SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 4/17/2020
11:36 AM
My Worship Time Focus: PT-1 “The
Meaning of Meekness”
Bible Reading & Meditation Reference: Matthew 5:5
Message of the verse: “5 Blessed are the meek: for they shall
inherit the earth” (AV). “5 “Happy are those who claim nothing,
for the whole earth will belong to
them!” (Philips). “5 "Blessed are the gentle, for they
shall inherit the earth” (NASB).
In John MacArthur’s commentary on
the book of Matthew he mostly used the NASB because the NASB95 had not yet came
out as his messages from Matthew were being preached in 1978 and later. I say this because in the NASB the word “gentle”
is used whereas in the KJV the word Praos
was translated meek.
Praos basically means mild or soft
as the term sometimes was used to describe a soothing medicine or a soft
breeze. It was also used of colts and
other animals whose naturally wild spirits were broken by a trainer so that
they could do useful work. I can’t help
think of a verse in the 32nd Psalm where David talks about a hours
or a mule having a bit in their mouths “9 Do not be as the horse or as the mule
which have no understanding, Whose trappings include bit and bridle to hold them in check, Otherwise they will not come near to you”
(Psalm 32:9). Now as we move onto a
human attitude it meant being gentle of spirit, meek, submissive, quiet, and
tenderhearted. The following quote comes
from a note in my Greek/English dictionary on my Online Bible Program: “Meekness toward God is that disposition of spirit in which we accept
His dealings with us as good, and therefore without disputing or resisting. In
the OT, the meek are those wholly relying on God rather than their own strength
to defend them against injustice. Thus, meekness toward evil people means
knowing God is permitting the injuries they inflict, that He is using them to
purify His elect, and that He will deliver His elect in His time. (Isa 41:17, Lu 18:1-8) Gentleness or
meekness is the opposite to self-assertiveness and self-interest. It stems from
trust in God’s goodness and control over the situation. The gentle person is
not occupied with self at all. This is a work of the Holy Spirit, not of the
human will. (Ga 5:23)”
A couple examples from Scripture
showing meekness, and the first one is seen in Matthew 21:5 “Tell ye the
daughter of Sion, Behold, thy King cometh unto thee, meek, and sitting upon an
ass, and a colt the foal of an ass” (KJV).
“Now I, Paul, myself urge you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ-I
who am meek when face to face with you, but bold toward you when absent!” (2
Cor. 10:1) (NASB95).
John MacArthur writes “The essential
difference between being poor in spirit and being meek, or ‘gentle,’ may be
that poverty in spirit focuses on our sinfulness, whereas meekness focuses on
God’s holiness. The basic attitude of
humility underlies both virtues. When we
look honestly at ourselves, we are made humble by seeing how sinful and
unworthy we are; when we look at God, we are made humble by seeing how
righteous and worthy He is.”
I continue to mention that we can
see logical sequence and progression in the Beatitudes. The poor in spirit (the first) is negative,
and results in mourning which is (the second).
Meekness (the third) is positive, and this results in seeking
righteousness (the fourth). Being poor
in spirit cause us to turn away from ourselves in mourning, and meekness causes
us to turn toward God in seeking His righteousness.
We will continue this SD with
another quote from MacArthur’s commentary:
“The blessings of the Beatitudes are for those who are realistic about
their sinfulness, who are repentant of their sins, and who are responsive to
God in His righteousness. Those who are
unblessed, unhappy, and shut out of the kingdom are the proud, the arrogant,
the unrepentant—the self-sufficient and self-righteous who see in themselves no
unworthiness and feel no need for God’s help and God’s righteousness.”
Spiritual
meaning for my life today: I
continue to think about how these beatitudes are linked with each other, which
is similar to some verses in 2 Peter chapter one which we studied a number of
years ago. It is my desire to truly
understand the sequence of the beatitudes as we continue to go through them.
My Steps of Faith for Today: It seems to
me that all of the sequences in the Beatitudes have the common inspiration of
humility and to that I also desire to have contentment and joy as I study God’s
Word.
4/17/2020 12:32
PM
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