Meekness

What is the deal with meekness anyway?

Definitions:

First, the only Hebrew word that is translated "meek" (`anav) is also translated as humble, poor and lowly.

The root for this word `anav is `anah

`anah has a general meaning of forced [something], or from another perspective, "humble toward one who has power." Although it can imply slavery (forced work), rape (forced sex), theft (forced removal) or even killing (God forcing the faithless men of Israel to wander in the desert until they died)... it is not only or even primarily an active word, but in most places describes the action of one who willingly submits to God or to man.

In the case of forced "affliction" the action is often abusive and violent. In the case of willful "affliction" or as it is often translated "humbleness" the trait is praiseworthy and has the notable reward of peace. In the second case, it also does not have to do with violence or abuse except in the case of suffering for another person.

So... we have three cases in the word that is the root of "meek," let's go over them.

1) The case where a person forces another to do something.

The one forced has no choice due to the power of the one that is over him. If a police arrest was recorded in the Bible, it is likely that this word would be used in this case. Actually that is the exact word used in the subduing of Samson in Judges 16. The word is also used when God takes (forcibly removes) the northern kingdom of Israel from the rule of David (under David's grandson Rehaboam), when God refuses northern Israel rain under king Ahab, when Israel was destroyed by Assyria and taken as captives, etc.

The same word is used regardless of whether the person in power is doing right (eg: God giving Israel over to Assyria because of their own violence) or is doing wrong (eg: a man committing rape). In this same category is the idea that working in order to obtain food is also a type of "affliction" or forced duty.

2) The second use of the word is willful submission.

This never (in the Bible) implies submission to violence or abuse as in Sadism, rather it is submission to the will of a person who is good and right before God, or, simply, God Himself. This idea is most typically used by God in the law to command the people of Jacob to "afflict" themselves in the case of a Sabbath or to inquire of Him in fasting and prayer.

Implied in this idea of willful humbling or affliction is the idea of being willing to be chastened, specifically by God, but also a human parent. Not abusively, but according to knowledge in order that the one in power (God, a parent, even a governmental authority) might establish righteousness. The implication being that this is indeed the intention and expression of the one in authority. More on this later.

3) A version of willful submission where a person willfully submits to another, even in the face of incidental (not direct) abuse on the behalf of another.

This is the case that Jesus epitomizes. Being God, not needing humans, having no requirement to bow to any human, Jesus willing to "`anah" His Father, submitted to being made in the form of a man, to being killed by men... even the death of a condemned man. Not abuse at the hand of God, but at the hand of men, on the behalf of men.

4) Finally, there is a truly amazing type of willful submission where the one in power submits to the one "in his hand"

Although this might seem like the same as above because of the illustration I gave... it is not exactly the same. In a Psalm of David (same Psalm recorded both in 2 Samuel 22 and Psalm 18) David says, Thou hast also given me the shield of thy salvation: and thy gentleness hath made me great. Here the word "gentleness" seems to be anomalously translated... it is the same word, "willful affliction." In this case it is a willful humbling of one in power to one in his hand who has also willfully humbled himself to the one in power.

As far as I can tell this is the quintessence of the idea that is at the heart of this word, the designed relationship between God and man, and the relationship between a man and a woman.

Summary: So, this word, `anah... simply implies submission. The word is agnostic to the circumstances of the submission... but God is not.

So, `anah, submission, can be

forced - both in righteousness or in unrighteousness--prison time for criminals or violent offense by criminals.
willful - again, in righteousness or in unrighteousness--willful obedience of a law or an official, or implicitness in a crime like Sapphira
willfully to endure harm on behalf of another - this version (as far as I can tell) only has positive examples in the Bible... enduring offense from others in order to submit to God.
willfully to submit to one "in your hand" who has (or has not) already submitted to you - this is the essential expression of benevolence. To give love that is not necessary to give. It is also the essential expression of God's intent toward man, and the thing that He desires man to learn and express.

OK.. now back to `anav... the word that is translated "meek" in the Hebrew. This word "meek" comes from the word that generically means submission (studied out above), but the word "meek" appears to carry with it the additional idea of being "willingly submitted (humble, lowly, meek) to righteousness."

Both the idea of "willingness" and "to righteousness" are fundamental to the idea. One of David's poetic descriptions of Christ is this: Psalm 45:4 And in thy majesty ride prosperously because of truth and meekness [and] righteousness; and thy right hand shall teach thee terrible things. Here Truth, Meekness and Righteousness are stated to be the reasons for the greatness of Christ. In other words, meekness... `anvah, here, a variant of anav, is not separate from truth and righteousness.

Examples:

Moses and his extended family, the sons of Levi where meek when they killed, of their extended family (again, the sons of Levi) all the men who had worshiped the golden calf. They killed all who had worshiped: fathers, sons, brothers.

This was meekness because God had told them to do it, they willingly submitted, and the act was right. Note that they did not accuse their fathers, God had already done that. They did not sentence their fathers, God had done that as well. None of these men were dishonoring their fathers, to the contrary, they were honoring the father of them all, and in so doing were honoring them. These men just in willing submission, obeyed God. They were blessed for it.

One might complain that worshiping an idol does not deserve death... and you can argue that with the Existing One on your own, but what about the case of a wife that is instructed to do something evil by her husband? Knowing that he will be subject to like condemnation, she should step away from him, and not follow him... not willingly submit to him... in his evil. See Annanias and Sapphira or Nabal and Abagail. The first does not demonstrate meekness, the second does demonstrate meekness. Note that at no time did Abagail accuse or rail against Nabal. She did what was right, and without malice or implication of condemnation, gave him the news.
Jam 4:8 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse [your] hands, [ye] sinners; and purify [your] hearts, [ye] double minded. Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and [your] joy to heaviness. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.

Here is a description of a man humbling himself before God. Willfully submitting himself and taking time and effort to put away his evil. The response of God is to reciprocally show meekness to that man.

This is exactly how marriage is supposed to work. The man willing to make place for, protect, and love a woman who has willingly submitted to him. He in turn willingly submitting to her in the sense that his body is not his own, just as hers has been submitted to him.

There is no violence here and no abuse, no forcing of any kind. If there is, then there is no meekness on the part of the man. He, being the greater (in a physical sense, and being her "head" as concerns this life) is obligated in willing submission to God to be her servant... willingly. Not in the sense of doing her bidding, but to act in benevolence to her in all things.
Jesus washing the disciples feet... instructing them that the greatest in the kingdom of heaven is the servant of all... etc.

Finally, there is the washing of feet. The willingness to endure a brother's repeated offenses if at each offense the brother is willing to repent. This does not mean that if a brother gets drunk one weekend and you rebuke him, he repenting, you forgive him that if he does it again the next weekend you should again forgive him... no, such a one you should reject. What this means is that if once he gets drunk, is rebuked and repents, then steals, is rebuked and repents, then lies about you, is rebuked and repents... this man forgive. It might take him 10 years to really grow up, that's OK. Keep rebuking him, allowing him to repent and grow. This is washing his feet.

Between a husband and a wife this might mean many things. A man might be immature and in anger strike his wife. Let her forgive him, and tell him in all meekness that what he did was not right. Not her accusing him, rather God accusing him and her speaking it. If he strike her again, let her in all meekness separate herself from him for a time... making the situation known to the congregation. If when she go back to him, he should strike her a third time... let him be condemned of the congregation. She is free of him and should marry whoever she will, in Christ.

On the other hand a woman might have been raised to hate meekness or not have any idea what it is. If she be rebellious and wayward with her husband, let him tell her what meekness is... in all meekness, himself bearing her inability. If she hear him a little, let him have patience with her and continue to "wash her feet," leading her in all righteousness. If, on the other hand, after two or three rebukes she has no interest in being his woman, he is free of her. Nevertheless, let him "endure" her faults always, if she continues to repent and learn to be his woman.

This was / is God's was with us.
Finally, there is the case where what is "evil" and what is "good" is debatable. Actually, I don't think there is such a case, but there are people who will argue the point... to death in come cases.

A husband smoking marijuana (or tobacco), a wife taking an outside job, a husband wanting to spend free time with his friends, a spouse not willing to have sex when the other would really like some.

All of these typically have different right and wrong "tags" in common culture than they do in God's culture. Make sure that you are observant of God's culture... then be careful, giving honor to who honor is due. If you live in a city, be much more careful to obey all the various laws as long as they don't conflict specifically with the laws of God... or, move to an area with less or no enforcement. Don't be a fool. Meekness does not imply foolhardiness. Give honor to the ruling authority. If he says to use a seatbelt, use a seatbelt. Not because it is right, but to give honor to whom it is due seeing that it in your power to do so.

If the law requires that you turn in your black / Jewish / 1 800 report a "criminal" etc neighbors, refuse. Not defiantly, continue to give honor while declining to comply. Do not accuse the authority, do not revile the authority, just continue in meekness. If you suffer for your meekness... count it all joy. Your reward is great.
How a believer is to be meek within the body of Christ:

Galatians 6:1 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.

Ephesians 4:2 With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;

Collosians 3:12 Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also [do] ye.

1Timothy 6:11 But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.

2Timothy 2:25 In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; And [that] they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.

Titus 3:2 To speak evil of no man, to be no brawlers, [but] gentle, shewing all meekness unto all men.

The reward of the meek / humble:

James 4:10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.

Psalm 22:26 The meek shall eat and be satisfied: they shall praise the LORD that seek him: your heart shall live for ever.

Psalm 25:9 The meek will he guide in judgment: and the meek will he teach his way.

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

Psalm 76:9 When God arose to judgment, to save all the meek of the earth.

Psalm 147:6 The LORD lifteth up the meek: he casteth the wicked down to the ground.

Psalm 149:4 For the LORD taketh pleasure in his people: he will beautify the meek with salvation.

Isaiah 11:4 But with righteousness shall he judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth: and he shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked.

Isaiah 29:19 The meek also shall increase [their] joy in the LORD, and the poor among men shall rejoice in the Holy One of Israel.

Isaiah 61:1 The Spirit of the Lord GOD [is] upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to [them that are] bound;

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.

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

--gabe

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