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LESSON FOR THE PACIFIC COAST—MARCH 14

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International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Feb 12, 1885

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 11, No. 7.

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LESSON FOR THE PACIFIC COAST—MARCH 14.

By Ellet Joseph Waggoner

The Inheritance of the Saints.

  1. What is the meaning of the word “meek”?
  2. Mention two individuals who possessed this grace in a remarkable degree. Num. 12:3; 1 Pet. 2:21–23.
  3. How was the meekness of Christ manifested? 1 Pet. 2:23.
  4. In thus meekly suffering injury, what did he leave us? Verse 21.
  5. What should we do? Ib.
  6. What will be done by all who abide in Christ, or, in other words, by all Christians? 1 John 2:6.
  7. Then what grace must characterize all Christians?
  8. What is promised to the meek? Matt. 5:5.
  9. By what other term are the meek referred to in this chapter? Verse 3.
  10. What is promised to the “poor in spirit”?
  11. What testimony does the apostle James bear on this point? Jas. 2:5.
  12. What is an heir?
  13. Then if the meek are “heirs,” what can you say as to the time of their receiving their inheritance?
  14. What must the heirs pass through before they can receive the promised inheritance? Acts 14:22.
  15. What class of people in this world are in the best condition? Ps. 73:3–7.
  16. On further consideration, what did David see would be their end? Ps. 73:17–19.
  17. How complete will be their destruction? Ps. 37:10.
  18. What will then take place? Verse 11.
  19. Then what must take place before the fulfillment of the promise in Matt. 5:5?
A MEEK man, according to Webster, is one who is “mild of temper; not easily provoked or irritated; given to forbearance under injuries; soft; gentle; yielding.” The term is specifically used of one who is submissive to the divine will; patient and gentle from religious motives. In Num. 12:3 it is plainly stated that “the man Moses was very meek, above all the men which were upon the face of the earth.” It is the prevailing impression that meekness is akin to effeminacy, and is worthy only of scorn; but if we recall the history of Moses, we shall see that such an idea is entirely erroneous. He was a great general, and the leader of mighty armies composed of fierce warriors. An effeminate man could have done nothing in the position of Moses, yet while Moses was leading the host of Israel, he was very meek. By reference to Ex. 2:11–17, it will be seen that Moses was naturally of a quick, impetuous disposition, and given to the resenting of injuries. His gentleness and forbearance were the result of communion with God.
NO ONE could think of charging Christ with weakness in any particular, yet he was the embodiment of meekness. Peter describes the meekness that is acceptable to God: “For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully. For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God.” 1 Pet. 2:19, 20. This grace is one of the most difficult to acquire, for it is most foreign to our nature. But Christ has set us an example, that we should follow in his steps, and he, the sinless one, “when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not.” 1 Pet. 2:23. As the prophet said, “He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.” Isa. 53:7. We cannot be Christians unless we are Christ-like; and if we are like Christ, we shall be meek. Therefore meekness is the characteristic of the Christian. “BLESSED are the meek; for they shall inherit the earth.” Matt. 5:5. Since all Christians, and none but Christians, are truly meek, this promise must apply to all Christians. In Matt. 5:3 we read, “Blessed are the poor in spirit; for theirs is the kingdom of Heaven.” To be poor in spirit is to be just the opposite of haughty, or, in other words, it is to be meek. So this promise is also to the meek. Now by comparing these two verses with James 2:5, we shall see that the same thing is promised both in the third and fifth verses of Matt. 5. The text referred to says: “Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world, rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him?”
IN this last text we find that those who are lovers of God, humble disciples of Christ, are heirs of a kingdom. Matt. 5:5 shows that such shall inherit the earth, or, in other words, they are heirs of the earth. The inevitable conclusion, then, is that the earth is “the kingdom which God hath promised to them that love him.”
AN “heir” is one who is entitled, either by birth, adoption, or special promise, to succeed to the possession of some property. But the heir is not in possession; when he comes into possession of his property, he ceases to be an heir. So if we speak of any one as being heir to a certain estate, it is understood that the time of his inheritance is still in the future. So the kingdom spoken of in Jas. 2:5 cannot be the gospel and its privileges, or the church, because those to whom the apostle speaks are brethren in the church, and already enjoying the blessings of the gospel. The kingdom which they are to receive is not yet in their possession, because, by virtue of their Christianity, they are heirs of it. Before they can inherit it, they must pass through great tribulation. Acts 14:22.
IT scarcely needs any argument to show that the followers of God are by no means the possessors of this world. Christ says, “In the world ye shall have tribulation.” John 16:33. By the “world” is meant here, this present world; not the world in its redeemed state. And it often means wicked people. For proof of this, see John 15:18, 19; 1 John 3:1. Then Christ’s statement in John 16:33 would imply that the wicked now have the ascendancy. It was the contemplation of this fact that caused David to almost lose faith in God. Said he, “I was envious at the foolish, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked. For there are no bands in their death; but their strength is firm. They are not in trouble as other men; neither are they plagued like other men.” “Their eyes stand out with fatness; they have more than heart could wish.” Ps. 73:3–7. In the twelfth verse he says, “Behold, these are the ungodly, who prosper in the world; they increase in riches.” These things well-nigh caused David’s steps to slip.
BUT when he went into the sanctuary of the Lord, then he understood the end of these prosperous ones. He saw that although they seemed so secure, their feet were set in slippery places. “Thou castedst them down into destruction. How are they brought into desolation, as in a moment; they are utterly consumed with terrors. As a dream when one awaketh; so, O Lord, when thou awakest, thou shalt despise their image.” Ps. 73:18–20. Here is brought to view the utter destruction of the wicked, concerning which we have learned in past lessons. The completeness of their destruction is thus stated by the psalmist: “For yet a little while, and the wicked shall not be; yea, thou shalt diligently consider his place, and it shall not be.” Ps. 37:10. And when this destruction shall have been accomplished what will take place? “But the meek shall inherit the earth, and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.” Verse 11. So we learn that this earth, the kingdom which is promised to them that love God, is not to be inherited until the wicked are consumed from off the face of it. Until that time, the meek are only heirs. E. J. W.