Blessed are the Meek
It is remarkable how often we say: Blessed are they that mourn, or blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness, and how few times we preach or speak about blessed are the meek. Could the reason be that we find so little of that meekness in our life?
Whatever it may be, it is good to stop a few moments by the words, “Blessed are the meek.” For it is so true that these words of Christ, known by us as the Beatitudes, can never be separated the one from the other. Together they explain the entire way of salvation.
In the Beatitudes, the Lord Jesus speaks of the entire concept of spiritual life. And when we may speak of spiritual life as an experience within, then something of these words of Christ must be seen in our life. And when we may notice that with even one of these Beatitudes it has become so poor in our life, must it then not drive us out to God’s throne of grace? Must it then not bring us upon our knees when we see that we miss the marks of spiritual life as the Lord has given them to us? In Matthew 5:5 the Lord speaks of the meek. Whom does He mean by the meek? What type of people are they?
The word meek is self explanatory — those who have a meek spirit. But here we must be careful. The Lord is not speaking of a pleasant character. There are people who have a very pleasant nature but there are no two people who have exactly the same character. Some people are hard: they can view the deepest tragedy without being moved. Others have a nature that is quickly moved by the needs of others. In general, they are pleasant people to associate with.
But that is not the meek the Lord speaks of in this text. The meekness spoken of is not something we possess by nature. It is the fruit of that irresistible work of the Holy Spirit in the life of a man. We don’t have this of ourselves, and that becomes evident in our life time after time. When we feel someone has wronged us, then the old nature of fighting our own battles takes over. Then our Lamech nature takes over. He said, “I have slain a man to my wounding, and a young man to my hurt.” But when the Lord comes, He breaks this hard heart. Then the sinner is brought to the feet of Jesus so that he may learn something of His meekness. How meek He was when they smote Him on the face — He was silent! When they nailed Him upon the cursed cross, how meek and humble He showed Himself! He did not curse His enemies; He prayed for them. He then gave everything into the hands of God.
No, I do not say that Jesus never became angry. When it concerned His Name and His honor, then He was silent. But when it was about the Name and the honor of His Father, then He was filled with holy indignation. He then used the whip to drive the money changers out of His Father’s house. No, He never sought His own honor, but was always zealous for the honor of His Father.
Readers, if it may be well with us upon the way to eternity, then some of that meekness must be found in us. When we give a testimony of possessing a better life, then somewhat — and the depth is not measured here — but somewhat of that spirit must dwell in us. Then it will become evident in my forgiving my fellowman the wrong done unto me. I will seek to live peaceably with my brother and will be able to be the least time after time. It is true that our devilish nature does not desire that. But when we may become a great beast before God, then it will not be difficult. Then it is my sins and my iniquities. Then it is me who is worthy to be cast away.
Oh, if the Lord would deal with such a one as I am according to what I deserve, it would be forever lost! But now it is His grace and mercy that makes the difference. When the sinner may experience this, he has no need to look down upon another, no need to judge his brother. Then he may place it in God’s hands. Judgment belongeth unto Him who alone knoweth the heart. No, I do not mean that there then is no room for admonishment. But rather that such a one will admonish at every opportunity. He admonishes because he feels the soul’s need for others. Does not the Lord Himself encourage His people in this when He says, “Love them that hate you, bless them that curse thee”? Oh, how little do we practice this in our day! How sorrowful it has become in God’s church when the one does not trust the other! When there is more a fighting for my honor rather than God’s honor. Why is it this way? Could the reason be that the people of God meet each other so few times at that place where a humbled sinner may bow, and where, by grace, some of His meekness may become again an experience within?
Oh, what a blessing that the Lord Jesus is not only an example, but that also mediatorially He has suffered and died! It is true that many times we fall back and that old nature again takes over, but when we may truly find a refuge in His blood, then each time His strength will bring us back. And then some of His meekness may be found in us. Paul says, “Through Christ I can do all things, for He it is that strengtheneth me.”
Also, Moses had some of that given meekness. “Now the man Moses was very meek, above all the men which were upon the face of the earth” (Num. 12:3). When the people murmured against him, then he could come upon his knees to pray for them. No, Moses did not have that meekness of himself, but it was the Lord who gave him a humble heart.
May there be more prayer amongst us for that God-given meekness. There would then be fewer difficulties and problems surrounding us. What a precious experience it would be to have that meekness! Listen to what the Lord says of them, “Blessed are the meek.” And do they not taste of that blessedness when they may pray for their enemies? Do they not feel God’s favor when they may be the least? Is it not a wonderful experience when they may have a soul’s need for those who have wronged them? Yes, blessed are they, for it is God’s grace which is free and sovereign that has looked down upon them. It is the Holy Spirit that has drawn them out of darkness to His light. It is that selfsame Spirit which has broken their hard heart, and has given them a place at the feet of Christ.
How blessed it was for Stephen, when dying he prayed for his enemies, and he saw heaven opened. Yes, “Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.” These are remarkable words.
Here they may receive the interest but one day they will receive the full capital.
Is it not this world which a man by nature longs to possess? For this he spends all his energy and his strength that he may have something of this world to call his own. For this he uses every available means. Yes, to have something of or to be somebody in this world, man will go over dead bodies. Nothing is too much to obtain this.
Yet the Lord did not say that this worldling will possess the earth, but that the meek will inherit the earth. For what can it benefit a man if he gain the whole world and lose his own soul? What does a rich man have with all his riches, when at the end he will die unconverted? What does that man have who has climbed to the top of the social ladder of honor and position, just to fall from that height into eternal condem-
nation? True, they may live upon this earth a little while, and while living here, may even hear the serious admonishment, “Turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways.” What a fearful deathbed it will be when they finally leave this earth.
The Lord says the meek will inherit this earth. We would have expected something else here. Perhaps more like this: Blessed are the meek for they shall inherit heaven. It is true, heaven has been opened for them and one day they may enter God’s heavenly kingdom. The Lord Jesus promised that when He said, “I go to prepare a place for you. And I will come again and receive you unto Myself that where I am you may be also.” Here below, they already receive heaven upon earth. Oh, just what the natural man strives to possess, God’s people receive from the hand of God. That is why the Lord says, “Seek ye first the kingdom of heaven, and all these things shall be added.” The Lord says that His people will inherit the earth. Perhaps you say, “But so many of them have so little of those earthly goods.” That only seems to be so. David says in Psalm 37:11, “But the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.” And then notice what the Lord says in verse 10 of the same psalm, “For yet a little while, and the wicked shall not be: yea, thou shalt diligently consider his place, and it shall not be.”
Jesus speaks of the meek that they are blessed for they are God’s heirs. Here they may receive the interest but one day they will receive the full capital. They experience that, through sin, all is lost, but through the mediatorial suffering of Christ all is restored. Here they receive themselves back time after time. The further they may walk upon the way of grace, the more disappointed they become with themselves. It is of that people that we read, “The Lord knoweth the days of the upright, and their inheritance shall be forever.”
Rev. J. Den Hoed is pastor of the Netherlands Reformed Congregation of Rock Valley, Iowa.
A True Mark
A characteristic of natural life is that there is an appetite for food. This is true in spiritual life also; there is an appetite for the Word of God, for the spiritual application of the Word of God. They not only hear the Word with their ears, but they long to enjoy the power and nourishment of it, to be filled with spiritual life. Paul says of this: “As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the Word, that ye may grow thereby.” And David’s testimony is: “One thing have I desired of the Lord, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life.”
As a young child always longs for more, so must the child of God feed on the power of God’s Word. If this is an active experience in our heart, then we may conclude that we possess spiritual life. Let us therefore arouse each other to maintain spiritual life within us. It is true, indeed, that the merciful calling of God is unchangeable but God’s children can fall behind in their walk of grace. Therefore, we need to be strengthened continually.
— Wilhelmus à Brakel
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Bekijk de hele uitgave van dinsdag 1 november 1988
The Banner of Truth | 30 Pagina's
Bekijk de hele uitgave van dinsdag 1 november 1988
The Banner of Truth | 30 Pagina's