The Beatitude of Meekness

Brethren, when an important person speaks, we all pay attention. For instance, when the President has a speech, or a normal speech, or an important speech, all TV stations stop their programs, and they all focus. Because, I mean, you can't turn to a different TV station. They all have the same thing. They're all paying attention to the speech of this important person. Commentators are focused on the speech. And, quite often, you've got analysis of the speech for the next few weeks, where they turn it apart and look at it with a microscope from the left, from the right, from the top, from the bottom, from every possible angle. And it gets analyzed. And that's fine, and that's normal, and that's, I guess, the way it should be. But how much more important it is when God's here?

You know, Jesus Christ was the prophet that Moses prophesied of. He says, often, he will come that prophet that you have to listen. Even Peter said, and you can read that in Acts 23. You don't have to go to it now. But in Acts 23, and he says that Christ was that prophet. And he says, if you don't listen to him, you will be utterly destroyed. That's in Acts 23. If you want to do a Bible study on your own time, after words, that's referring to Christ. And if we don't listen to these words, we will be utterly destroyed.

That is so important, what Christ says. That's, quote unquote, an important person, that we have to listen to what he says, and if we don't, we will be utterly destroyed. Then Christ himself said, you can read that in John 6, says, the words that I speak, they are life.

That's what he's saying. It's very important that the words that Christ speaks are life. And then later on he says, but the words that I speak, or in other words, my doctrine, or my teaching, he says, is not mine.

But it is of him that sent me. In other words, it's of the highest of God the Father. And therefore, we better listen when he speaks. Far more than we listen when the president speaks. And we need to analyze, yes, quite correct, in different ways to get the full depth, because they are life. They are important.

Now, the New Testament is full of Christ's teaching, and obviously the apostles' teachings, which are basically what Christ told them to speak. So, the New Testament is full of it. And I have given three sermons up to now, over the last six months or more, about the teachings of Christ.

One was an introductory, and the other two, one was about the attitude of poor Ginsburg, and the other one was the next, the attitude about mourning.

These teachings are key and are important. So, let's look at that section in Matthew chapter 5, very briefly, because we're going to use that and look at the number of scriptures related to that. But let's look at Christ's teachings, which in a sense are summarized in a very important presentation, let's call it that way, the Riga, which was the sermon on the Mount, and more self-focused in the Beatitudes.

And so, if we look at the Beatitudes starting there, and from verse 3 to verse 10, it describes these Beatitudes, that quite often we may just read and really not get the full-depth meaning of what's in there. And it's like I said, when people listen to the President's speech, you analyze it this way, and you look at that way, and you look from another angle, and that's what we need to do, particularly with the Beatitudes. And as I mentioned, we covered already two of them. But understand that in this section from verse 3 to verse 10, it gives actually seven beautiful attitudes to be in, as I call it, Beat attitudes, beautiful attitudes, beautiful attitudes to be in. But in fact, there are eight blessings, because the eighth is actually a resulting blessing due to the other previous seven attitudes.

In fact, they all are obviously oblixies, but they are attitudes to be in. And they are, now think this is very, very important for you to understand, they are accumulative.

In other words, they bow one upon the other. In other words, they have, in other words, a compounding effect of one on top of the other.

And therefore, it is important for us to look at them with that in mind to really get the depth and the really full- meaning out of these Beatitudes. So in the first one we covered, they say, Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. And we went through that and we did a whole sermon about that, in which we said that how important it is just to summarize very briefly that it is important to humbly to look to God, to be humble, to look to God in absolute fear and respect, in absolute trust for the liberals. And that is the first Christian beautiful attitude, humility, that we need to have to be in the kingdom of God. Because that says that for theirs will be the kingdom of God, the Lamb. So it's the first beautiful attitude to be in. Then we looked at the second one, which is mourning.

And again I gave a whole sermon just to discuss the attitude of mourning. And I said, look, quite often people think about mourning like going to a funeral in mourning. And yes, that is correct. But I said, there's a lot more in this because I explained that mourning is based first, is based on humility. Because it's a compound, it's accumulated, one on the other.

And it's a mourning that looks at what we are and what we do that leads to Godly sorrow. In other words, leads to repentance. And so it leads to action, which is changing self, changing me, myself and I. And think about yourself, say the same thing, change self. Yes, we mourn for others, but we cannot change others.

And so we suffer with them when we mourn for others. But we also, part of the meaning is that we mourn and we look at ourselves to have a Godly sorrow that leads to repentance. And therefore, those that have that Godly sorrow, that leads to repentance, will be comforted. And then we get to the third one, which is the subject of today's sermon, which is, Blessed are the weak, for they shall inherit the earth. Now, by the way, it doesn't say heaven. They shall inherit the earth. So what is meekness? Brethren, there is indeed a terrible lack of understanding by Christianity in general of what is meekness.

Is it gentleness? What exactly is it? What exactly is meekness? Does this gentleness imply a degree of weakness? And how does it build upon the other two, which is humility, and through mourning, which leads to repentance? You see, a lot of people think, oh, meekness is humility. Well, if it is humility, then why not go back to the first one?

So what? And why is it important? Because it says, they shall inherit the earth. Those that are meek will receive the reward to rule on the earth as children of God, as kings and priests in the kingdom of God. So it is an attitude that is a prerequisite to rule. Now, when we look at Hebrew words and at the Greek word, depending on whether you look at the Old Testament or the New Testament, the word, and it doesn't matter what the sound of it is, the word in Greek means gentle, mild, and meek, or meek.

And in Hebrew, it means humble, lowly, meek, and or poor. And therefore, it is easy to have a conclusion that says, well, it's like humility. And indeed, many people think of meekness as humility. But again, as I said, why didn't you repeat the first beatitude? So we really have to understand what does the Bible mean by meekness? Because it just can't be simply humility. Yes, it includes humility because it's compounded. Yes, it includes an attitude of mourning and therefore being that willingness to change. But you know, you read about Moses.

Moses, turn with me to Numbers 12, verse 13. And you see, yes, we're... Translators start making the error because Numbers 12, verse 3. Now, the man Moses, in the new King James Version, says it was very humble. But if you have, the old King James Version says, was very meek. The actual Hebrew word is the word for meek. The man Moses was very meek more than all men that were on the face of the earth. You see, it is important to understand that it's just not Amritus. It is meek. And the translators here are not helping us, as you can see, because translators come from beyond preconceived ideas.

And if we think, oh, well, this word will be for fun. So what is this attitude of meekness? Yes, there is a gentleness with it. There is certain mildness with it. But what is it? Now, you and I remember, Moses, I mean, we don't have to go there.

But you remember, when he came down the mountain with the two tablets of stone, and he saw the people that made this, took the jewel and made this idol, and they were worshiping this idol, and he says, this idol burned us out of Egypt?

What is Moses' reaction? He was so mad, he broke the tablets of stone, remember? He was not meek. In fact, probably he had, put it this way, a little bit of uncontrolled anger, because he had a little bit of a problem with that, and that's why right at the end of his life, he could not go to the promised land because his lack of control of his anger wasn't quite mastered. He then mastered that skill yet. So God said, right, I'm going to punish you. And boy, that taught him a lesson, because obviously, he'd been the king, and obviously, you would have learned that.

But he would have remembered that. So he would have learned from it. So what is meek? Now, look at another example in Matthew 21, verse 5. Matthew 21, verse 5. Now, this is using a Greek word, Matthew 21, verse 5. Matthew 21, verse 5.

Tell the daughter of Zion, Behold, your king is coming to you, lowly and sitting on a colt, a colt, the fall of a donkey. You know, brethren, if you look at that, in the Old King James Version, it says meek.

The Greek word for Othea is the same Greek word which says meek that we read in Matthew 5. It's proups. It's the same Greek word. Meek and sitting on a donkey. Christ came meek. You know, the world's concept of Christ, well, is lowly, is humble, is mild, sweet, sweet. It gives it to a point, even though you're a little effeminate look. And that's on Christ, because he comes to make war. He's going to come look. His character is merciful.

Yes, he's kind, he's lovely, but he comes to make war. In fact, the King James Version, the Authorized Version, the Phillips, the Young's Literal Translation, they all translate this in there in Matthew 21 verse 5 is meek. It's the same Greek word. Look at Matthew 11 verse 29, just a few pages back. Matthew 11 verse 29. Matthew 11 verse 29, it says, Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, from I am gentle and lowly in heart. My Bible's got a little number next to the word gentle, and then I look on the margin, it says meek.

The Greek word there is meek. It's prose, it's the same word. I am meek and lowly in heart. Matthew 11 verse 29. Now, cannot mean humble, because lowly in heart means humble. It's like saying, I'm humble and humble. So it's not that, I'm humble and humble. No, it's not meen humble. It means I'm meek and humble in the heart. So what is meek? Now, you go to the commentaries, and that doesn't really help you either. Because what they say is, for instance, James, Positon, and Brown say it's meek, that is to say, persons of a lowly and gentle carriage.

Okay, yes. Christ was gentle, he was humble, yes. But doesn't give us the meaning of what is it meek, because it's a third beatitude. It's not the first, it's compounded on the others. So what is meek? Now, if you look at Calvin's commentary, that also doesn't help, because Calvin's commentary says, but the meek, by the meek he means, by meek, he means persons of mild and gentle disposition, while who are not easily provoked by injuries, who are not ready to take offense, but are prepared to endure anything rather than do the light actions to wickedness.

Yeah, that's true. That's not incorrect. But that does not convey the full meaning of meekness. In other words, that approach is like saying, well, the meek person needs to walk over. You know, it's like a cop, I'm just going to trample over him, because he's mild and gentle to position, and I can just trample over him. But that's not true, because Christ insisted what was right. I mean, you can read, when he was being sacrificed just before his death, in John 18, you can read, when they slapped him in the face, he said, if I've done evil, they're witness of evil.

But if well, why are you meeting me? Why is my giving me the face? Now, he had to be crucified, so he kept quiet a lot of times. Hadn't spoken, they would have not crucified him. But it shows, at the time, he said, hey, why are you hitting me now?

If I've done wrong, why? If I've done wrong, okay, but if I'm not, why are you doing it? He was not a woke-up. Paul also served himself a number of times. You know, remember the time when he was taken to jail? And then he said, but I'm a Roman citizen.

You come to the doctor, a Roman citizen, oh, we didn't know you were a Roman citizen. Okay, okay, you get out, quiet, get out. He said, no, no, no, no, you come here, you put me publicly in jail. You come here yourself and get me out. You was not a woke-up. You can read that in Acts 16. So, what is neatness? Because these men surely were neat. They surely endured patiently. They sure did not have a malice.

But what is the full meaning of neatness according to the Bible? Now, we've seen the commentaries don't help us. People, it is as exciting as kind of putting a blanket over the real meaning of neatness, so people don't understand it. So, where are we going to get it from? But from the Bible. So, let's get an additional indication into the meaning of neatness from God's Word. Like we are in the sermon, let's use God's Word as a sword effectively to discern good and right and wrong. And let's use it now to discern and understand what neatness is all about. Now, to do that, I need to explain to you a simple lesson in some of the Hebrew writings.

Some of the Hebrew writings, particularly in Proverbs, we see quite often two parallel thoughts expounded. And then, on the same verse, on the next verse, the same thoughts, but turned around upside down by saying the negative, but maybe using different words. You see that all the time. And it's wonderful because it's like doing mental gymnastics and helping you to meditate. Really, that's what it is, doing that exercise that helps us to meditate. Let's look, for instance, at Proverbs 11. Proverbs 11, practically every verse in Proverbs 11, it uses this technique.

Now, many proverbs use this technique. In Proverbs 11, practically every verse uses this technique. But we're just going to look at three random verses. For instance, verse 1, Proverbs 11. And you can see two parallel thoughts, and then turn around the other way. This is dishonest scales. It's kind of one thought. Or an abomination to the Lord. That's the other thought. So, dishonesty in scales, in weight, etc. God does not like. And then he turns around the other way, and he says, but a just weight is his delight. Can you see how it takes this and turns it around, puts it in a different way, and you can stop.

Stop doing a Bible study and just meditate on that one verse for the next half an hour. It's wonderful. It really is wonderful. You can give a whole sermonette just on that one verse. Then you can give another example. Let's look at verse 12.

He who is devoid of wisdom despises his neighbour. So the eye of somebody that knows wisdom does not like the neighbour. But a man of understanding, that means that some wisdom has understanding, holds his peace. Obviously he loves his neighbour, but one of the ways of loving the neighbour is, shut up!

There's a time to keep quiet! You follow that? I mean, it takes these two parallel thoughts, turns them upside down, puts them in a different way, and kind of, ah, so true. And you can eat and digest that and meditate and mull it over and think about it. It's beautiful. I mean, it's a type of poetry in modern. It has rhyme, but it's a type of poetry. Now let me give you a third example in verse 16. A gracious woman retains honour, but ruthless men retain riches. You see, it kind of turns, one is righteous, the other one is ruthless. The other one is honoured, and the other one is dishonoured, and says, well, it reaches. It kind of throws in a different thing, and it kind of makes you think. Now, an army took place to bring to you a principle that is quite common in Bible, and particularly in Hebrew writing, of using two ideas, turning them around, and then getting some more value the other way. Now, with that in mind, I want you to look at Zephaniah for the very purpose of getting an additional understanding of the meaning of meekness. So, Zephaniah. Zephaniah just before Haggai, Zechariah, and Elchanthas, right? Like the fourth book before the end of the Old Testament. Zephaniah, chapter 2. Zephaniah, chapter 2. We're going to read verse 3. Now, look at this. Seek the Lord, all unique of the earth. Who have upheld his justice? So, you have two thoughts. One, unique, and the other one, have upheld justice. See the two thoughts. One is meekness, meek. These are the ones that are all meek.

And these are the ones that are called justice. You see the two parallel thoughts? Meekness and justice. And then he said, seek righteousness, seek humility. Now, this is a problem against the same word. They should have said, seek meekness.

You see, the word in Hebrew is the same word, like meek and nikness is the same word. It's not exactly the same word. It's meek, and the other one is meekness. The other one in Hebrew is meek, and the other one is meekness. It's just a little ending added to it, but it's the same, basic word. So, seek righteousness, seek nikness. So, what is saying is, in the first part, he says, you are meek, and seek that, because you are doing works of justice. And then he says, seek righteousness, seek nikness. It's the same two thoughts. Justice with righteousness. Meek with nikness, obviously. All right. So, we've got those two thoughts. Now, let's look at these two thoughts contrasted a little bit like that with the negative, because these are the two, the positive ones. They haven't flipped them upside down. So, let's look at them flipped them upside down on chapter 3, verse 2.

Chapter 3, verse 2. She has not obeyed his voice.

What does that mean? That means you're not doing righteous. You're not doing justice. So, that's disobeying. And he says, she has not received correction, which means she's not meek.

She obeyed not. She received not correction.

In other words, when you obey not, it means you're not righteous. You're not righteous. You have not believed. Right? Remember, always remind you, brethren, that whenever you see the Bible, the word believe, you see behind it. Obey it. Because if you believe your parents, you're going to do what they tell you. So, when you see righteousness, you see believe. And you'll see in a moment why I'm saying believe, because the next verse I'm going to show you is talking about that. But anyway, just reminding you, obey or not obey righteous or not righteous, and meek and not receive correction.

Let's look at another verse. In verse 7, Surely you will fear me, you will receive correction, so that a dwelling would not be cut off. When you fear God, you will obey Him.

You're going to be judged.

And when you receive correction, that means you meek. It is very important to understand that mittens is actually an attribute of being malleable, teachable, correctable.

Yes, it is mild. Yes, it is being gentle.

But it is, it's like playing in a master potter's hand. That is malleable. It is shapable. It is moldable.

Nittles is an attitude of mind that is receptive to instruction.

Obviously, we have to be humble, to be neat.

We have to be, have a mournful attitude, and it was a desire to change, to be malleable, to be shapiable, to be moldable.

And yes, we have to be gentle, because if we hard, we're not going to be malleable.

Can you see how it all fits together? So it is a humble spirit. Nittleness is a humble spirit, desiring to change for the better, for the truth, for the right, and willing to, ready to learn, to receive instruction. That is a neat person.

So it includes humility, includes a desire to change. That's why I say that the attitudes are cumulative. One goes on top of the other. It includes those, but it is one that is malleable, that is teachable.

It's always good to understand something when you look at the opposite.

The opposite of nittleness is a person that is stubborn.

It's a person that is malleable. It's a person that thinks they know it all, and nobody's going to teach it to me.

That's not mean.

In fact, it's somebody that has a predetermined mindset that says, I am right and you are wrong. That's not mean.

If somebody says, I want to teach you something, that's not mean.

You know, in today's world we call that people that are like that, they have an attitude.

And you know what? We should have the opposite, which is a beautiful attitude, a be attitude.

So, nitthemist, it's a submissive, ready to change, prepared to admit wrong, does not have preconceived ideas, does not twist the truth to comply with his or her preconceived ideas, and obviously comes with the fear of God.

Obviously, it means that a person is not naive, but is able to discern right from wrong from the word of God.

And yes, many people are in the church for a long time, and they think they know it all.

They lose that sense of nittness and the sense of humility and the sense of wanting to change. They know it all. And as ministers, we have to be careful, because it's easy.

To get into that, we've seen many ministers in the church have gone wrong because they lost humility and they've lost nittness.

Teach your goals, because we don't know it all. We learn every time. You and I have to judge. We have to judge.

People say, oh, well, it says judge not. Well, that means don't post-judgment.

But we have to judge. We have to discern. We have to discern right from wrong.

We don't post-judgment. We don't condemn people, but we have to judge. We have to decide what's right and wrong.

Look at Acts 17. Acts 17.

Acts 17, you heard the story of the Bereans.

And Paul and them went to Berea, and when we read the verse standing level, the brethren immediately sent Paul and Silas away by not to Berea.

And when they arrived, they went to the synagogue of the Jews. Acts 17 verse 10.

And these were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonians.

These were more fair-minded. Brethren, these people had a mind that did not have preconceived ideas and was malleable and teachable.

In that they received the word with all readiness and searched the Scriptures daily to find out where the things were sold.

They were prepared to be taught, and they searched the Bible to see if it's really true or not.

They were prepared to discern.

And so, like the Bereans, are we prepared to learn?

Are we prepared to learn, or do we care to raise up defenses and say, I'll never do that?

Because they had preconceived ideas and not prepared to look at what the Bible says.

They resist the truth.

Well, we have to be teachable and malleable. Brethren, we need not have to choose like Jeremiah had.

Look in Jeremiah 10. Jeremiah 10. Jeremiah 10.

Jeremiah 10.24 says, Oh, Lord, correct me.

Correct me. There was God, show me when I'm wrong.

That means I've got to be malleable and teachable. I've got to be unique. I've got to be pliable.

But with justice. In other translations, he says, but with mercy. In other words, God, just correct me, but please, in your mercy, just a little bit at a time. A little bit at a time, please. It's enough. You know, a little bit at a time. Be merciful. And not in your anger, lest you bring me to nothing.

So we need that attitude. Correct me.

Why?

Because we have the fear of God. We have a healthy respect of Him. We want to be taught. We are humble. So, significance, yes, includes humility, includes all these things.

And then look at verse 23 in the same chapter. Oh, Lord, I know the way of man is not himself. It is not a man who walks to direct his own steps. In other words, I know that I don't know it. Therefore, God, help me. Teach me.

Correct me.

Yes, humility is a prerequisite.

So, yes, it means you are humble.

But that is the first of the attitude.

Yes, an attitude of warning and willingness to change and repent. Yes, needless includes that as well. But that's the second of the attitude. But the third one of needless brings us now a deeper understanding what it is to be like a child.

A child is teachable. They ever tried to teach something, but child is like a sponge. They just want to learn.

Yes, they're humble, but they want to learn.

Now, look at that principle of Matthew 18, verses 1 through 5, where it looks about the attitude of a child.

At that time, the disciples came to Jesus, saying, Oh, then He's greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And Jesus called the little child to Him, said to Him in the midst of them, said to Him in the midst of them, a little child.

And He said, Surely I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children.

Unless you convert, what does it convert to mean? It's at least a change.

Which is the result of mourning, the willingness to change, the willingness to repent. So yes, it's important to repent and become like little children, which they are humble, but they are also teachable.

You will now mean to enter the kingdom of heaven. In other words, you will not inherit earth to rule in the kingdom of God as kings.

Therefore, whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom ever, who receives one little child like this in my name, who receives me. So yes, it includes humility, but it includes that teachability, because change and humility leads to being teachable.

A well-behaved child, they soak it in.

They have such a receptive mind. It is wonderful to see a well-behaved child when reacting to them. They're teachable, they're malleable, they're also respectful to the adults, and because they have a healthy fear. So this all comes together.

However, if you and I only see uniqueness as humility, we're missing a lot in the depth of the meaning. Yeah, if we only see it as humility, it's more than just humility.

It's more than just being lower.

You see, Christ is teaching out to us to be a very important attitude. It's an attitude that is expressed by David quite often. You can see that, for instance, in Psalm 51. Psalm 25. Look at me in Psalm 25.

We'll just look at a few examples where we can see that teachable attitude. Psalm 25, verse 1 to 3. To you, O Lord, I lift my soul. O my God, I trust in you. Let me not be ashamed. Let not my enemies triumph over me. Indeed, no one who waits on you will be ashamed. Let us be ashamed who deal... Let us be ashamed who deal with righteousness in the paracos. Show me your wise O Lord. Teach me your pops. Lead me in your truth and teach me. There is a teachable attitude. It's a malleable attitude. He wants to be taught. Look in verse 9. It says the humble, but actually it's the same word, niqh. It says the niqh, he guides in justice. And the niqh, he teaches his way. The word in Hebrew is the same word, it's niqh.

So, brethren, it's interesting. Look at it in verse 12. Who is that... Who is the man that fears the Lord? He himself shall teach in the way he chooses. He himself shall dwell in prosperity. And he is the sand that shall inherit the earth. Doesn't remind him of the attitude. He, that is niqh, he will inherit the earth. Because he's willing to be taught. You know, those that fear God, they respect God, respect what he says, they are willing to be teachable, they're willing to follow distractions.

They are the only ones who God can trust. With power, with glory, and eternal life to rule the earth in all tomorrow. Because they trust water because they teachable. Because they matter. They'll do what he tells them to do.

They don't have preconceived ideas. You see, God does not want another Satan in his hands. God does not want another Satan in his hands. And he's not going to make you and I a spirit being with all that power, with all that glory, and life eternal, unless we have niqhs. And you can have and see more examples of David. For instance, let's just look at a few examples briefly.

Psalm 119. How David had this attitude time and time again, and he was, you see that teachable attitude all along. Psalm 119. Psalm 119, verse 33 to 40. So let's start in verse 33. That's that section, that cross the table. Teach me, O Lord, the worry of your statutes, and I shall keep it in to the end. Teach me. I'll respect your teaching, God. Keep me on understanding. I shall keep you, Lord. Indeed, I'll observe it with my whole heart. Make me to walk in the box of my camera.

That's malleable. Say, God, make me to walk in my commandments. Verse 36. Incline my heart, your testimonies, and not the covenants. Turn away my eyes from looking at worthless things. Revive in me your way. Establish your worth, your servant, who devoted to fearing you. Turn away my reproach, which I'd read, for your judgments are good. Behold, I long for your precepts. Revive in me your righteousness. And so it brings that teachability, brings the next beatitude.

If you start thinking about it, there is hungry and thirsty for righteousness. You see others' beatitudes accumulate one upon the other. I think it's beautiful. Look at verse 66 in the same psalm. Verse 66. It says, teach me good judgment and knowledge for our believer commandments. Before I was afflicted, I went astray, but now I teach you a word. You are good and you will teach me your statutes. And then in verse 71, it is good for me that I have been afflicted, that I may burn your statutes.

It is good that I went through certain trials, because now I'm more memorable. Now I'm more willing to listen. Look at verse 73. Your hands may have made me and fashioned me. Why are we able to be fashioned? Because we're malleable, like the clay in the potter's hands. We're malleable. We are teachable. Give me understanding that I may learn your commandments. Those who fear you will be glad when they see me, because I have hoped in your word. I know, O Lord. We don't have to continue that. But it's just showing you David and that attitude. Job had the same attitude. Look at Job 6. Job, go back, Job, the books before Job 6, verse 24.

Teach me, Job 6, 24, teach me, and I will hold my hand. Cause me to understand where I've gone wrong. Solomon had these attitudes. Why was the book of Proverbs written? Look at Proverbs, chapter 1. Proverbs, chapter 1. First, it gives you the purpose, like the SPS of the book, the specific purpose statement, why the book was written. It says, the Proverbs of Solomon, Proverbs 1, verse 1, the son of David, king of Israel, to know wisdom and instruction, to perceive the words of understanding, to receive the instruction of wisdom, of judgment, of justice and equity, to give prudence to the simple, to the young knowledge and the Christian.

A wise man will hear them increasing learning, and a man of understanding will attain wise counsel. To understand the proper. And then in verse 7, the fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction. So the whole point here shows that Solomon was saying, hey, we need to be teachable and we need to learn. And so, are we wise or are we fools? Are we teachable or aren't we not?

Are we weak or not? Look at Proverbs, chapter 4. Proverbs, chapter 4, starting in verse 1. And look there, it says, it says, hear my children, the instruction of a father, and give attention to no understanding. For I give you the doctrine. In other words, I give you good teaching. Do not forsake my law when I was in my father's son, tender and only one in the sight of my mother.

He also told to me and said to me, hear your heart, let your heart retain my words, keep my commandments, and look, get wisdom, get understanding, do not forget, do not turn away from the words of my mouth, do not forsake her and she'll preserve you, love her and she'll keep you, with every principle thing, forget wisdom.

How do we get this? Because we are willing to learn. We are willing to learn. So brethren, it's full of it. Look at it, even in this section here, all the way, verse 10 through 13, it says, receive my sayings and get my instruction, take hold of my instruction.

The whole of it is saying, learn. Look also in Proverbs 17, Proverbs 17 verse 11. I'm just highlighting a few points, brethren, just showing how important it is to receive instruction. But yeah, in Proverbs 17 verse 10, Proverbs 17 verse 10 says, rebuke is more effective for a wise man than a hundred blows on a fool.

Oh yes, but you know what? You know what? In the whole of King James, the version says, a reproof. Doesn't say rebuke, says, a reproof. In the Bible, it also says the same thing. A reproof means one. A reproof is more effective than a wise man than a hundred blows. You see, one, if you speak once and you are teachable and you are malleable, that is enough. You don't need a hundred blows to punch you to actually get it in.

And you still don't get it in because just one word is enough. How many stripes do we need? How many stripes do we need? What is our sticking point? Do we have a sticking point in our life? Do we have a point that we just don't seem to overcome? We're kind of always tripping on it. Always tripping on it. Always tripping on it. And maybe we need to look at that and say, well, this is a sticking point.

And we need to overcome it because you know, until we overcome it, we're not going to grow. It becomes a sticking point. It's like, until you overcome this, you cannot go beyond. It's a sticking point. What is that point in our life? In my life? In your life? Maybe that's one of the causes why we're having some problems. I'm not saying it is, but you know, remember, is our sticking point preventing us or impeding us in our Christian growth? Because we're not teachable on that point.

And therefore we need a hundred blows rather than one single reproof. Sometimes it could be whatever things. It could be financial problems, because we're not learning how to do certain things in a certain way or handle things in a certain way. It could be marriage problems. It could be health issues. Now, I understand that sometimes things happen because of certain consequences, and that's it. But sometimes we go through trials for other people. But the point is, is our problem because of an issue we have and we're not overcome?

That's the question. Is it because we're not being teachable in a specific area of our lives? Because we're not really unique in that one point. One reproof might be just one single word. Might be just one single word. Do we listen to the word of God? Does God have to tell us, don't do this, don't do this, don't do this? Like a dad has to tell a child, don't do, don't do, don't do, no, no, no.

Is that the way of child reading? No. When you say, no, don't do it, then you kindly show what is wrong and why it should be and explain. This is the way walking it and then if they still do it, then you do a gentle correction and then you might be re-enstruct. But all in love. But it's not repeating it time and time again. You see, when we have preconceived ideas and we think we know it better, when we have the so-called attitude, we're not malleable.

We're not malleable. We're not teachable and mild and gentle. Because if you teachable, yes, you're mild. Yes, you're humble. Yes, you're gentle. But it's more than that. There is a very simple four-point action plan that God gives us in the Bible to help us. And that is in 2 Timothy 3, verse 16 and 17. 2 Timothy 3, verse 16 and 17.

It says, all scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine, for improve, for correction and instruction in righteousness. There are four points. The doctrine is teaching. So first place, it's a gentle education. It's explain, teach. This is what it is. This is what it means. It's just plain, simple teaching. Let's start. It's teaching. The doctrine of Christ is a teachings of Christ. It's an education.

Just simple teaching. Then it says, reproof. Remember, a single reproof. A reproof. One reproof. It's a single correction adjustment. A readjustment in your way of thinking. You say, hey, it's not that way. It's actually this way. This is the way walk in it. That is the reproof. There is a readjustment of that. You say to the moon, but you say that. But somehow it's not quite in quite a correction. It's going to mess it.

It just needs a little click multiple left to actually be there in the right point. That's what it is. That readjustment. God gives us a reproof. A single reproof. That's not quite that way. It's not angry. He's not unkind. Yes, He's gentle. He's in complete control. And it might just be a simple instruction. And we listen to it. And then the third one is correction.

Which means you're still doing it wrong. And you're still getting it the wrong way. A little gentle smack. Says, hey, a little strike. Still, without being angry, controlled, not speaking twice, not repeating ourselves. And then instruction in righteousness. Now, after we give the correction, we have to go back to that teaching and just kind of re-teach. Or re-estruct. Re-demonstrate. Now, with this specific example of application, says, this is what I mean. And if you do child rearing with your children, you know exactly that's how we do with our children.

It's those four steps. You teach them first the correct way. And then a reproof. You speak once, do a little reproof. Not a continuous repetition. No, no, no, no. Otherwise, they get to know that only when you say it ten times, that you start screaming, that it actually means no. So it's the first no and that's it. Otherwise, you're training them with something else. And then you're correcting love, not in anger. And then you give them a gentle instruction of what is right with lots of love.

That's principles of child rearing, nothing new. But the question is, do we listen to God when we do Bible study? Now, when we do this Bible study, because it says the scripture is for this, so when we read the Bible study, we do this with meditate, we read all these problems, we read this, we read that, and we say, ha ha!

He's correcting us, and are we therefore teachable and malleable or not? Are we neat? If we're not, then you're going to bring shame on ourselves. Look at Proverbs chapter 13, verse 18. Proverbs chapter 13, verse 18.

Proverbs 13, verse 18. It says, poverty and shame will come on him who disdain the same's correction.

Poverty and shame will come on to him who disdain's correction.

But he will regard any rebuke. You only need one. He'll be honored.

Wow! See, we need to be willing to take that correction, being malleable, being teachable, and therefore, there will be honor coming out of that. Look just one chapter before, in Proverbs 12, verse 15.

The way of a fool is right in his eyes that he who heeds counsel his wives.

That means we listen to advice.

We listen to advice.

We heed counsel. Are our ideas always right?

No. Maybe someone else is very good boy. We need to listen to him.

You see what people happens, literally, particularly in religion? They get their own technical ideas. They own technicalities. Oh, well, this is... and they get a hand up on these preconceived ideas.

And then, I have to teach the Church of God. I have to teach the Church of God because I have this revelation versus what it is.

I am right and you are wrong.

We have a phone call that says, God's Spirit is telling me this.

And I said to this man, not to be unkind, but I said, God's Spirit will never tell you to break God's law.

Now, you think the deduction can be built back? Because it's true! I don't want to go any further into that. But I said, God's Spirit will never tell you to break God's law. But you see, these people, they get out of their high chair on their platform, proclaiming their ideas, and be argumentative, and striving about words all unnecessarily.

Are we difficult to be corrected, or are we malleable?

You see, if we're difficult to be corrected, it's because we hate to be told what to do. And that's kind of pride in a sense. That's why pride is part of that, and mourning, and then michmash, you know, that's part of the package.

Proverbs 9, verse 7 through 9. Proverbs 9, verse 7 through 9. It says, He who corrects a scoffer gets himself to shame, and he who rebukes a wicked man only harms himself. So if you're trying to correct somebody that's not meek, it's going to be invaluable. Really, it's going to be valuable. After all, you can only change yourself. Remember that. You can only change yourself. You can't change other people.

Do not correct a scoffer, lest he hate you.

Rebuke a wise man, one that is meek and teachable, and he will love you.

He'll say, Thank you, I did not see that. Thank you. I didn't know I was coming across that way. Give instruction to wise man, he'll still be wiser. Teach a just man, he will increase in learning.

A meek person does what he was instructed to do. He's not a demented, he doesn't.

And God can trust a meek person.

God does not have to be looking over the shoulders of that person all the time to determine if you are going to do it or not, because he knows you're meek, you're teachable, you're going to do it, and you're going to follow this instruction.

Now, how do we therefore become easily correctable? Correct? We must not be wise in our own eyes.

We must not be the great smart guy that knows it all. We can't be self-righteous, saying, Well, I'm right and everybody else is wrong.

We can't be a self-justifier.

He says, You are right, but! You know, it's all these buts.

Break them. And in fact, we need to start seeing God behind God's ministers, provided obviously they follow in Christ.

You can grow in the church as fast as you want, provided you are meek.

Because that's the dependence. Depends on how teachable and unmarriable you and I are, how willing to respond to God we are.

So what are the prerequisites to be meek?

First, we must be humble.

That is not proud, not puffed up, not thinking highly of ourselves, not think better than others, don't think that we know it all, that it must be my way.

We must have the first beatitude, which is the new humble, meek, poor in spirit.

That's the first beatitude.

Second, we must have a heartfelt grieving and feeling of anguish for what is happening in the world and for the problems that are around us, and we must recognize these problems so we must mourn. And that must drive us with the desire to want to change, to repent.

And therefore, we look at it and we say we cannot change other people, but we cannot only change ourselves, and therefore, we look at our heart and we change in our heart.

We must mourn.

We must recognize that we can only change ourselves.

It's not our brother or our spouse that needs to change, but it is me.

It's I. I must change.

And you, you and I, we only got the power to change ourselves.

Therefore, we need to be meek. We need to be marimba, teachable, gentle.

And therefore, we ask God to correct us. And that's the third beatitude.

The meek will inherit the earth.

And that kind of sets us up to the next beatitude, which we'll cover in a future sermon.

But I want to conclude, I like a few points of interest here.

And first is in James chapter 3 verse 13.

James chapter 3 verse 13.

Who is wise and understanding amongst you?

Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom.

How many times have we seen in these verses that we read today, talking about the wise, and the wise is teachable, he learns. The meekness of wisdom. You need to be teachable to get wisdom, the meekness of wisdom.

And there's a lot more in those scriptures that you can study, but that will be something for you to do Bible study on that subject. But it is just a thing that I wanted to leave it with you there, because it is beautiful.

His iniqueness is not weakness.

We saw in Moses, he was not weak. We saw in Charles, there was not weak.

We saw in David, there was not weak. Because the sermon we heard about David, and David's my man, he was not weak.

We saw in Jeremiah, we saw Jesus Christ himself, that he was weak. We saw Solomon's problems in meekness. That's not weakness. Meekness is a beautiful attitude to be humble like a child, to mourn for a change that we changed with the knowledge of the right way, willing to learn the right way, willing to yield, obviously with God's fear.

And that will ultimately lead to peace, which you see when you read the meekness and the attitude, the last one is peace. It will ultimately, all these things will lead to peace.

So what? So what? To inherit the earth.

As kings and priests under Jesus Christ, to rule, as kings and priests, we inherit the earth.

We read, to explain a little bit about meekness, we started the explanation by looking at 7-9, and we read a scripture in 7-9, but we did not put emphasis on the lost symptoms. And I just want to go back to there, to look at that 7-9, chapter 2, verse 3. 7-9, chapter 2, verse 3. 7-9, Haggai, Zechariah, and I like that. 7-9, chapter 2, verse 3. 8-9, seek the Lord, all the unique of the earth, who are upheld by His, who have upheld His justice. 9-9, seek righteousness, seek knickness, as it should read.

It may be that you will be hidden in the day of the Lord's anger. Think about that. Think about that. It may be that you will be hidden, if you are weak and if you seek righteousness, in the day of the Lord's anger.