To: All
Dear Agapetos,
Jesus in the third beatitude within the Sermon on the Mount says
Who are the meek? The Greek word used here is Strong's concordance #4239, praus (prah-ooce), mild, humble, meek. The same word is used by Jesus to describe himself in Matt 11:29 when he says "I am meek and lowly in heart".
The OT has a Hebrew equivalent: Strong's concordance #6035, anav (aw-nawv) depressed figuratively, in mind gentle, or circumstances especially saintly, humble, lowly, meek, poor.
Much is said about the meek and meekness in the OT.
Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. "Inherit" is easy to understand. Inheritance is what a child gains from the parent by descent, passed down from parent to child. As children of God, we inherit from our heavenly father all that is his. But what do we inherit? Is it a patch of soil? Is it the promised land of milk and honey? The Greek word for earth used in this text is "ge" (ghay), Strong's concordance #1093: the solid part of the whole globe including the occupants. The corresponding Hebrew word as in Psalm 37:11 is "erets" (eh-rets) Strong's concordance #776, from an unused root word probably meaning firm, hence firmament, the whole world. Not only will we inherit the whole earth but we will rule it together with Jesus for a thousand years in the Mellenial Kingdom (Rev 20: 4-6).
Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. God says that to inherit the earth we have to be meek. Contrast this with the third temptation (Matt 4:8-10), where Jesus was brought to a very high mountain and showed all the kingdoms of the world. "All this I will give you if you will bow down and worship me" he was offered by the father of all lies. The worldly way to inherit the earth is to worship self, be proud, totally self dependant, self centred, merciless, stingy, laying up treasures where moths and rust can destroy: this is no different from worshipping the devil.
The word of God has much to say about the proud. Psalms & Proverbs is a good place to dig: I will leave you to do that yourself: Try starting with Ps 119:21 Ps 138:6, Proverbs 15:25, 1 Peter 5:5.
Make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self control; and to self control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will help you to be meek. And in your meekness you will receive blessing. In your meekness you gain the full benefits of being a child of God. You will inherit the earth. Thus saith the word of the Lord. The Lord be thanked!
Let us close in prayer
From: Su Min
Subject: Meek
Make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self control; and to self control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ (2 Peter 1:5-8).
Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth (Matt 5:5).
With a deep love and reverence and familiarity with the scriptures, Jesus must have had Psalm 37:11 in his mind as he spoke.
Blessed (happy, blithesome, joyous, spiritually prosperous- with a life joy and satisfaction in God's favour and salvation regardless of their outward conditions) are the meek (the mild, patient, long suffering), for they shall inherit the earth! AMP
Ps 22:26 The meek shall eat and be satisfied.
We learn that the meek are mild, lowly, seeking mercy, saint like, Christ like, righteous, right with God, walking with God, obedient to God. In contrast we see that the not-meek are the proud, the wicked, destined to be cast down and consumed by God's anger.
Ps 25:9 The meek he will guide in judgement: and the meek he will teach his ways.
Ps 37:11 The meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.
Ps 76:9 God arose to judgement, to save all the meek of the earth.
Ps 147:6 The Lord lifteth up the meek: he casteth the wicked down to the ground.
Ps 149:4 The Lord taketh pleasure in his people: he will beautify the meek with salvation.
In Zephaniah 2:3, one of the "minor prophets" the 4th last book of the OT the word of God says "Seek ye the Lord, all ye meek of the earth, which have wrought his judgement; seek righteousness, seek mercy: it may be ye shall be his in the day of the Lord's anger."
Perhaps the NIV rendition of this verse speaks to you: "Seek the Lord, all you humble of the land, you who do what he commands. Seek righteousness, seek humility; perhaps you will be sheltered on the day of the Lord's anger."
Abba Father
We praise you God for your lesson today.
Father, in but one verse of Matthew 5:5, you bring us from King David in Psalm 37:11 to the Mellenial Kingdom in Revelation 20: 4-6.
Almighty God, in one verse you show us the importance of being meek: indeed meekness is one facet of your personage.
Teach us to be meek, Father. Help us yield our pride and selfishness to the Lordship of Jesus.
Thank you for the promise of blessing.
Thank you for promising us the inheritance of the earth.
In Jesus name
Amen.
For any comments or enquiries please write to Dr. Lim Su Min
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