Blessed Are The Meek?

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

This is the sentence from the Beatitudes that I have had the most trouble with. I believe that my problems with it are common, even to the point where some who have written on the topic have gone as far as to simply try to escape the confusion and contradiction that seems to be in this statement by redefining the words. But I do not believe that Jesus was speaking in code, but rather saying exactly what He meant. I have come to realize that on the Road to Recovery, this beatitude is one my most fundamental foundation truths. I must walk in this, not only to inherit or be given, dominion over the things I encounter on this earth but to stay clean and sober.

While it is not necessary to redefine any words, especially the word meek, to understand and incorporate this teaching, it is necessary that word is understood correctly. One of the issues with the English language that makes it so difficult to learn (let's face it, after at least 12 years of formal education on the subject most do not know it well, and that's people that were born into families where it is spoken and whose first words were in English) is that a single word can often have multiple meanings, and meanings can change over years. If I were to say someone is gay, few reading this would think anything other than that person is attracted to people of the same sex. And yet less than a hundred years ago people reading that statement would think I was swaying the person is happily excited, which is still the number one definition of the word gay according to Webster. Homosexual is number four. But to most English speaking people today, homosexual is the number one definition of the word gay, if not the only one. This is important information to know when reading older literature or singing Christmas carols if we are to understand what we are reading and singing about.

The same is true of the scriptures, which were translated into English so long ago. So I would like to take a quick look at meekness in the Bible. But first a look at Webster to determine our parameters for defining the word meek. Definition of MEEK: 1: enduring injury with patience and without resentment : mild 2: deficient in spirit and courage : submissive 3: not violent or strong : moderate. Many I'm sure will see right away where I am going with this blog entry and how this applies to recovery, but as I tend to be wordy and try to break things down to the point where anyone able to read the words can understand what I am trying to say without question, I shall continue.

The word meek is defined as "showing patience, humility, and gentleness." But we tend to understand it more often by its other definition: "easily imposed upon; submissive due to being deficient in spirit and courage."
Jesus modeled meekness for us and defined Himself as such when He tells us in Matthew 11:29, "For I am gentle and humble in heart..." I believe the word meek is much like the word gay. Dictionaries can put the number one definition in print in several different ways for us, but it doesn't matter. Common usage today dictates the number two definition and most of us don't realize we're wrong or care enough to look for another definition. I never did until recently. I just thought, how strange.

My idea of meekness had something to do with humility and humbleness but more to do with being easily imposed upon due to being deficient in spirit and courage. I believe this understanding of the word is common. Statements such as "The meek shall inherit the Earth, but not its mineral rights." by J. Paul Getty, "It's going to be fun to watch and see how long the meek can keep the earth once they inherit it." by Kin Hubbard, and, one of my all time favorite quotes on the subject because it expressed my own feelings, "The meek shall inherit the earth? Well... I don't think so. If by meek you mean friendly and introverted, okay maybe, but if by meek you mean unwilling to take a chance, then never. If I was a betting man and I had to wager on who I thought would inherit the earth, my money would be on the curious." by Jim Coudal.

My instinctual understanding of the word meek became reinforced by prison. I can assure anyone reading who may not have personal experience that the easily impressed upon and submissive due to lack of character and courage will inherit nothing behind the steel walls of our penal institutions but forced servitude, beatings and sexual abuse, if not death. But my understanding, reinforced or not, was wrong, as is those of the comedians who play on our misunderstanding for laughs and the pundits who twist words to appear wise or fool themselves into believing that they don't need God.

The first definition is indeed the correct one and the definition that relates to spiritually inheriting and recovery. To be meek is to endure injury with patience and without resentment. Contrary to what I learned in prison, if someone calls me a name or bumps into me without an apology I do not have to strike out hard and fast with a fist or a boot to make sure I am not seen as weak and made a target for worse. The scripture teaches another way. I can indeed let things go without retaliation. I can be called names without having to sling wordy arrows in return and without it truly effecting who I am or how I feel and think of myself. I can be struck without having having to strike back. I can forgive the person who hurts me over and over. I can love my enemy and be good to those who persecute me. This is the meekness of Christ. The strength to stand stand and say go ahead and say what you want to about me, do what your fear drives you to do, but I'm going to love you anyway, without resentment or regret.

Jesus didn't pull some word out of his hat and use it as code. When He said what He did about meekness, He was quoting an exact scripture from the Psalms and the idea behind many other uses of the word in the Old Testament. My experience in recovery has confirmed this to me.

Psalms 22:26 The meek shall eat and be satisfied: they shall praise the LORD that seek him: your heart shall live for ever. 27 All the ends of the world shall remember and turn unto the LORD: and all the kindreds of the nations shall worship before Thee. 28 For the kingdom is the LORD'S: and He is the governor among the nations.

Those who are strong enough to let slights and resentments go and who are humble, patient, gentle and kind to others shall eat and be satisfied, and their example and the results will cause others to remember that there is a power greater than us and the need to seek Him. For everything is God's, and He is in control. This is step work in the program of recovery. Living without putting our needs and rights first is service and patience, love and tolerance. The Third Step prayer goes with this verse. "God, I offer myself to Thee--to build with me and to do with me as Thou wilt (Because I and the kingdom or earth or situation or whatever is Yours and You are in control). Relieve me of the bondage of self (my need to be right, my right to do what I want when I want, including retaliate against those who wrong me and hanging on to my resentments), that I may better do Thy will. Take away my difficulties, that victory over them (this is key) may bear witness to those I would help of Thy Power, Thy Love, and Thy Way of life (so that my victory can then lead others to see and remember who You are). May I do Thy will always!"

Psalms 25:8 Good and upright is the LORD: therefore will He teach sinners in the way. 9 The meek will He guide in judgment: and the meek will He teach his way. Those who are strong enough to let slights and resentments go and who are humble, patient, gentle and kind to others, those who practice the spiritual principles of recovery in all their affairs when it comes to letting go of resentments and how we are to treat others and keep a right-sized ego will be taught and guided by God. If we do not believe this, than what is the point of practicing the principles of recovery or asking a Higher Power for guidance?

Psalms 37:7 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.8 Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not thyself in any wise to do evil.
9 For evildoers shall be cut off: but those that wait upon the LORD, they shall inherit the earth. 10 For yet a little while, and the wicked shall not be: yea, thou shalt diligently consider his place, and it shall not be. 11 But the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.

This is the very scripture that Jesus quotes in the beatitudes and it deals with the need to seek God and wait patiently for His guidance while not acting of reacting in anger. It tells us not to worry but to trust God, and if we are humble and treat others with love and let go of resentments, we shall overcome. The Big Book tells us that as alcoholics and addicts we must let go of anger for it is the luxury of other types of human beings than we are. It's toxic poisons can not be tasted of safely by the addict and chapter five, "How It Works" tells us that when it comes to ways that manifestations of self have brought destruction to our lives, "resentment is the number one offender." If I want to stay sober and walk happy, joyous and free it would seem that meekness is indeed the key that opens the door to relationship with my Creator and makes the victory that should give Him glory possible.

Psalms 45:1-4, Psalms 147:6, Psalms 149:4, Isaiah 29:18 & 19, Isaiah 61:1-3, and Zephaniah 2:3 are a few more scriptures that promise a blessing on those who are meek and willing to listen to and be led by God. The word, as Jesus used it, is used over 20 times in the Bible and yet at no time did it hint at or include a lack of character or strength. We are to be strong and have good courage because we can trust in our God. We are to be humble and right-sized in our egos, submitting to the will, guidance and direction of God, and we are to love and forgive as we have been loved and forgiven, releasing resentment and our right to be right. This is the Biblical definition of the word meek, and when I am able to walk in it, I walk in victory over drugs and alcohol, victory over my character defects and selfish nature, and I am given (inheritance) victory and dominion over my little share of reality or earth. How wonderful, amazing and important it is to be meek.