“But the MEEK shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.” Psalm 37:11
There are two times in the Bible that stand out to me when thinking about meekness. The first is in the Beatitudes in Matthew 5:5 “Blessed are the meek for they shall inherit the earth.” David almost verbatim quotes this passage of scripture here in Psalm 37. So, I believe it definitely bears taking a closer look at.
First, let us look at the meaning of meek. Meek means quiet or gentle; power under control. This is completely opposite of our anger issues, is it not? Oftentimes, meekness is mistaken for weakness, but this is not true. Isaiah 30:15 says that, “quietness and confidence shall be your strength.” This would make sense when compared to anger because anger is quick to flare up, but meekness stays calm. Which is more powerful? Meekness. It takes more power to control than to let go of that control.
David goes on to say that “the meek shall inherit the earth.” Did you realize that this is a promise from God? It is not a hope so or a maybe so, but a for sure. God’s promises can be counted on as sure as going to the bank and cashing a check. He has never failed one time to provide what He has promised!
The children of Israel struggled so much by not taking God at His word. Do you and I not do the same exact thing? Are you struggling today? Why is it so hard to trust God? Why do we, when difficult times come, draw within ourselves and forsake God? He has promised! Why do we not trust in Him and instead wing it on our own?
The second verse that speaks of meekness is found in Galatians 5:23 where we see the fruit of the Spirit. Fruit is the part of a tree that provides nourishment. It provides strength. It shows the health of the tree. It is the fruit that shows the true character of the tree, is it not? The leaves and the bark play a role, but it is the fruit that confirms the true character.
Each piece of fruit also contains a seed, correct? Well, that seed is the reproduction of life. Who resides within us at the moment of salvation? The Holy Spirit, correct? So, the Holy Spirit is like that seed living within us to produce fruit. Oftentimes we neglect to keep that seed healthy and alive within us. Instead, we quench the Spirit with our attitudes and with our ungodly lifestyles. James 1:4 says, “But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.” Patience is another one of the fruit that comes from the Holy Spirit. Live your life after the pattern that the Holy Spirit has set before us. Let Him bear fruit in your life!
I believe that we allow Satan too much room in our lives. I Peter 5:8 clearly tells us that he is our adversary (our opponent; our enemy). What happens when we join sides with the enemy? We will be defeated. We will be discouraged. We will be disillusioned. We will be disappointed. We will be deceived. Who of us truly want to live a life like this? Think about it! Take a step or two backward and take a close look at your life. Is this where you are standing today?
Remember that there is no power in weakness, but there is in meekness!