Meekness is NOT Weakness - Psalms 36-38

Psalms 37:10-11 (ESV)

In just a little while, the wicked will be no more;

though you look carefully at his place, he will not be there.

But the meek shall inherit the land

and delight themselves in abundant peace.

Psalm 37 is all about the contrast of how God will care for the righteous and correct and condemn the wicked.   The psalm starts out like this:

Psalms 37:1-2 (ESV)

OF DAVID.

Fret not yourself because of evildoers;

be not envious of wrongdoers!

For they will soon fade like the grass

and wither like the green herb.

We don’t know when David wrote it, but there were plenty of times in his life this could be applicable.  Apparently he caught himself fretting over the prosperity of the wicked.   God’s message to him was, “I got this!”  

In the above couple of verses we are simply told that there is going to come a day when we glance over at the prosperity of the wicked and they are not there.  As we turn and change our glance to a gaze we will find that they are really not there.  God will remove them and as hard as we search, they are simply gone.  God will correct, condemn and remove them wicked. 

In contrast we have the statement about the meek inheriting the earth.  This, of course, is where Jesus was quoting in the Sermon on the Mount:

Matthew 5:5 (ESV)

“Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.

In contrast to the wicked’s pride, the believers meekness is rewarded with great benefit.   The meek inherit the earth.  

The world sees meekness as weakness.  It is often defined as timidity.     Yet, note what Jesus said about himself here:

Matthew 11:29 (ESV)

Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

The word gentle in the above verse is translated meek in other translations.  Jesus defines himself as meek.   Meekness is power under control.  Meek people don’t have to flex.   They don’t have to push out the chest and elevate their chin.   They are okay in their position because they KNOW they will inherit the earth.   That is our designed and divine posture.