Matthew 5:5 Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.

Psalm 22:26 The meek shall eat and be satisfied: they shall praise the Lord that seek him: your heart shall live forever.

Psalm 25:9 The meek will he guide in judgment: and the meek will he teach his way.

Psalm 37:3 Trust in the Lord, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed.

9 For evildoers shall be cut off: but those that wait upon the Lord, they shall inherit the earth. (Also verse 34.)

11 But the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace. (Also verses 18, 22, 29.)

Isaiah 29:19 The meek also shall increase their joy in the Lord, and the poor among men shall rejoice in the Holy One of Israel.

Isaiah 57:13b But he that putteth his trust in me shall possess the land, and shall inherit my holy mountain.

MEMORY VERSE: Seek ye the LORD, all ye meek of the earth, which have wrought his judgment; seek righteousness, seek meekness: it may be ye shall be hid in the day of the LORD’S anger. —Zephaniah 2:3

CENTRAL THOUGHT: Those who recognize their lowly position and mourn their sinful condition now cease to struggle or fight against God, but accept His dealings without resistance and receive His Word and His Will. They also forbear and accept injuries, provocations or insults from others patiently, forgiving and restoring their fellow man. These shall inherit the spiritual land of promise—conquest and victory in the Holy Spirit.

WORD DEFINITIONS

Matthew 5:5 “Meek”: mild; gentle. “Earth”: land; the land of promise which was given to the children of Israel, and which pointed forward to the spiritual land of conquest—the promise of the Holy Spirit.

Psalm 22:6 “Meek”: poor; afflicted; humble.

Psalm 25:9 “Judgment”: justice; here the word refers to His eternal law of ordinances.

Psalm 37:9 “Inherit”: take possession of.

11 “Peace”: completeness; soundness; welfare; prosperity; peace.

LESSON BACKGROUND

The promise given by Jesus to those who would gladly receive His Word (James 1:21), yield themselves to Him without resistance and show a mild, gentle and forgiving nature to those around them was a familiar concept given in the Psalms and prophets. Psalm 37 shares the thought several times, describing a person who trusts in the Lord to give him what he needs, waits patiently on the Lord to supply, and lives righteously, quietly, and with mercy and generosity. Can you see an allusion to Abraham’s mild manner with Lot when he gave Lot choice of “the land?” He trusted in God to provide what was best for him, did not strive for his “rights,” and meekly let Lot choose what looked like the best territory. Stepping away from that encounter, we see God coming to him with a big smile and a big surprise. “Abraham, you didn’t insist on the best and the biggest, and now just look what I have for you” (Genesis 13:8- 18 and 22:16-18).

His promise to Abraham and to his posterity was way more than literal territory; the New Testament writers clearly point to the promise of life in the Holy Spirit—the kingdom of God—as being the true inheritance given to those who by faith are the posterity of Abraham. (See Luke 1:72-75, Romans 4, Galatians 4 and Hebrews 11.) I see an allusion to the prophecy given to Daniel here as well. The saints—the holy people—would possess the kingdom; all the greatness and dominion of it would be given to them (Daniel 7:22-27).

What are the elements of this inheritance? Spiritual satisfaction and fullness, joy and praise, guidance and instruction, provision and peace.

See how closely this thought follows the first two beatitudes? The kingdom of heaven, the comfort of forgiveness and presence of the Holy Spirit, and the spiritual inheritance of the promise of the Father—all are the precious possessions of the humble, contrite and meek individual. This is why he or she is truly happy and blessed.

–Sis. Angela Gellenbeck

DISCUSSION:

1. The Meek: What type of person does this word describe?

2. Teachable: What kind of person does God teach His way?

3. Inheritance: What does God promise to those who wait upon the Lord?

4. Fulfillment: To which promises and prophecies can we see allusions in this passage, and to whom were they each made?

COMMENTS AND APPLICATION

Jesus’ teaching of the Beatitudes leads us into the simple but complete plan of salvation. The steps He describes are very important. A religion that leaves out any of these steps is not pure religion nor true salvation. Repentance, contrition, humbling oneself, loathing and forsaking one’s sin, meekness—all are unpopular themes in today’s “feel-good” preaching. Conviction. The mourner’s bench. These things were familiar in the past, but are not very welcome today. But God has not changed nor have His requirements.

The solution to many a spiritual problem can be found right here. I have yet to see someone rise up from praying at the altar for salvation and keep saved who was not properly convicted of their sinfulness, contrite about it, ready to forsake it, and totally willing to meekly accept God’s way in his or her life.

Meekness is the way to victory all along the Christian way. In marriage, in the neighborhood, in the workplace, and in the congregation, we gain spiritual ground when we quit defending ourselves (and thus keep ourselves from being offended), quit insisting on our

own way and arguing for our own rights, and instead choose the gentleness and mildness of our Savior when dealing with confrontation.

—Sis. Angela Gellenbeck

REFLECTIONS

In Matthew Henry’s commentary it reads, “The meek are those who quietly submit themselves to God, to His Word and to His Rod; who follow His directions and comply with His designs and are gentle to all men; who can bear provocation without being inflamed by it; are either silent or return a soft answer; who can show their displeasure when there is occasion for it without any Indecencies; who can be cool when others are hot; and in their patience keep possession of their own souls. They are the meek, who are rarely and hardly provoked, but quickly and easily pacified; and who would rather forgive twenty injuries than revenge one, having the rule of their own spirits.”

Dear ones, when we have salt working in our lives, the attributes of meekness will be there also. Wanting our way all the time, being impatient, pushy, demanding it to go “this way or else—” these are signs of the carnal man still alive in our life. Too often the carnal man comes out in the heat of the moment and blurts out things we are ashamed of later.

Abraham’s attitude as a “man of faith” came out as he and his nephew, Lot, a “man of sight,” were discussing who could take this or who would take that. A man of faith can always depend on God to give the best.

Lord, help us to be more like You!

–Bro. James Bell