In writing these Pages I am sometimes given pause to formulate a theme, and its place in my life. I want to be truthful, and try to convey to readers what the concepts mean personally to me. On occasion I am taken with a kind of sublimity, perhaps reverie, not only related to any benefits of the concepts and experiences for me, but what presumably unchanging concepts might mean to someone else during any era, and eras always change. If these concepts represent meaning from God they are timeless, ongoing concepts. They cannot change if in God. They relate to holiness and perfection even when they may be poorly cast by a human being – in this instance, me. The feeling and thought for this topic, meekness, is a theme that begs for repeated meditation.
King David made reference to meekness in Psalm 37. Jesus quoted the phrase and listed it with the Beatitudes in the Sermon on the Mount. Both David and Jesus added a special benefit for meekness. We know the one from Jesus because of the style, the listing of factors, in which it was cast. The concept from the Psalmist is embellished further: . . . the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace. Implications from the Psalm are that the meek will triumph in the end, and gain a benefit they cherish. That benefit is peace, peace with joy that is lasting and pervasive which means abundance of peace – more than ordinary.
What is this meekness referred to by several biblical authors, and all with implications of godly virtue related to it? Some factors related to meekness are humility, sense of human need, aloneness, gentleness, and mildness. There are elements of modesty and condescension in it. A meek person, knowing there is a better than common way, adjusts to adapt and deal with the world as it is, but to exemplify a better and gentler life than is common. There is a sense in which he adapts without sacrificing ideals by which he lives. This is approached, not from a position of weakness, but from strength of character that others may not share. So it was that Moses was called meek. He was protective of a people sometimes rebelling against God. When God would make Moses’ family a nation, Moses would have none of it. (Exodus 32:7-13) His prayer was respected and Israel held position with God. Jesus fully demonstrated meekness. It took great strength for Jesus to accept the general preoccupations of everyone from imbeciles to arrogant kings so to complete his work that would lead to peace in abundance.
But we are impatient. Mankind goes for power, for wealth, for self-aggrandizement. Those who do so are the strong. The others are the weak, the exploited persons to be pitied. Jesus went to all persons, but often to peasant groups, the populace, sick, outcasts, and deprived. They had within them evidence or promise of meekness. They were more open to selflessness, to concern for others, to love and to non-celebrity status. They did not dwell on the contrasts between those who have much in the world and themselves. So ought we to follow the trail of meekness (1 Peter 2:19-25). We have the model in Jesus, who could command angels to protect him, but in meekness, healed the ear of the soldier who would deliver him for crucifixion. Meekness means one regards others as better than self. They are to be so regarded, even if it is proven that some are not better. We sometimes miss our purpose because we miss God’s meaning of the instruction. Meekness makes one larger in the eyes of God in that the meek person refuses to make the judgments of the earth to be greater than they are. They must not be a part of what we are. They often reflect imperfect positions, not to be dignified by reply. *Mark W. Lee, Sr. — 2016, 2020