Blessed—Happy—Are the Meek

“Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.” (Matthew 5:5, NKJV)

Jesus was using Psalm 37:11 for the idea in this third Beatitude: “But the meek shall inherit the earth and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.” Jesus wanted His disciples (and us) to learn that meekness—the quality of being submissive, gentle, patient and longsuffering—will prove a greater asset than pride. Meekness carries with it the idea of strength under control. Think of a powerful stallion with all its strength that has been trained to do his master’s bidding. The strength and potential are there; they have been brought under control. Without humility and meekness, one cannot learn, for the student must first realize that he does not know it all and therefore becomes “teachable.”

And what about the meek, subservient person inheriting the earth? Is this a paradox—a seeming contradiction—that the meek can inherit the earth? Meekness is a greater power than pride. The Jews were very proud of their race and heritage, the Romans of their military might and imperialism, the Greeks of their culture and learning. On the other hand, the meek, subservient person is often thought of as weak. How can such a person “inherit the earth”? Jesus had reference to the “new heaven and the new earth” spoken of in Revelation 21:1 and in 2 Peter 3:13. For the person who with meekness has a right relationship with God and is God-controlled, he can handle the things of this earth and look forward to an eternal dwelling with God. Theologian William Barclay in his Daily Study Bible (Westminster, 1956, p. 93) says this Beatitude in its fullest Greek meaning and translation must read: “O the bliss of the man who is always angry at the right time and never angry at the wrong time; who has every instinct and impulse and passion under control because he himself is God-controlled; who has the humility to realize his own ignorance and his own weakness, for such a man is a king among men!” And Rev. J. R. Dummelow in his commentary on the verse states: “A meek man is not one who is easily provoked or irritated, and is forbearing under injury or annoyance” (Commentary on the Whole Bible, Macmillan, 1958, p. 640). Meekness is not weakness but shows that the Christian has taken on a characteristic of inner strength and submission that Jesus Himself modeled in His life and taught us to emulate. “He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he who rules his spirit than he that takes a city” (Proverbs 16;32, NKJV). The meek person trusts in God, and has his life under God’s control.

c Ethelene Dyer Jones; Wednesday, September 15, 2010

Trust, Delight in and Commit Thyself to the Lord

(Theme: Selections from the Psalms—Faith Set to Music)

“Trust in the Lord and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed. Delight thyself also in the Lord; and He shall give thee the desires of thine heart. Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in Him; and He shall bring it to pass.” -Psalm 37:3-5 (KJV. Read Psalm 37.)

Psalm 37 is another of the Wisdom Psalms, so classified because it teaches about life, good and evil, and the values of following God. Dr. David M. Fleming, professor of religion, Campbell University, Buies Creek, NC lists the wisdom Psalms as 1, 14, 36, 37, 49, 53, 73, 78, 112, 119, 127, 128 and 133. Dr. Alton H. McEachern who wrote the “Introduction to Psalms” in The Disciple’s Study Bible agrees with this listing of the Wisdom Psalms. It is not that other Psalms besides these listed do not contain wisdom; they certainly do. These particular Psalms answer deep questions about following God and abstaining from evil. You might like to designate these 13 psalms with a notation “Wisdom” beside each in your study Bible.

“Trust in the Lord and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed.” Here is an action on the part of the believer—“trust and do good.” It is followed by a promise from God for His response: “thou shalt be fed.” To me, this says that the one who trusts in God will have the things he needs. God will provide. We do not trust God so that provision of our needs will be met; but because the believer trusts, God will make a way, He will provide.

“Delight thyself also in the Lord, and He shall give thee the desires of thine heart.” “Choose God’s pleasures, and he will choose yours.” (McEachern). We delight ourselves in the Lord by studying His Word, following His ways, seeking to grow more Christ-like.

“Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in Him and He shall bring it to pass.” Commitment is a solemn and long-term agreement. Psalm 37:6 promises this result from such commitment: “He will make your righteousness shine as the dawn” (NIV).

The whole of Psalm 37 is a series of proverbs encouraging trust, delighting in the Lord and commitment to Him. The promises of such follow-ship are multiple. How about this one for security? “I was young and now I am old, yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken or their children begging bread” (Ps. 37:25, NIV). Praise be to God!

c Ethelene Dyer Jones; Friday, May 21, 2010

Let Patience Have Her Perfect Work

“My brothers and sisters, when you have many kinds of troubles, you should be full of joy, because you know that these troubles test your faith, and this will give you patience. Let your patience show itself perfectly in what you do. Then you will be perfect and complete, and will have everything you need.” --James 1:2-4

I am learning the meaning of patience. This is certainly not my first experience with growing patience. In reviewing my life, I can name many times when patience grew and I learned to live expectantly—yet patiently—awaiting God’s perfect timing for a life lesson, an event, or through specific trials.

Day by day, in the hours of saying “goodbye” to my beloved, and in the night watches when sleep temporarily evades me, I am cultivating patience, the qualities of perseverance, endurance, steadfastness, diligence. I find it interesting that James, writing about 50 A. D. when the church was new, encouraged Christians to pursue patience. The Psalmist (37:7a) implored us to “Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him.” John, in writing the Revelation, commended the saints at Ephesus for their patience. James, with what I like to call his practical advice to Christians, urged us to be full of joy, a prerequisite of patience. This joyful attitude was one of Paul’s favorite themes as well. When our faith is tested, then patience is a result if we “wait on the Lord”—do not capitulate to despair and self-pity.

“Let patience have her perfect work,” James advises in 1:4. Someone wrote: “Hardship is the birthing room of patience.” And there, walking through whatever hardship or trial comes, is the One who is Perfect Patience Personified, the Lord, who was tempted in all points like as we are, yet was without sin. His patience is infinite, boundless, and available.

Lord, continue to teach me the way of Patience. With Richard Monckton I would sincerely pray this prayer for myself and for the building up of my patience:

“They who have steeped their souls in prayer
Can every anguish calmly bear.” -Amen.

c Ethelene Dyer Jones; Wednesday, January 20, 2010