Do not envy a violent man or choose any of his ways, for the Lord detests a
perverse person but takes the upright into His confidence. ~Proverbs 3:31-32
A little while, and the wicked will be no more; though you look for them, they will not be found. But the meek will inherit the land and enjoy great peace. The wicked plot against the righteous and gnash their teeth at them. The Lord laughs at the wicked, for He knows their day is coming. ~Psalm 37:10-13
Blessed are the meek for they will inherit the earth. ~Matthew 5:5
Do you remember a few days ago when we were contrasting the difference between a full-grown tree as the righteous person, and chaff, or the hull of a seed, as the one who chooses evil? I believe that theme is what is being revisited here. Solomon is warning us, when we feel that need for justification rising within us, to remember that we are trees, so we shouldn’t act like chaff. He wouldn’t warn us if we couldn’t do it.
Meekness is power under control. Think of the horse. A horse can do a lot of damage if it is spooked or angry and riled up. There is a lot of power in a horse. That’s why they need to be broken. Without training or discipline, they cannot be managed. A trained horse, however, is meek. All that power, all that will, submitted to another.
When we come to Christ, we are like wild colts. Most of us have behaviors that we would rather others not see. God sees them though and He knows that we need to be tamed and trained. He wants to train those things out of us that appeal to our sinful nature, such as our anger when things don’t go our way. He wants us tamed so that we will submit to His way, in meekness, so that we can inherit all things.
It’s funny how it works. I think of the toddler who throws a major temper tantrum, thinking that he can force his will on those around him and bend them to his will. Sometimes we even laugh at them, as cute and powerless as they are. That’s why God laughs at the wicked. And we all know the tragedy that awaits the child that succeeds in getting himself spoiled by the parent who does give in and doesn’t discipline the child. But happy is the child who grows and learns discipline and is able to communicate better in relationship with others, he will gain more responsibilities and freedoms as we all know.
Pity the wicked who never learn. They may eventually force their will on others in this life, but the Lord will never submit to human temper tantrums. What the wicked may gain for a moment in this life will be his loss in the next. Keep that in mind as you bask in the love of your heavenly Father’s discipline that is helping you grow in wisdom.
Hymn: Have Thine Own Way, Lord
A little while, and the wicked will be no more; though you look for them, they will not be found. But the meek will inherit the land and enjoy great peace. The wicked plot against the righteous and gnash their teeth at them. The Lord laughs at the wicked, for He knows their day is coming. ~Psalm 37:10-13
Blessed are the meek for they will inherit the earth. ~Matthew 5:5
Do you remember a few days ago when we were contrasting the difference between a full-grown tree as the righteous person, and chaff, or the hull of a seed, as the one who chooses evil? I believe that theme is what is being revisited here. Solomon is warning us, when we feel that need for justification rising within us, to remember that we are trees, so we shouldn’t act like chaff. He wouldn’t warn us if we couldn’t do it.
Meekness is power under control. Think of the horse. A horse can do a lot of damage if it is spooked or angry and riled up. There is a lot of power in a horse. That’s why they need to be broken. Without training or discipline, they cannot be managed. A trained horse, however, is meek. All that power, all that will, submitted to another.
When we come to Christ, we are like wild colts. Most of us have behaviors that we would rather others not see. God sees them though and He knows that we need to be tamed and trained. He wants to train those things out of us that appeal to our sinful nature, such as our anger when things don’t go our way. He wants us tamed so that we will submit to His way, in meekness, so that we can inherit all things.
It’s funny how it works. I think of the toddler who throws a major temper tantrum, thinking that he can force his will on those around him and bend them to his will. Sometimes we even laugh at them, as cute and powerless as they are. That’s why God laughs at the wicked. And we all know the tragedy that awaits the child that succeeds in getting himself spoiled by the parent who does give in and doesn’t discipline the child. But happy is the child who grows and learns discipline and is able to communicate better in relationship with others, he will gain more responsibilities and freedoms as we all know.
Pity the wicked who never learn. They may eventually force their will on others in this life, but the Lord will never submit to human temper tantrums. What the wicked may gain for a moment in this life will be his loss in the next. Keep that in mind as you bask in the love of your heavenly Father’s discipline that is helping you grow in wisdom.
Hymn: Have Thine Own Way, Lord
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