Lesson 16

To be meek is "to control one's emotions while under false accusations so that we do not retaliate against our accusers but surrender the whole matter to God in order that He may vindicate us."

We are commanded by God to grow in meekness (1 Timothy 6:11).
It is not an option.
It is only through meekness that we can receive God's victory in every situation and possess our inheritance in Christ (Matthew 5:5).

But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, MEEKNESS.
(1 Timothy 6:11)

"Blessed are the MEEK,
     for they will inherit the earth.
(Matthew 5:5)

Meekness is a fruit of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23).
We can only grow in meekness as we willingly obey the leading of the Holy Spirit in the face of provocation.

But the fruit of the Holy Spirit is
     love, joy, peace,
     longsuffering, gentleness [kindness], goodness,
     faith, meekness [gentleness], temperance [self-control].
(Galatians 5:22-23)

(NOTE: The Greek word for MEEK in Matthew 5:5 is PRAUS [SC 4239].
The Greek work for MEEKNESS in Galatians 5:23 and 1 Timothy 6:11 is PROATEES [SC 4236].
Thus we see that only the KJV is consistent in translating the related Greek words from which MEEK and MEEKNESS are derived.

The words of Jesus in Matthew 5:5 is adapted from Psalm 37:11, where the Hebrew word for MEEK is AW-NAWV.
This is the same Hebrew word used fro describing Moses' MEEKNESS in the Numbers 12:3 KJV. Thus we see that the KJV is consistent in its translation across both the Old and New Testaments for the words MEEK and MEEKNESS).

Meekness does not come naturally. No one is born meek.
A person may be born weak and soft, but this is not meekness.
Such a person may not retaliate because he lacks the power or guts to do so while inside him, he is seething with rage and anger; waiting for the day when he can get his revenge.

On the other hand, a person who is meek has the power to retaliate, but does not do so because of his obedience to God's will.
A meek person is one who has his power under the control of the Holy Spirit, and respond to evil only with good (Romans 12:21).

Naturally, we would like to grab the necks of our false accusers and rotate these necks a hundred times in both directions with both hands.
However, if we respond in the flesh (i.e., follow our sinful nature), we will reap destruction for ourselves and for those opposing us (Galatians 5:8).
It is only as we submit ourselves totally to the will of the Holy Spirit that we will grow in meekness.

Psalm 37 was written by King David as a lesson in meekness.
David was a man after God's heart (Acts 13:22).
Although he was anointed king over Israel when he was a young man, he had to grow in meekness before he ascended the throne.
Many times, he kept himself from retaliating against his countrymen who were ungrateful toward him in spite of the good things he had done for them.
In fact, they were hostile toward him.

E.g. David was hounded throughout Judea by his father-in-law, King Saul, even though he had helped Saul win the battles of Israel against her enemies (1 Samuel 18:1-23:29).
Twice he had the opportunity to kill Saul, but he refused to do so.
David feared God, and obeyed the Holy Spirit (1 Samuel 24:1-22; 26:1-25).

E.g. When David sent his men to a wealthy farmer named Nabal, asking for some gifts for his men to celebrate, Nabal insulted David and his men.
David was mocked and rejected even though he and his men had protected Nabal's shepherds and helped them.
David became furious and was on his way to take revenge when he was met by Agibail, Nabal's wife, who persuaded David not to shed blood needlessly and not to avenge himself.
In fact, Abigail declared that God will destroy all of David's enemies.
David listened to Abigail and kept himself from taking revenge against his countryman who insulted him (1 Samuel 25:1-44).

And God vindicated David in the end.
He took over the throne of Israel when Saul died in battle.
He also married Abigail when Nabal died soon after David listened to Abigail.

In Psalm 37(Galatians 5:8)., God teaches us certain truths in order that we may grow in meekness.
These are as follow:

When we see evil men succeed in their ways, or carry out their wicked schemes, we must not fret or be angry (Psalm 37:1,7-8).
When your spouse provoke you, when your colleagues speak evil of you, and when others slander you, do not give way to anger.

Your anger does not help the situation, but make matters worse.
Your anger causes you to sin, and justify the evil passions of others.
Your anger hinders the hand of God from helping you.

DO NOT FRET because of evil men
     or be envious of those who do wrong.

Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for Him;
     DO NOT FRET when men succeed in their ways,
     while they carry out their evil schemes,

Refrain from ANGER and turn from WRATH;
     DO NOT FRET - it leads only to evil.
(Psalm 37:1,7-8)

Many times, we feel like using the same evil methods of those who slander us and speak evil of us, and who seem to succeed in their wicked schemes.
However, God does not want us to be envious of those who do evil.
We are not to follow their example.
They may seem to succeed, but they do not last long (Psalm 37:7-9).

Do not fret because of evil men
     or be ENVIOUS of those who do wrong.
(Psalm 37:1)

n the case of provocation by evil men, we are to trust in the Lord.
We are to commit our situation to Him.
We must believe that He will "work all things out for our good" (Romans 8:28).
We must trust in His word that He will vindicate us and prove us right in the end before the public (Psalm 37:5-6; Isaiah 54:17).
We must believe that He will remove all those who do evil (Psalm 37:9).

We show our trust in God by

We must never allow words of fear or anxiety come forth from our lips.
This would be a sign of doubt in the promises of God.

COMMIT YOUR WAY to the LORD;
     TRUST in Him and He will do this:
He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn,
     the justice of your cause like the noonday sun.
(Psalm 37:5-6)

Our trust in God will allow God to move mightily on our behalf.
"All things are possible to him who believes" (Mark 9:23).
If we do not trust God, but doubt in our heart, we will receive nothing (Mark 11:23). 

In the face of provocation, God wants us to rejoice in Him.
It is difficult to do so, especially when you are under attack and deep provocation.
However, by an act of your will, you must choose to honor God and delight in Him, rejoicing always in all situation (Psalm 37:4; Philippians 4:4; 1 Thessalonians 5:16).

As we delight in God, we are declaring to the spirit realm that we trust in our God.
We are declaring that our God is a good God, who always deliver His people, as He has promised (Psalm 37:39-40).
Our rejoicing is an act of faith in God that He will vindicate us.
And as we delight in God, He will grant us the victory.

DELIGHT YOURSELF in the LORD
     and He will give you the desires of your heart.
(Psalm 37:4)

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!
(Philippians 4:4)

Instead of returning evil for evil, God wants to do good instead (Psalm 37:3, 27).
We are to do good even to our enemies.
This is because we are children of God, who shows His mercy even to the evil and the unrighteous (Matthew 5:44-45).

In doing good to evil men, we heap burning coals upon their heads.
We allow the Spirit of God to convict them of their evil.
We allow the wicked to see that there is a living God who is alive in His children.
We can overcome evil only by doing good (Romans 12:17-21).

We also keep ourselves from sinning against God when we do good.
And God is pleased with us when we do good.
We will enjoy His blessings and live securely.

We should never do evil to others, no matter what others may do to us.
We must never retaliate.
We are not to descend to the despicable levels of our enemies.
Otherwise, we will be no different from them.

When we retaliate, we are taking the matter out of God's hand into our own hands.
By disobeying God, we have fallen into the trap of the devil.
God will no longer help us, and we will make the situation worse.

Instead, we are to be led only by the Holy Spirit.
Our actions are not to be determined by what others around us do to us.

Trust in the LORD and DO GOOD;
     dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture,
Turn from evil and DO GOOD;
     then you will always live securely.
(Psalm 37:3,27)

But I tell you: Love your enemies, bless those who curse you, DO GOOD to those who hate you, and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.
(Matthew 5:44-45)

Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to DO WHAT IS RIGHT in the eyes of everybody. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to avenge, I will repay," says the Lord. On the contrary:
     "If your enemy is hungry, feed him;
          if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.
     In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head."
Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
(Romans 12:17-21)

After we have committed our situation to God, we are to wait patiently for Him to deliver us, to act against our enemies and to vindicate us (Psalm 37:7).
We must develop patience, that is "the ability to wait for God to deliver us, without complaining, but with rejoicing."

BE STILL before the LORD and WAIT PATIENTLY for Him;
     do not fret when men succeed in their ways,
     when they carry out their evil schemes.
(Psalm 37:7)

God may answer our prayers instantly, the following week or even months later.
We cannot hurry God. He has His own perfect timing and ways.
No matter how long it takes for the answer to appear, we must continue to stand in faith and rejoice in His salvation.

We are to be still before God, and not attempt to help God deal with our enemies.
We must not try to figure out how and when God will deliver us.
This will only cause anxiety to arise in our hearts.

As we wait on God to deliver us, the testing of our faith will cause patience to develop in us, and in this way become mature (James 1:2-4).
Spiritual maturity in a believer can only be developed in the midst of adversity.

Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance [patience]. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete.
(James 1:2-4)

We must not give up on God's work.
We must maintain our trust in God even if persecution and trials increase.
We must hold fast our confession of faith in God, no matter what the circumstance are (Hebrews 4:14).
It is only through faith and patience that we inherit what has been promised by God (Hebrews 6:12).

God will remove all those who do evil, sooner or later (Psalm 37:2,9,10,20,35-38).
They will be cut off from the land of the living.
Their dirty schemes will be exposed and they will fall into their own traps.

God laughs at them.
He knows their day of reckoning is coming (Psalm 37:13).

Do not fret because of evil men
     or be envious of those who do wrong;
for like the grass they will SOON WITHER,
     like green plants they will SOON DIE AWAY.
For evil men WILL BE CUT OFF,
     but those who hope in the LORD will inherit the land.

A little while, and the wicked WILL BE NO MORE;
     though you look for them, they WILL NOT BE FOUND.
But the meek will inherit the land
     and enjoy great peace.
The wicked plot against the righteous
     and gnash their teeth at them;
but the Lord LAUGHS at the wicked
     for He knows THEIR DAY IS COMING.
(Psalm 37:1-2; 9-13)

God will fight for us and give us the victory over our enemies in the end.
He will vindicate us and let the world know that we are righteous and that He is on our site (Isaiah 54:17; Psalm 37:6).
He will cause us to come into the full riches of our inheritance in Christ.
He will cause the meek to inherit the earth (Matthew 5:5; Psalm 37:11).

"No weapon formed against you will prevail,
     and you will refute every tongue that accuses you.
This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD,
     this is their VINDICATION from me," declares the LORD.
(Isaiah 54:17)

But the meek will inherit the land
     and enjoy great peace.
(Psalm 37:11)

No one can keep us away from our God-given riches.
God will cause us to possess these riches in His own way and time, no matter what man may try to do to keep us from these riches.

E.g. Joseph, one of the 12 sons of Jacob, had dreams from God showing him that one day he will rule over his brothers and his family (Genesis 37:1-11).
Though he was sold as a slave to Egypt by his brothers because of their jealousy, and later was unjustly thrown into prison by his master,  he harbored no bitterness against God or against his enemies.
In due time, God exalted him to the high position of Prime Minister of Egypt (Genesis 37:12-36; 39:1-42:56).
And in the end, his brothers came to Egypt and bowed down before him.

E.g. When Isaac prospered in the land of the Philistines at Gerar, the Philistines envied him and stopped up all the wells that his father's servant had dug in the time of his father Abraham (Genesis 26:12-15).
when he moved away and discovered a new well of fresh water, the herdsmen of Gerar claimed it as theirs (Genesis 26:19-20).
He dug another new well, and the Gerar herdsmen claimed that one also.
He moved on from there and dug yet another well, and this time no one quarreled over it.
He named it Rehoboth (meaning room), saying, "Now the LORD has given us room and we will flourish in the land" (Genesis 26:21-22).

God will even use the jealousy and envy of our enemies to bring us to our rightful place on this earth, where we will prosper and be exalted.
However, only the meek will inherit the riches of the land.

Your thought

1. Do you face persecution and harassment in your home / working place / church?

2. How have you dealt with these trials in the past?

3. If you have reacted wrongly in the past to these provocation, list out the steps you would adopt now in order to allow God to move on your behalf.