Meek is Weak?

Being meek, meekness, often has a negative connotation in the world and even in Christianity; it is regarded as being weak: deficient in spirit and courage, or not strong. Jesus has often been portrayed in modern times to be a weak, soft, and sometimes, effeminate man (see "Images of Jesus"). When we search the scriptures, however, we are hard-pressed to find a weak man or woman of God; albeit, there are a few that fell prey to fear at times. What we found were men and women of incredible strength and faith:

Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions. Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection: And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment: They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented; (Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth. (Hebrews 11:33-38)

Let us examine the definition of meekness in light of scripture. In Psalm 37 and Proverbs 3, the definition emerges:

Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass. And he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday. Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass. Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not thyself in any wise to do evil. For evildoers shall be cut off: but those that wait upon the LORD, they shall inherit the earth. For yet a little while, and the wicked shall not be: yea, thou shalt diligently consider his place, and it shall not be. But the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace. (Psalm 37:5-11)

Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil. (Proverbs 3:5-7)

To be meek is to commit your way unto the Lord: to trust in the Lord implicitly: "he that putteth his trust in me shall possess the land, and shall inherit my holy mountain" (Isaiah 57:13). To trust that his way is perfect, that he shall deliver us from the wicked, that he will save us from all them that persecute us, that he is our strength, our help and our shield, that he is our refuge and fortress, and that he will keep us safe. Based on this definition, let us examine characteristics of meekness. Starting with Moses, we see evidence of his meekness when he did not defend himself when confronted by Miriam and Aaron.

And Miriam and Aaron spake against Moses because of the Ethiopian woman whom he had married: for he had married an Ethiopian woman. And they said, Hath the LORD indeed spoken only by Moses? hath he not spoken also by us? And the LORD heard it. (Now the man Moses was very meek, above all the men which were upon the face of the earth.) And the LORD spake suddenly unto Moses, and unto Aaron, and unto Miriam, Come out ye three unto the tabernacle of the congregation. And they three came out. (Numbers 12:1-4)

Moses understood that "It is God that avengeth me, and subdueth the people under me" (Psalm 18:47). Next, we see meekness contrasted with wickedness: "The LORD lifteth up the meek: he casteth the wicked down to the ground" (Psalm 147:6). Finally, we see meekness contrasted with every evil work. "Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him show out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom. But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work" (James 3:13-16). Meekness, then, can be characterized as:

Enduring injury with patience and without resentment: "He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth" (Isaiah 53:7; see also 1 Peter 2:21-23).
Submissive to the will of God (not self-willed, proud, or arrogant)—trusting God without question: "I called upon the LORD in distress: the LORD answered me, and set me in a large place. The LORD is on my side; I will not fear: what can man do unto me? The LORD taketh my part with them that help me: therefore shall I see my desire upon them that hate me. It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man. It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in princes" (Psalm 118:5-9; see also Luke 22:41-42; Jeremiah 17:7).
Not violent: "Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth: But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also" (Matthew 5:38-39; see also Matthew 12:19-20; Romans 12:19-20; 1 Peter 3:9; Hebrews 10:30-31).

An example may further elucidate the meaning of meekness. Imagine yourself as the captain of a fort under attack, what are your options?

Do nothing
Retreat/Escape
Surrender
Defend/Retaliate
Attack (preemptive)
Rely on others
Rely on the Lord

Which would you choose? If you are meek, the only option you will consider is number seven: you pray and ask for help from the Lord. King Asa was in a similar predicament and erroneously chose option number six.

In the six and thirtieth year of the reign of Asa Baasha king of Israel came up against Judah, and built Ramah, to the intent that he might let none go out or come in to Asa king of Judah. Then Asa brought out silver and gold out of the treasures of the house of the LORD and of the king's house, and sent to Benhadad king of Syria, that dwelt at Damascus, saying, There is a league between me and thee, as there was between my father and thy father: behold, I have sent thee silver and gold; go, break thy league with Baasha king of Israel, that he may depart from me. And Benhadad hearkened unto king Asa, and sent the captains of his armies against the cities of Israel; and they smote Ijon, and Dan, and Abelmaim, and all the store cities of Naphtali. ... And at that time Hanani the seer came to Asa king of Judah, and said unto him, Because thou hast relied on the king of Syria, and not relied on the LORD thy God, therefore is the host of the king of Syria escaped out of thine hand. (2 Chronicles 16:1-4, 7)

Christians operating in the spirit of meekness, understand "Thus saith the LORD unto you, Be not afraid nor dismayed by reason of this great multitude; for the battle is not yours, but God's" (2 Chronicles 20:15). In the spirit of meekness there is no need for pride, judgment, hatred, lying, anger, cursing, bitterness, wrath, envy, strife, aggression, fear, despair, and discouragement. After all, we are "persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 8:38-39). Christians, therefore, are enjoined to operate in meekness: "Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering" (Colossians 3:12). Moreover, there are many benefits of meekness: "The meek shall eat and be satisfied: they shall praise the LORD that seek him: your heart shall live for ever" (Psalm 22:26). And "The meek will he guide in judgment: and the meek will he teach his way" (Psalm 25:9). Moreover, "the LORD taketh pleasure in his people: he will beautify the meek with salvation" (Psalm 149:4). And, finally, "Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth" (Matthew 5:5).

To further differentiate meekness, let us examine the definition of humbleness according to scripture. "But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble. Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. ... Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up" (James 4:6-7, 10; see also Proverbs 16:19; Proverbs 29:23; Matthew 18:3-4; Matthew 23:12). From these scriptures, notice humbleness is contrasted with pride. Humbleness is the state of mind and heart achieved when we, by faith, deny ourselves and submit ourselves under the authority of the Lord: "because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight" (1 John 3:22). We determinedly demolish false knowledge and thought constructs in our minds—strong holds—and resolutely discipline our thoughts to the obedience of Christ (2 Corinthians 10:3-6): we push past our pride and lust to think, speak, and live according to the Word of God. We, then, become "a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work" (2 Timothy 2:21). Meekness "naturally" follows humbleness: when we are no longer living for ourselves but living for Christ, we rely on him as Lord to guide us, protect us and avenge us: he is our hope. "Blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is" (Jeremiah 17:7).

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