Meekness, Part 7

In our last meditation we began dealing with the reward of meekness. I wish to conclude this series by considering the reward of meekness announced by our Lord in the Sermon on the Mount.

Matthew 5:5 Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.

Did you know this is also found in Psalm 37:11?

PSA 37:11 But the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.

In Psalm 37 the meek are variously described as “those that wait upon the Lord” (v. 9), “the just” (v. 12), “the poor and needy” (v. 14), “the righteous” (v. 17), “the upright” (v. 18), “such as be blessed of him” (v. 22), “his saints” (v. 28), and “the perfect man” (v. 37). Now the inheritance of these godly souls is spoken of several times in Psalm 37. Putting these verses together will shed some light on the inheritance of the meek.

Psalms 37:9 For evildoers shall be cut off: but those that wait upon the LORD, they shall inherit the earth.

Psalms 37:11 But the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.

Psalms 37:18 The LORD knoweth the days of the upright: and their inheritance shall be for ever.

Psalms 37:22 For such as be blessed of him shall inherit the earth; and they that be cursed of him shall be cut off.

Psalms 37:29 The righteous shall inherit the land, and dwell therein for ever.

Psalms 37:34 Wait on the LORD, and keep his way, and he shall exalt thee to inherit the land: when the wicked are cut off, thou shalt see it.

It is said three times that these godly souls shall inherit the earth. Twice it is affirmed that they shall inherit the land. Then in verse 18 we are told that this “inheritance shall be forever” while in verse 29 it is said that they shall “dwell therein (the land they inherit) forever.”

Now we know that this present heavens and earth in which we dwell shall pass away.

Matthew 24:35 Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.

2 Peter 3:10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.

Revelation 20:11 ¶And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.

Therefore, the meek will not inherit the present earth forever since it will not be forever. But there is an earth that the meek shall inherit forever. It is spoken of in the following verses.

2 Peter 3:13 Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.

Revelation 21:1 ¶And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.

Revelation 21:7 He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.

A meek person can be described as one “that overcometh,” because he has overcome himself, which is the greatest obstacle of all. Now it is the overcoming meek who shall inherit this new earth. Unlike this present earth, which shall pass away, the new earth shall remain.

Isaiah 66:22 For as the new heavens and the new earth, which I will make, shall remain before me, saith the LORD, so shall your seed and your name remain.

Whatever of this earth that God’s humble, self-denying meek may have missed will be more than made up to them in the new earth which they will inherit forever. This is the land that the righteous shall dwell in forever. The meek can let go of this world with its charms because they have something so much better and durable awaiting them.

Hebrews 10:34 For ye had compassion of me in my bonds, and took joyfully the spoiling of your goods, knowing in yourselves that ye have in heaven a better and an enduring substance.

As far as this world is concerned, the meek are strangers and pilgrims.

Hebrews 11:13 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.
14 For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country.

Consider the definitions of stranger and pilgrim.

Stranger – One who belongs to another country; a foreigner.

Pilgrim – One who travels from place to place; a person on a journey; a wayfarer; a traveler; a wanderer; a sojourner.

This present world is not the home of the meek. They do not belong here. They are just passing through this world to the country God has prepared for them. Life in this world for them is a journey to another place. Their sentiments are well expressed in the words of the old song: “This world is not my home; I’m just a passing through. My treasures are laid up somewhere beyond the blue.” The proud and self-serving of this earth may persecute the meek and scorn their humility and self-denial, but in the end it is the proud who shall be cut off whilst the meek shall inherit the earth.

And so I would say to the meek, do not be alarmed when you see your investments and property values in this world threatened as they are nowadays. These are not your everlasting inheritance. Sooner or later you must quit them. Your lasting inheritance is in “the land that is very afar off” (Isaiah 33:17). Remember the words spoken by our Lord:

Matthew 6:19 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:

20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:

And between now and your arrival in that blessed country, you have the following assurances given to the meek in that same Psalm 37:

Psalms 37:19 They shall not be ashamed in the evil time: and in the days of famine they shall be satisfied.

Psalms 37:25 I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.

Considering the great rewards of meekness, it makes sense to heed the call of this verse:

Zephaniah 2:3 Seek ye the LORD, all ye meek of the earth, which have wrought his judgment; seek righteousness, seek meekness: it may be ye shall be hid in the day of the LORD'S anger.