Matthew 5:5 - Blessed are meek for they shall inherit the earth.
These are some of the most known and yet most misunderstood of Jesus words. It seems that many people mistake the word meek as meaning weak. Yet few are aware that Jesus was referring to the words of King David in Psalm 37: 11; "But the meek shall inherit the earth." To understand Jesus' words we must first understand David's words.
Psalm 37 itself is home to some beautiful and oft quoted scriptures. Verse 4 says "delight thyself also in the Lord; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart." Verse 5 continues to say, "commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in him and he shall bring it to pass." Verse 23 tells us that the Lord orders the steps of a good man. In verse 25 David tells us that, though He is old where once He was young, he has always seen God provide for His needs. In short, the whole chapter is about trusting in the Lord.
This David who talks about trusting in the Lord was not a weakling. It was He who killed the giant Goliath with a sling and stone. It was He who killed both a lion and a bear when they came after his sheep. The people said of him at one point, "Saul has killed thousands of men, but David has killed tens of thousands." David was no weakling; He was a warrior at heart. Yet this David knew what it was like to trust God.
Because David was so popular with the people, King Saul decided to kill him. He was afraid David would take his throne, not understanding that God had already decided to give it to David. David had no choice but to run from Saul. Once as Saul was pursuing David, David hid in a cave. Saul came into the cave not knowing that David was there. David could have killed him but he chose not to. Another time David slipped into Saul's camp in the middle of the night. Again, he could have killed him but chose not to. He was afraid to touch someone that God had anointed to be king. This was meekness personified.
Meekness is knowing that I can do something to avenge myself but choosing not to. It goes hand in hand with temperance or self control. Meekness and self control are listed together in the list of the "fruit of Spirit in Galatians" because they are two sides of the same coin. When I understand that I can do something about my situation but don't need to, then I must have the self discipline to restrain myself knowing that God will avenge me when the time is right.
It can be said that meekness is the attitude behind self control. When I understand that I am nothing then it is easier to control myself and not be easily angered with others. When I give my situation to God I can be assured that He will always come through for me. It may not be the eaisest thing now but it will have great rewards later on.
Will the meek inherit the earth? Absolutely, because God will give it to Him.
Have patience, my friend. The Lord always comes through for His own.
Trusting Him Daily,
Spanish Pastor Jones
These are some of the most known and yet most misunderstood of Jesus words. It seems that many people mistake the word meek as meaning weak. Yet few are aware that Jesus was referring to the words of King David in Psalm 37: 11; "But the meek shall inherit the earth." To understand Jesus' words we must first understand David's words.
Psalm 37 itself is home to some beautiful and oft quoted scriptures. Verse 4 says "delight thyself also in the Lord; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart." Verse 5 continues to say, "commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in him and he shall bring it to pass." Verse 23 tells us that the Lord orders the steps of a good man. In verse 25 David tells us that, though He is old where once He was young, he has always seen God provide for His needs. In short, the whole chapter is about trusting in the Lord.
This David who talks about trusting in the Lord was not a weakling. It was He who killed the giant Goliath with a sling and stone. It was He who killed both a lion and a bear when they came after his sheep. The people said of him at one point, "Saul has killed thousands of men, but David has killed tens of thousands." David was no weakling; He was a warrior at heart. Yet this David knew what it was like to trust God.
Because David was so popular with the people, King Saul decided to kill him. He was afraid David would take his throne, not understanding that God had already decided to give it to David. David had no choice but to run from Saul. Once as Saul was pursuing David, David hid in a cave. Saul came into the cave not knowing that David was there. David could have killed him but he chose not to. Another time David slipped into Saul's camp in the middle of the night. Again, he could have killed him but chose not to. He was afraid to touch someone that God had anointed to be king. This was meekness personified.
Meekness is knowing that I can do something to avenge myself but choosing not to. It goes hand in hand with temperance or self control. Meekness and self control are listed together in the list of the "fruit of Spirit in Galatians" because they are two sides of the same coin. When I understand that I can do something about my situation but don't need to, then I must have the self discipline to restrain myself knowing that God will avenge me when the time is right.
It can be said that meekness is the attitude behind self control. When I understand that I am nothing then it is easier to control myself and not be easily angered with others. When I give my situation to God I can be assured that He will always come through for me. It may not be the eaisest thing now but it will have great rewards later on.
Will the meek inherit the earth? Absolutely, because God will give it to Him.
Have patience, my friend. The Lord always comes through for His own.
Trusting Him Daily,
Spanish Pastor Jones