Heed The Watchmen

Biblical Meekness

            Most believers realize that meekness is a desirable attribute; a good fruit which shows that the Holy Spirit resides within us. Yet today, the great majority of professing believers misunderstand what it is to be meek, or to show meekness.

                        By using the entire Word of God, we can easily understand the meekness a believer is to have. Let us first review the dictionary’s definition, and then narrow it down. My dictionary provides the following meanings for meek:  1) Patient or mild; not inclined to anger or resentment 2) Tamely submissive 3) Gentle or kind

            Within these three meanings, when combined, I find an accurate description of the desirable Christian attribute of meekness. However, I contend that the second meaning should be the first one we consider. Meekness for the believer is primarily being tamely submissive (obedient) toward God.  When a believer walks in this kind of lifestyle, it will not always exhibit what we have come to think of as meekness.

             It is true that to an extent, Christianity is often about giving up “our rights” as individuals. We should not have a mind to the temporal (what we see in this world), but to the eternal (II Corinthians 4:16-18). The Holy Spirit moved Paul to write in Philippians 3:7, “But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.” Let me give you an example of this. The other day I was behind a woman at the checkout counter in a grocery store. It was an express lane, clearly marked for purchases of 15 items or fewer. She had about 25 items! I was tempted to say something; reminding her about the rules, and how rude it was for her to inconvenience others (namely myself). The Lord put a check in my heart, however. Without Christ, every one of us is hopelessly locked in sin. Apart from God’s mercy to me through Christ, where would I be? This world, and its insignificant annoyances are quickly passing away. This woman needs the hope of Christ; how can I, a true follower of Christ, put such a burden upon a person that needs to be set free in Him? What words should I be speaking to someone that I will likely have no other contact with? It was decided that if I could not share Christ with her, I should be saying nothing in this circumstance; though I did commit her to the Lord for blessing. Now, there are times when we need to stand up for something which may seem to be unspiritual; because it would also be a great help to many others by doing so (like reporting a crime). Yet we need to consider each word that we speak (Matthew 12:36), not being hasty to proceed in self-righteousness (James 1:19,20).

According to Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance, meek is found 17 times; 13 in the Old Testament, 4 in the New Testament. Meekness is found 14 times, twice in the Old Testament, and 12 times in the New Testament. Overall—31 times used; 15 in the Old Testament and 16 in the New Testament (that’s balance!). Certainly it is a characteristic to pay attention to.

            The first mention of meek might take you by surprise—it is a description of Moses!

(Now the man Moses was very meek, above all the men which were upon the face of the earth.) Numbers 12:3

            Does anyone else have a problem thinking of Moses as meek? Check out this account from early in Moses’ life;

And it came to pass in those days, when Moses was grown, that he went out unto his brethren, and looked on their burdens: and he spied an Egyptian smiting an Hebrew, one of his brethren. And he looked this way and that way, and when he saw that there was no man, he slew the Egyptian, and hid him in the sand. Exodus 2:11,12

            Look also at Moses after God’s calling for his life;

And Moses said, Thus saith the LORD, About midnight will I go out into the midst of Egypt:  And all the firstborn in the land of Egypt shall die, from the first born of Pharaoh that sitteth upon his throne, even unto the firstborn of the maidservant that is behind the mill; and all the firstborn of beasts. And there shall be a great cry throughout all the land of Egypt, such as there was none like it, nor shall be like it any more. But against any of the children of Israel shall not a dog move his tongue, against man or beast: that ye may know how that the LORD doth put a difference between the Egyptians and Israel. And all these thy servants shall come down unto me, and bow down themselves unto me, saying, Get thee out, and all the people that follow thee: and after that I will go out. And he went out from Pharaoh in a great anger. Exodus 11:4-8

            Also with “God’s people” in Exodus 32:19-21:

And it came to pass, as soon as he came nigh unto the camp, that he saw the calf, and the dancing: and Moses' anger waxed hot, and he cast the tables out of his hands, and brake them beneath the mount. And he took the calf which they had made, and burnt it in the fire, and ground it to powder, and strewed it upon the water, and made the children of Israel drink of it. And Moses said unto Aaron, What did this people unto thee, that thou hast brought so great a sin upon them? Exodus 32:19-21

            Today we often think of meek as shy and timid; non-imposing. Clearly, Moses’ meekness came in obedience to God. We also find other attributes of meekness in Moses’ life. He was patient, not inclined to resentment, and kind. His long-suffering prayers of intercession for the Israelites are a testimony to that!

            God will use us as the unique individuals he created us to be. Yet we need to remember that meekness toward God often appears to be boldness toward men.

The wicked flee when no man pursueth: but the righteous are bold as a lion. Proverbs 28:1

            Here are the Old Testament occurrences of meek or meekness:

            Numbers 12:3

            Psalms 22:26

            Psalms 25:9 (twice)

            Psalms 37:11

            Psalms 45:4

            Psalms 76:9

            Psalms 147:6

            Psalms 149:4

            Isaiah 11:4

            Isaiah 29:19

            Isaiah 61:1

            Amos 2:7

            Zephaniah 2:3 (twice)

            In the eight times they appear in Psalms, the Lord has used David to write most of them. Is David meek?

Then said David to the Philistine, Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied. This day will the LORD deliver thee into mine hand; and I will smite thee, and take thine head from thee; and I will give the carcasses of the host of the Philistines this day unto the fowls of the air, and to the wild beasts of the earth; that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel. And all this assembly shall know that the LORD saveth not with sword and spear: for the battle is the LORD's, and he will give you into our hands. II Samuel 17:45-47

            We also see in the Psalms;

The righteous shall rejoice when he seeth the vengeance: he shall wash his feet in the blood of the wicked. So that a man shall say, Verily there is a reward for the righteous: verily he is a God that judgeth in the earth. Psalms 58:10,11

            David certainly has Godly meekness. He showed respect to Saul, and mercy to his enemies. But when it came to standing up for Christ, David was as “bold as a lion.” We cannot imagine the closeness between the Lord and David, whom God declared to be “a man after mine own heart” (see I Samuel 13:14, Acts 13:22). Through David’s life, God shows the balance of His own characteristics. Standing boldly in Christ’s behalf is showing meekness in the main way we need to have it.

            Jesus’ meekness is referred to three times; but only once by Himself during His earthly ministry. We see it in Matthew 21:5 (prophecy) and II Corinthians 10:1 (description). But the best is found coming directly from our Savior. We find this in Matthew 11:29;

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

            We know that Jesus, the Word, our creator and savior, epitomizes meekness in every respect. By His mercy, our souls have been redeemed. Yet look at the verses immediately preceding 29—this is Jesus speaking;

Then began he to upbraid the cities wherein most of his mighty works were done, because they repented not: Woe unto thee, Chorazin! woe unto thee, Bethsaida! for if the mighty works, which were done in you, had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. But I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the day of judgment, than for you. And thou, Capernaum, which art exalted unto heaven, shalt be brought down to hell: for if the mighty works, which have been done in thee, had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. But I say unto you, That it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment, than for thee. Matthew 11:20-24

            Jesus in the flesh was our perfect example in every way! Therefore Godly meekness is not only, always, patient and kind. Obedience to God will show a balance in attributes. And no, this was not the only contentious point in Jesus’ earthly ministry! See also Luke 11:39-52, John 2:13-15, and 8:44.

            The New Testament references to meek and meekness are found in the following verses:

            Matthew 5:5

            Matthew 11:29

            Matthew 21:5

            I Corinthians 4:21

            II Corinthians 10:1

            Galatians 5:23

            Galatians 6:1

            Ephesians 4:2

            Colossians 3:12

            I Timothy 6:11

            II Timothy 2:25

            Titus 3:2

            James 1:21

            James 3:13

            I Peter 3:4

            I Peter 3:15