“You are a Christian because you resemble Christ and live according to His laws. Jesus was meek and established Himself as an example for you, so that you would learn from Him and imitate Him.
“Learn of Me; for I am meek” (Matt. 11:29); “Now I Paul myself beseech you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ” (2 Cor. 10:1). Christ commands you to be thus:
“Seek meekness” (Zeph. 2:3); “… that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called; with all lowliness and meekness” (Eph. 4:1–2).
Behold, there you have the example and commandment of Jesus, whom you love, and whom you desire to imitate and obey. Therefore, this ought to motivate you strongly to strive for meekness.
It behooves you to be meek in all that you undertake as a Christian.
(1) When you are to hear the Word of God, it must be done with meekness: “Receive with meekness the engrafted word” (James 1:21).
(2) When you are to pray, it must occur while “lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting” (1 Tim. 2:8).
(3) When you are to make profession of and give an account of your faith and hope, such is to occur “with meekness and fear” (1 Pet. 3:15).
(4) When you are called to instruct others, then meekness is also mandatory: “In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves” (2 Tim. 2:25).
(5) Meekness is needed when rebuking: “Restore such an one in the spirit of meekness” (Gal. 6:1). You are obligated to perform these duties, and without meekness they cannot be performed.
It will, however, be pleasing to both God and man if you perform them in meekness. Such conduct will bring forth excellent fruit and you will have a peaceful conscience.
Meekness is a glorious ornament of the church. The church is the glory of Christ, and when she is glorious, God and Christ are glorified. The latter is the desire of a true member of the church.
It is his desire that he may contribute something to that, and since meekness is most eminent in glory in the eyes of those who are within and without, the Christian must strive in an extraordinary manner to be adorned with this ornament.
Meekness itself is an ornate garment which covers nakedness and adorns with beauty the one who wears it. “Put on therefore … bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering” (Col. 3:12).
Furthermore, the meek are also adorned with salvation. “He will beautify the meek with salvation” (Psa. 149:4). This ornament makes them pleasing in God’s sight:
“But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price” (1 Pet. 3:4).
It is pleasing to man: “The discretion of a man deferreth his anger; and it is his glory to pass over a transgression” (Prov. 19:11). Thus, the meek person adorns the church, shining forth there as a bright star.
Great promises are made to the meek, which will most certainly be fulfilled for them, such as:
(1) answers upon their prayers: “LORD, thou hast heard the desire of the humble” (Psa. 10:17);
(2) being led by the Spirit: “The meek will He guide in judgment: and the meek will He teach his way” (Psa. 25:9);
(3) being filled with grace: “He giveth grace unto the lowly” (Prov. 3:34);
(4) the experience of joy: “The meek also shall increase their joy in the LORD” (Isa. 29:19).
(5) deliverance from all who trouble them. Even though the meek may be without protection against the unrighteous dealings of such, they nevertheless have one who takes note of them and rescues them:
“When God arose to judgment, to save all the meek of the earth” (Psa. 76:9); “The LORD lifteth up the meek” (Psa. 147:6);
(6) provision for all that they stand in need of for soul and body:
“The meek shall eat and be satisfied” (Psa. 22:26); “But the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace” (Psa. 37:11); “Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth” (Matt. 5:5).
The world, and all that is in it, is theirs; they are its possessors (1 Cor. 3:21–22). Whatever they possess—be it much or little—they have in the favor of God, and they make use of it with a peaceful conscience.
They will not have much opposition in the world, for rarely will anyone oppress one who is truly meek; and if he does, he will cease as soon as he perceives his meekness.
Yes others, even natural men, will protect the meek, and thus the meek sojourn safely through this world. They do not have the troubles which other people have. Therefore, they who covet these promises ought to endeavor to be meek.”
–Wilhelmus à Brakel, The Christian’s Reasonable Service, ed. Joel R. Beeke, trans. Bartel Elshout, vol. 4: Ethics and Eschatology (Grand Rapids, MI: Reformation Heritage Books, 1995), 4: 86-88.
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