“MEEKNESS
OF WISDOM.”
BY CARRIE F. JUDD
Blessed are
the meek. –St. Matt v:5.
The fruit of
the Spirit is… meekness – Gal. v:23
Can we not all remember a time in
our lives when we did not admire meekness, when we felt like classing this
quality with lack of proper spirit and energy, and thought it becoming only in
children and servants? But if by Heavenly teachings we have now learned to love
and hunger for the spirit of that meek and lowly One Who tells us that we must
become like little children before we can enter the Kingdom of Heaven, and bids
us be great by becoming the servant of all, let us praise His name together for
subduing the pride of our selfish hearts, and let us wait on Him day by day to
be filled with this “meekness of wisdom.”-(James iii:13.)
And as we bend every power of our
souls to the “right scepter” of Zion’s lowly King, Who “rides prosperously because
of truth and meekness and righteousness,” we begin to realize the wonderful inheritance
of those who “follow after meekness.”
Our High Priest declares “by the
mouth of His holy prophet” that He is “anointed to preach good tidings unto the meek.” Are we not ready to
throw off all self-power and selfish pride and become like babies in
simplicity, yea, “fools for Christ’s sake,” if we may be numbered among those
meek ones who alone are able to receive these “good tidings of great joy”? And
if we do this we shall know that the “good news” from this “far country” is
indeed “like cold waters to our thirsty souls.” –(Prov. xxv:25.)
Again, the meek are the ones for
whom God’s arm of justice is bared; for we read, “God arose to judgment to save
all the meek of the earth.” –(Psa. lxxvi: 9)
Let us read more of the portion of
these meek and quiet ones, despised by the haughty of earth, but great in the
Kingdom of God. We are told that “the meek will He guide in judgment: and the
meek will He teach His way.”-(Psa. xxv: 9.) Guided by God and counseled in His way!
Do not we who have erred so often in judgment, and chosen so many sorrowful
paths, yearn for such guidance and instruction?
“The Lord lifteth up the meek.”-(Psa.
cxlvii: 6.) “He will beautify the meek with salvation.” –(Psa. vxlix: 4.) “The meek
shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of
peace.” –(Psa. xxxvii: 11.)
How blessed it is to contemplate “the
meekness and gentleness of Christ,” Who, “when He was reviled,” reviled no
again; when He suffered, He threatened not; but committed himself to Him that judgeth
righteously.” The apostle exhorts us no only to be patient and humble when
buffeted for our faults, but also when we have done will and suffer for it; “this
is acceptable with God. For Even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also
suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow His steps.”-(1
Pet. ii: 20,21.)
Ought we not then to study far more closely
that wonderful example as revealed in God’s word, so that, by the enlightening power
of the Holy Spirit, we may plainly see the steps He trod?
How many of us are yet meek enough to
endure patiently reproach and derision when we have put forth every effort to
help and bless the one who thus repays us for our well-doing? Doubtless we have
felt and said on such occasions that our hearts have been more cruelly wounded
by such ingratitude than by another trial, and yet we do not often remember
that it was just this which pierced the heart of our Lord with so many sorrows.
“He was in the world, and the world was made by Him, and the world knew Him no.
He came unto His own, and His own receive
Him not.” – (St. John i: 10,11.)
And through all was the continuation
of that loving service, the paying down of his life in His patient toilsome
ministry, as well as when He gave it up on the Cross the soft answers at which
men marveled and hold their peace: and, again, the wondrous meekness which kept
Him silent before Herod when “the chief priests and scribes stood and
vehemently accused Him.” Beloved, can we, keeping this in mind, ever again
excuse ourselves for feelings of anger and revenge when we are unjustly accused? “The disciple is not above his Lord.” Since
Christ so humbled Himself for us that it was said of Him, “In His humiliation
His judgment was taken away,” since He bowed in that spirit of loving meekness
which made Him willing to be “led as a sheep to the slaughter,” and to stand “like
a lamb dumb before his shearer,” neither threatening nor condemning. But at the
last, terrible moment of agony lifting up His voice in forgiveness and
blessing, shall not we, his followers, seek thus to fulfill our high and
blessed calling?
Let us seek to be “poor in spirit”
and be childlike in simplicity, for “the meek shall increase their joy in the
Lord and the poor among men shall rejoice in the Holy One of Israel.”
