It struck her suddenly and strangely that to know the real truth about anything in life might require infinite experience and understanding. How could one feel immense gratitude and relief, or the delight of satisfying acute hunger, or the sweet comfort of rest, unless there had been circumstances of extreme contrast?”
–Zane Grey (The Call of the Canyon)
“Sing, O heavens! Be joyful, O earth! And break out in singing, O mountains! For the Lord has comforted His people, And will have mercy on His afflicted.”
–Isaiah 49:13 (NKJV)
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“Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.” –Matthew 5:5 (KJV)
The term “meek” is a study in itself. As we study this verse be aware of the complete definition of the term. I would advise you to read Psalm 37 as we study this verse. Zenas Bicket explains “meekness. “Meekness is the clothing of a servant. It is the opposite of all that is presumptuous, forward, and self-asserting. It is freedom from the loathsome disease of pride. It is the expression to men of a spirit that has surrendered voluntarily its claim to independence and has humbled itself ‘under the mighty hand of God.'” J.B. Phillips in his translations identifies them as “those who claim nothing.” In reality, what do we really have, what do we really own, what will we take with us to the grave? Hmmm…
The term, “praus,” was a grand ethical word to the Greek mind. It was someone who was a master of self, someone who had self-discipline. In other words, one must exercise self-control to be meek. Part of the meaning is attitude; it means “contentment of mind.” The meek person is content, he does not strive for more, not greedy, not covetous. The meek person is “one who is not always interested in one’s rights.” (F.B. Meyer) The meek does not clamor, “I have my rights!” for he realizes that he is a servant of the Most High God. He has given himself completely over to God and is not completely God-controlled. The meek does not whimper, whine, murmur, make excuses, or complain but has himself under control–forbearance under injuries and provocation is part of his character. According to John Stott, “Meekness is a true view of oneself, expressed in attitude and conduct with respect to others.”
We read in Proverbs 16:32, “He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city.” One of the first things required in meekness then is to understand who you are, then give yourself to the Lord. “Meekness therefore requires such a true view about ourselves as well express itself in our attitude toward others.” (D.A. Carson) It is not a lily-livered person, in fact, the opposite for the meek person knows how to act and because of that he will inherit the earth.
Perhaps a better, more literal breakdown of the verse is: (William Barclay)
–“Blessed is the man who is always angry at the right time, and never angry at the wrong time.”
–“Blessed is the man who has every instinct, every impulse, every passion under control. Blessed is the man who is entirely self-controlled.”
–“Blessed is the man who has the humility to know his own ignorance, his own weakness, and his own need.”
–Full verse: “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!”
The meek person is a true disciple, a true student of his Teacher. “God-given meekness,” states Arthur Pink, “can stand up for God-given rights.” David tells us in Psalm 25, “The meek will he guide in judgment: and the meek will he teach his way.” (verse 9, KJV)