 
Illustration. Jesus Scourged. "He was oppressed, and He was afflicted, yet He opened not His mouth." Isa. 53:7. 1. What promise is made to the meek? “Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.” Matt. 5:5. Meek: “Mild of temper; not easily provoked or irritated; forbearing; submissive; humble.”—Webster. 2. What did Christ say of His own character? “Take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly of heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.” Matt. 11:29. 3. What is said of the character of Moses? “Now the man Moses was very meek, above all the men which were upon the face of the earth.” Num. 12:3. 4. Whom has God promised to guide in judgment? “The meek will He guide in judgment: and the meek will He teach His way.” Ps. 25:9. 5. Of what is meekness a fruit? “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, [pg 587]
Illustration. Christ In The Garden. "Nevertheless not My will, but Thine, be done." Luke 22:42. 6. What does Christ say of those who exalt themselves? “For whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.” Luke 14:11. Note.—The spirit of self-exaltation is of Satan. See Isa. 14:12-14; Eze. 28:17. Christ humbled Himself, made Himself of no reputation, and became obedient even to the death on the cross. See Phil. 2:5-8. 7. By what means did Jesus illustrate true humility? “And Jesus called a little child unto Him, and set him in the midst of them, and said, ... Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child; the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.” Matt. 18:2-4. Notes.—Humility is “freedom from pride and arrogance; lowliness of mind; a modest estimate of one's own worth.” It implies a sense of one's own unworthiness through imperfection and sinfulness, and consists in rating our claims low, in being willing to waive our rights, and to take a lower place than might be our due. It does not require that we under-rate ourselves or our life-work. The humility of Christ was perfect, yet He had a true sense of the importance of His life and mission. “Humility is like a tree, whose root, when it sets deepest in the earth, rises higher, and spreads fairer, and stands surer, and lasts longer, and every step of its descent is like a rib of iron.”—Bishop Taylor. 8. How will humility lead us to esteem others? “Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.” Phil. 2:3. 9. With whom does God dwell? “I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.” Isa. 57:15. 10. When asked a reason for our hope, in what spirit should we answer? “But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear.” 1 Peter 3:15. 11. Who should labor for one overtaken in a fault, and in what spirit? “Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.” Gal. 6:1. [pg 588]12. With what should Christian women adorn themselves? “Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel; but let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.” 1 Peter 3:3, 4. Note.—The instruction given here, in principle applies with equal force to men professing godliness. It is the needless display of apparel and outward adornment that is here condemned. God desires the ornaments within, displayed in the heart and life, rather than those without, simply to be seen of men. Needless outward adornment, therefore, may generally be taken as an indication that the inward adornment, so precious in the sight of God, is lacking. Neatness in dress is not here discouraged. 13. Why are we exhorted to humble ourselves? “Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time.” 1 Peter 5:6. Note.—“The higher a man is in grace, the lower he will be in his own esteem.”—Spurgeon. 14. With what has the Lord promised to beautify the meek? “For the Lord taketh pleasure in His people: He will beautify the meek with salvation.” Ps. 149:4. 15. What are the meek exhorted to seek? “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.” Zeph. 2:3. Note.—The fact that the meek are exhorted to seek meekness, is evidence that the meek themselves should cherish and cultivate meekness, and that sanctification, or the development of a perfect character, is a progressive work. 16. What inheritance is promised the meek? “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.” Ps. 37:10, 11. I count this thing to be grandly true: That a noble deed is a step toward God, Lifting the soul from the common clod To a purer air and a broader view. We rise by the things that are under our feet; By what we have mastered of good and gain; By the pride deposed and the passion slain, And the vanquished ills that we hourly meet. J. G. Holland. |
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