Articles
The Meek
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But the meek shall inherit the earth, and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace. (Psa. 37:11)
Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. (Matt. 5:5)
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The Biblical concept of meekness is difficult to capture in English. The various translations struggle with the word, variously rendering it as gentle, humble, lowly, or poor--none of which adequately capture the rich nuance of the idea. The ambiguity of the term is further complicated by the promise attached to it: "inherit the earth." Huh?
As is often the case, the context in which this verse is found illuminates its meaning. Psalm 37 is David's look back over his life from the vantage point of old age (v. 25). His life experiences taught him one lesson above all else: whatever the momentary triumphs of the wicked, in the end they will lose, and the righteous will be rewarded. No matter how rigged the game seems to be in the moment, eventually the truth will win out and justice will be served.
This general theme is summarized in v. 9--"Evildoers shall be cut off; but those who wait on the Lord, they shall inherit the earth." This verse provides a clue to the identity of the "meek"--they are those who "wait on the Lord" (see also v. 34). In short, the meek are those who have learned the value of patience. When evil and injustice swirl around them, they do not fret or get angry (v. 1, 7, 8). They remain poised, calm, deliberate, focused, confident that God is in control and will eventually balance the books. They know that someday, the wheels of justice will catch up, and God will see to it that the wicked get what is coming to them.
In the meantime, the righteous have an outlook on life that prepares them to engage it successfully. No drama, no anxiety, no panic--just a steady walk in the light of God's truth, confident in the outcome. "The future of that man is peace" (v. 37), both in this life and the next. Inevitably, it is the righteous who are positioned to rebuild society after the wicked crash and burn.
When Jesus borrowed from this Psalm in one of His Beatitudes, He was drawing on a rich Hebrew tradition of faith. The meek are those who have figured out that life is not the train wreck it appears to be, and that someday God will sort out all the chaos and make everything right again. Armed with that knowledge, they are prepared to enjoy life to the fullest, despite the mischief that surrounds around them.
Does "meekness" describe your approach to life?
--David
