Blessed are the Meek

By Ron. v. Leerdam

Brothers & sisters in our Lord Jesus Christ,
True blessing is found by having a personal relationship with Father God through His Son Jesus Christ by the enabling work of the Holy Spirit.

When God reveals His grace, mercy, and freely bestows His love on people, they have a blessing or happiness that is out of this world.

As the Scriptures say, ‘Happy, blessed are the people whose God is the Lord.’
‘As for me it is the best good to be near unto God.’
What greater gift is there than the blessedness that comes from fellowship with Him who is higher and greater than us – our loving heavenly Father?
We have been created to glorify our creator and enjoy fellowship with Him forever.
Living apart from God is futile and meaningless.

Being separated from the source of life is death.

Jesus teaches the paradox of the kingdom of God: Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the kingdom of heaven! Seeing the majesty, power, might, glory and awesomeness of the living creator God leaves the viewer with a desperate sense of unworthiness & humility. You find it in David.
“Lord who am I that You would come to me?”
Peter said, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man O Lord.”

The way to riches is to be poor in spirit. For those who humble themselves receive as a free gift – the kingdom of heaven.

What is meant by ‘poor in spirit’?

A complete absence of pride in God’s presence. Complete absence of self-assurance and self-reliance. We are conscious of our unworthiness in God’s presence.

“This is the fundamental principle on which the succeeding beatitudes – blessings of God are built. Unless one is poor in spirit, one will not mourn. ‘Blessed are those who mourn for they will be comforted.’

What is this mourning? Sorrow, heartfelt despair, grief and sadness as we realise how far short we fall – ‘all have sinned!’ We must go through the valley of tears to find comfort. When the Spirit of God gives us a heart of flesh, we are able to see God as He really is! Our eternal creator, holy, just, all knowing and all seeing. Nothing can be hidden from Him. Then we not only recognise our poverty, but godly sorrow and grief fills our heart because of our own sin. We see how we have offended a holy and righteous God. “Against You, only you have I sinned and done what is evil in Your sight.” Godly sorrow leads us to falling on the mercy of God. Forgive me Lord! The Lord forgives and forgets our sins because he laid on his only son the punishment we deserve. Christ’s righteousness is ours by faith alone.

The paradox of the kingdom is: Unless one mourns over sin – their own and that of others, there will be no meekness. Blessed are the meek – humble, gentle, compassionate in heart for they will inherit the earth.

What is it to be meek? We ought never confuse MEEKNESS with WEAKNESS.

This quality focuses on our attitude towards others. The meek are willing to suffer personal loss for God’s sake. The meek do not insist on; ‘It has to be my way or the
highway!’ Jesus describes meekness as being willing to be willing to turn the other cheek, give your cloak as well as your tunic and to walk the extra mile.
Those who have this attitude in their hearts will inherit the earth.

That means: whatever they have they enjoy it to the full.

They are willing to accept their personal lot and rejoice in the Lord always. Remember when Paul and Silas were put into prison in Philippi? They had upset some people because they had cast a demon out of a slave girl who could predict the future. Her owners realising that their source of income was ruined, had Paul and Silas stripped and beaten and thrown into Jail. How did Paul and Silas respond?
With weakness? No with meekness! At midnight they are praying and singing hymns to God. Whilst in prison, the ache from the flogging did not quench their spirit.
Their situation did not cause them to despair.
Their hearts were filled with gentleness and tenderness.
Their eyes were on the Lord.

Their trust was in God.

Instead of ranting and raving about the injustice of their personal plight, they were praying, singing and praising the Lord their Saviour. In a very real sense they had already inherited that part of the earth. Though in prison, yes in captivity, they still had real freedom.

Freedom to find contentment in God and joy in Him.

Their meekness was a powerful witness and provided an opportunity to share the Gospel with the Philippine Jailer whose life would be transformed. Yes indeed, the angels in heaven would rejoice and praise God! For this man and all his family believed and were baptised. The inheritance the meek receive is the gift of God. The meek are those who choose to react to the difficult situations that others would put them in with faith in the love their heavenly Father has for them who has
promised; “… that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him.” Rom. 8:28.
Let us consider Psalm 37 for a moment.
It is a Psalm of David.
“Don’t fret, he says, because of evil men or be envious of those who do wrong.”
Remember that God is just, knowing and seeing all things. The wicked may treat you harshly, and rip you off. In the face of persecution we pray for our enemies. We are called to repay evil with good. The Psalmist says the blessed or happy are those who:

– Trust in the Lord.
– Do good.
– Delight yourself in the Lord.
– Commit your way to the Lord.
– Be still before the Lord.
– Be patient.
– Don’t fret.
– Refrain from wrath or anger.

These are the choices that those who are meek choose when put down or treated unfairly. The result says the psalmist:

THE MEEK WILL INHERIT THE EARTH.

Nothing that others can do to us can take away the inheritance God has promised to those who love Him. We can put our confidence in the promises of God The earth is the Lord’s and the fullness there of. There is nothing that does not belong to God. He gives as He wills. For the future we have great hope for the day is coming when the Lord will make a new heaven and a new earth and He has promised His people a glorious inheritance for all eternity dwelling in His presence. Jesus is not saying here, don’t defend yourself or your family from harm. For example: If someone would come to hurt your children, We have the responsibility as parents to protect them.

This meekness or gentleness must not be understood as weakness.

Jesus Himself is meek & lowly – Come all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am
gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. Matthew 11:28-29
When Jesus was betrayed, whipped, spat on, mocked and crucified he did not retaliate or get angry. As the lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world, Jesus prayed, “Father forgive them for they do not know what they are doing.” “Father into your hands I commit my spirit.” What motivated Jesus? For the sake of God, one is willing to suffer loss & the paradox of the Gospel is: Those who lose for the sake of the Kingdom of God – GAIN! For they will inherit the earth. Remember God’s call to Abraham. Leave your land & go to the land I show you and you will be blessed. Your descendants after you will gain this land as an everlasting possession. What was the situation of Israel at the time of Jesus? Roman occupation of the land promised to them. They were looking for a Messiah who would deliver them politically, economically & socially.

Jesus own life illustrates the principle of the Kingdom of God. In grasping one loses; Israel’s history demonstrated that. When the kings of Israel thought they held power in their own right and rejected God as the one in whose Name they had power and did what was right in their own eyes, that generation of the wicked were eventually disinherited of that promise to Abraham. What has happened to the great empires of history? They have all disappeared. All that is left relics.

In grasping one loses. In giving one gains.

The inheritance promised to God’s people is an everlasting one. Abraham was seeking the city whose architect and builder is God. The source of every blessing is found in a personal relationship with God through His Son Jesus Christ by the enabling of the Holy Spirit. The triune God graciously proclaims to His people,
“I am your God and you are my people.” Blessed are poor in spirit for God’s grace is sufficient for them, theirs is the kingdom of Heaven. Blessed are those who mourn for they will be comforted. Blessed are the meek for they will inherit the earth. How does this meekness come into our being? By looking at God. Look at the person of Jesus. Fix your eyes on Him and imitate Him. Pray that the fruit of the Holy Spirit might grow in us.

Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness,
faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Gal. 6:22,23

What can we do when we are struggling?
We can pray.
What if you don’t know what to pray?
Pray the prayer Jesus taught His disciples to pray,
“Our Father in Heaven, Hallowed be Your Name,
Your Kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in Heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread,
and forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us.
Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the
evil One, for the kingdom, the power and the glory
are Yours, now and forever Amen.“
Those who overcome in and through Him will reign with Him in the new heaven and the new earth. The saints have a freedom in the Lord which the world cannot take away. The world cannot take away our contentment, the promises of God and our blessed hope. We have freedom to enjoy with thankfulness all God’s good gifts and look forward to the day when God will be all in all.

Amen.