p. 316 | Untitled article by M. W. HOWARD

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Third-day, November 5, 1867

FromAdvent Review and Sabbath Herald, Vol. XXX, No. 21

BLESSED ARE THE MEEK, FOR THEY SHALL INHERIT THE EARTH.

By M. W. HOWARD

BLESSED benediction! coming from the lips of the Son of God; from the lips of “Him by whom the heavens were made,” and who has all power both in Heaven and upon earth! How little does the greatness of this promise enter into our conceptions? and how little do we comprehend who are the meek! David, speaking by inspiration, assures us, that “The meek will God guide in judgment,” a promise which to-day more concerns the Christian than the former; since it is a guarantee for the fulfillment of it, as also proof of the apostle’s words, “Godliness is profitable unto all things; having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come. 1 Tim. iv, 8. It is also a pledge, for to answer to David’s prayer, “Guide me by thy counsels, and afterward receive me to glory;” is the result of such a life, as truly as effect follows cause. Yet never for a moment should the thought creep into our hearts, as I recently heard expressed in prayer, “that we might so live as to be able to demand of God a just recompense of reward,” but always bear in mind our Saviour’s teachings, that “having done all, we are to say we are unprofitable servants.” The truly meek will have these feelings, ever remembering those other memorable words: “By grace are ye saved, through faith; and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God.” Eph. ii, 8.

But meekness is a character to be attained; for we are admonished in God’s word to “seek meekness, if so be ye may be hid in the day of the Lord’s anger.” Zeph. ii, 3. Then there is a day of the Lord’s anger coming upon mankind—a day when his long-suffering has reached its appointed bounds. In that day, oh! blessed are the meek for they shall inherit the earth. Ps. xxxvii, 11. “The meek shall eat and be satisfied.” Ps. xxii, 26. But amid the strife and turmoils of this life, how often do we see the meek escape from outbursts of human passion.

This meekness, so much to be desired, is it easily attained? A few, meek and quiet spirits may answer, yes! But the majority of us, surrounded as we are by the daily chafing, irritating influences of life, can testify how frequently we forget that the words “great peace have they who love thy law, and nothing shall offend them,” is one of the declarations of the word of God. At times, clad in the panoply with which Christ enrobes us, we abide the test, and rest meekly in the “Tower of strength, into which the righteous may run and be safe.” But alas! far oftener our equanimity is disturbed by some trifling annoyance—perhaps so trifling that we ourselves wonder afterward that it ruffled our serenity, and repent with bitter reproaching.

These very annoyances are intended as the discipline by which we are to decide, whether we be masters of ourselves, and possess meekness of character; or whether we shall be “tossed by the restlessness and agitation of the world,” miserably susceptible to merely outward influences. But they who, chastened by this discipline, learn to walk “with all lowliness and meekness, with long-suffering, forbearing one another in love,” Eph. iv, 2, shall be counted worthy

to inherit the earth. What a blessed anticipation, the earth in possession of the meek! blessed because among the meek no jars and discords arise, but in meekness and quietness they possess an inheritance, redeemed by Christ from its primal curse, under which it has groaned for six thousand years, waiting for its redemption, even as we ourselves wait for the redemption of our bodies. Rom. viii, 22, 23.

M. W. HOWARD.

Malone, N. Y., Sept., 1867.