. Anger is not an excuse for disobedience and Moses paid for his sin. But he did not run, hide or blame God for being exact in His words. He repented and continued to seek God’s will for His people.

In meekness Moses preferred God’s judgment to his own desires. He honored God’s decision without challenging God’s authority command. He reverenced God, desiring to please God more than he valued his own reputation, works, and future as leader of the nation.

It is not weakness that seeks to obey and please God. It is a meek spirit of love that will endure all to hear “Well done good and faithful servant…”

Maranatha