Meekness is a needy receptivity to God, being very open to receive from Yahweh. “Seek ye the LORD, all ye meek of the earth, which have wrought His judgment; seek righteousness, seek meekness: it may be ye shall be hid in the day of the LORD’S anger” (Zephaniah 2:3 KJV). Not so strangely, the fiery giver of the Law, “Moses was very meek, above all the men which were upon the face of the earth” (Numbers 12:3). Driving the moneychangers out of the Temple, Jesus previously said, “Take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls” (Matthew 11:29). Meekness is most commonly viewed by the world as humbly patient, quiet in nature, overly submissive, or compliant. Bible study aids will do better, pointing out the meek are not proud, haughty, supercilious, self-assertive, low in rank or position, but favored by God. But, why does God take especial pleasure in the meek? Jesus already said it. When we take His yoke upon us (Matthew 11:29), like two oxen joined for labor, we will “learn” (11:29) of Him, as we come into step with Him, we become like Him, for He is meek.
If meekness is a needy receptivity to God, being very open to receive from Yahweh, then all, who would enter the Kingdom of God, must be meek. “Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth” (Matthew 5:5). Notice how often the concept of God’s judgment is discussed around the words “meekness” or “meek” (KJV). Instead of meekness, modern translations most often use the word “humble.” For the world, meekness means weakness, but not with God. “When God arose to judgment, to save all the meek of the earth. Selah” (Psalm 76:9). “But with righteousness shall He judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth: and He shall smite the earth with the rod of His mouth, and with the breath of His lips shall He slay the wicked” (Isaiah 11:4).
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Meekness biblically approximates the concept of willingness, as in, willingness to do the will of God is to be a Christian. Meekness has the advantage of being the Almighty’s choice, which comes with numerous promises. What won’t God do for the meek? (1) God gives the meek satisfaction that the world can’t get, i.e., “The meek shall eat and be satisfied: they shall praise the LORD that seek Him: your heart shall live for ever” (Psalm 22:26). (2) God grants the meek guidance and teaching about His way and how to make correct decisions, i.e., “The meek will He guide in judgment: and the meek will He teach His way” (Psalm 25:9). (3) Dominion over the earth in peace is granted to the meek, i.e., “But the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace” (Psalm 37:11; Matthew 5:5). (4) Lifting up the meek, while casting down the wicked, is promised by the LORD, i.e., “The LORD lifteth up the meek: He casteth the wicked down to the ground” (Psalm 147:6). (5) Salvation is granted to the meek, because they please Him, i.e., “For the LORD taketh pleasure in His people: He will beautify the meek with salvation” (Psalm 149:4). (6) Joy and rejoicing belong to the meek, for who wouldn’t rejoice with all of God’s promises? “The meek also shall increase their joy in the LORD, and the poor among men shall rejoice in the Holy One of Israel” (Isaiah 29:19). (7) Good tidings, binding up, liberty, and release are appointed for the meek, i.e., “The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon Me; because the LORD hath anointed Me to preach good tidings unto the meek; He hath sent Me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound” (Isaiah 61:1).
NT meekness is also a needy receptivity to God, being very open to receive from Christ. What does Christ expect of the meek? (1) Jesus meekly has presented Himself as Messiah the King to the meek, i.e., “Tell ye the daughter of Sion, Behold, thy King cometh unto thee, meek, and sitting upon an ass, and a colt the foal of an ass” (Matthew 21:5). (2) Christ values highly the gentle and quiet spirit of a meek wife, i.e., “But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price” (1Peter 3:4). (3) Christ expects us to restore fallen brothers and sisters meekly, i.e., “Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted” (Galatians 6:1). (4) Christ expects us to meekly instruct others to gain their repentance, i.e., “In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth” (2Timothy 2:25). (5) Christ expects us to speak gently, meekly to everyone, not seeking confrontation, i.e., “To speak evil of no man, to be no brawlers, but gentle, shewing all meekness unto all men” (Titus 3:2). (6) Christ expects a meekness of wisdom from our lifestyle, i.e., “Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew [shō] out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom” (James 3:13). (7) Christ expects us to meekly answer anyone why we hope in Christ. “But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear” (1Peter 3:15).
Father, grant to us a meek and quiet spirit, and may we learn to value meekness as highly as You do. Cause Your Spirit to work in us the fruit of meekness. Multiply it within us, stay not Your hand. Increase our understanding of meekness. May Your people abound in meekness so the “earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea” (Habakkuk 2:14). In Jesus’ name, we ask it. Amen and amen.
We Need A Miracle 