Meek

[enlightenment]

The Meek Shall Inherit the Earth


Psalms 25:8 Good and upright is the LORD: therefore will he teach sinners in the way.
9 The meek will he guide in judgment: and the meek will he teach his way.
Psalms 25:12 What man is he that feareth the LORD? him shall he teach in the way that he shall choose.
13 His soul shall dwell at ease; and his seed shall inherit the earth.
Psalms 37:7 Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass.
8 Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not thyself in any wise to do evil.
9 For evildoers shall be cut off: but those that wait upon the LORD, they shall inherit the earth.
10 For yet a little while, and the wicked shall not be: yea, thou shalt diligently consider his place, and it shall not be.
11 But the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.
Psalms 37:18 The LORD knoweth the days of the upright: and their inheritance shall be for ever.
Psalms 37:22 For such as be blessed of him shall inherit the earth; and they that be cursed of him shall be cut off.
Matthew 5:5 Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.

Interesting.

And it begs the question.

From this, we can take that the 'meek' (take that as you may, those who are subserviant?), shall be the only one's to live on earth, one day, and that god, having presumably removed all the evil doers and those who did not obey him, will create a paradise of peace.

But if that is the plan, for the meek to just hang on in there, and one day, date not known, something magical will take place, and all 'baddies' will be gone, only leaving 'goodies'.

What then will be the use of the conventional idea of a heaven, if the meek and the righteous are to inherit this brave new world, what purpose does heaven then serve?

Ever thought that heaven was a metaphor for creating a sort of global idealogy, a utopia of sorts? Rather than some invisible place the spirit drifts off to, upon death?

Of course, as with most utopian ideals, I do not see the good or the righteous inheriting this earth any time soon, nor do I see the evil dissapearing.

But perhaps that was meant by heaven(sic).

'Thy will be done in heaven as it is on EARTH'.

In other words, isn't this a directive for mankind to make the earth a paradise?

 

[shawn]

The interpretation of meek as I understand it is "power restrained".
It doesn't mean the skinny weak spineless types.
It is those who are powerful, yet control what they do and seek the peaceful path.
It refers to the middle path.

 

[bananabrain]

the hebrew word used in these cases is 'ANaWiYM, which has more the sense of "humility" as opposed to "arrogance" - it's an attack on hubris, not extolling the virtues of keeping your head down.

b'shalom

bananabrain

 

[Saltmeister]

From this, we can take that the 'meek' (take that as you may, those who are subserviant?), shall be the only one's to live on earth, one day, and that god, having presumably removed all the evil doers and those who did not obey him, will create a paradise of peace.

The way I interpret "meek" are those who don't persecute and oppress and don't exploit people when they are weak and vulnerable. They are either the unfortunate ones, or those who respect the less fortunate ones. To me it's not a matter of self-control or being peaceful. Well, maybe this is what I would the "meek" to be. It's not about being "righteous" in the sense of being a "goodie goodie two shoes" or "moral police." There is no standard.

What makes you meek is your humility, humanity and vulnerability. You don't exploit people due to your respect for their vulnerability. You would not like it if someone else took advantage of you. You don't consider yourself better than others even if you're highly intellectual (humble). Finally, you don't judge others for their faults (humanity).

Everybody has their faults, weaknesses and achievements but these are never used to exploit, dominate or humiliate others.

But if that is the plan, for the meek to just hang on in there, and one day, date not known, something magical will take place, and all 'baddies' will be gone, only leaving 'goodies'.

The meek aren't a collective, at least not in the sense of all of them knowing they are "meek." Some purposely choose to be "meek," while others simply are by nature or have been put in that state by life's tragic circumstances. Their tragedy entitles them to pity and puts them in the category of "the meek."

(P.S. Once again, this is what I would like the "meek" to be." My views aren't official.)

What then will be the use of the conventional idea of a heaven, if the meek and the righteous are to inherit this brave new world, what purpose does heaven then serve?

We celebrate each other's faults, weaknesses, vulnerabilities and achievements. Out of respect we do not exploit, dominate or humiliate those who are weaker and inferior, but respect that they are just another version of ourselves. It is not a paradise of holiness and perfection. Rather, it's the faults that make it paradise. It is a place of inequality, but where people learn to respect differences and imbalances.

(Once again, my idea of a meek paradise.)

Ever thought that heaven was a metaphor for creating a sort of global idealogy, a utopia of sorts? Rather than some invisible place the spirit drifts off to, upon death?

'Thy will be done in heaven as it is on EARTH'.

It could be both -- a partial realisation of that paradise in the present and a complete realisation of it in the afterlife or afterworld. The community of the meek is given a "collective afterlife."

Of course, as with most utopian ideals, I do not see the good or the righteous inheriting this earth any time soon, nor do I see the evil dissapearing.

But perhaps that was meant by heaven(sic).

In other words, isn't this a directive for mankind to make the earth a paradise?

Well, what are you waiting for? Spread the word. Otherwise nothing will happen.

 

[bob x]

Think of the scene in the Wizard of Oz where the floating head in clouds of smoke bellows out "I AM OZ, THE GREAT AND POWERFUL!" Dorothy curtsies, and says, "I am Dorothy, the small and meek." Actually, of course, Oz turns out to be a charlatan, who was bellowing in this intimidating manner to hide his own essential cowardice and fraudulency. Dorothy, whose behavior throughout is polite and correct, no matter who she is dealing with, is really by far the more powerful of the two.

 

[enlightenment]

Think of the scene in the Wizard of Oz where the floating head in clouds of smoke bellows out "I AM OZ, THE GREAT AND POWERFUL!" Dorothy curtsies, and says, "I am Dorothy, the small and meek." Actually, of course, Oz turns out to be a charlatan, who was bellowing in this intimidating manner to hide his own essential cowardice and fraudulency. Dorothy, whose behavior throughout is polite and correct, no matter who she is dealing with, is really by far the more powerful of the two.

Which works fine - in a fantasy movie.

In the real world, the well intentioned and good of heart, who happens to have no finanical clout, has no power when compared to, for example, the ruthless dictator, or business magnet.

This will never change.

It has always been that way, in some form or another.

 

[shawn]

6035`anav {aw-nawv'} or [by intermixture with 6041]`anayv {aw-nawv'}
from 6031; AV - meek 13, humble.


6031`anah {aw-naw'}
a primitive root [possibly rather ident. with 6030 through the idea of looking down or browbeating]; TWOT - 1651,1652; v

AV - afflict 50, humble 11, force 5, exercised 2, sing 2, Leannoth 1,
troubled 1, weakened 1, misc 11; 84

1) (Qal) to be occupied, be busied with
2) to afflict, oppress, humble, be afflicted, be bowed down
2a) (Qal)
2a1) to be put down, become low
2a2) to be depressed, be downcast
2a3) to be afflicted
2a4) to stoop

6030 `anah {aw-naw'}
a primitive root; TWOT - 1650,1653; v

AV - answer 242, hear 42, testify 12, speak 8, sing 4, bear 3, cry 2,
witness 2, give 1, misc 13; 329

1) to answer, respond, testify, speak, shout
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to answer, respond to
1a2) to testify, respond as a witness
1b) (Niphal)
1b1) to make answer
1b2) to be answered, receive answer
2) (Qal) to sing, utter tunefully
3) (Qal) to dwell

In this I see the idea of meekness being equivalent to humility in attitude.
To intentionally depress, or rather suppress one's own.
But also some other meanings are implied.
A humble person will not seek to put themselves on a pedestal as a leader or a ruler, to dominate by ones own, but will rather work with others.
If all the others are of similar mind, then we have a collective.
A collective which does not shout out its presence and announce itself as being the ruler, but rather works from behind the scenes....not seeking their own glory, but the advancement of a goal.
The element of secrecy is implied as to work in secret is to not seek glory from a prideful attitude.
Only the proud wish for, seek for individual recognition.
So the collective which works in secret will inherit the earth.
Not claim the earth, or seize the earth, but inherit it.
So the action will take a long time,
.
.
.
.
.
but a collective will always outlive an individual.
[youtube]jkawp42BudE[/youtube]

 

[Dream]

Which works fine - in a fantasy movie.

In the real world, the well intentioned and good of heart, who happens to have no finanical clout, has no power when compared to, for example, the ruthless dictator, or business magnet.

This will never change.

It has always been that way, in some form or another.

Sure it will. Eventually ruthless people will not exist anymore, because the good will be strong and the strong will be good.

 

[bob x]

Which works fine - in a fantasy movie.

In the real world, the well intentioned and good of heart, who happens to have no finanical clout, has no power when compared to, for example, the ruthless dictator, or business magnet.

This will never change.

It has always been that way, in some form or another.

Adolf Hitler is dead. So is Joseph Stalin. And the great "bully-boy" factions which they headed, that seemed so unstoppable at the time, are fading memories. The little people who went on raising their families through the terrible times have left legacies, as the bullies have not. Sure, a lot of the little people were mowed down, and nothing is left of them either, but the survivors have inherited the earth.

 

[enlightenment]

Sure it will. Eventually ruthless people will not exist anymore, because the good will be strong and the strong will be good.

I would love this to be so, but I am afraid that there is one small flaw - the wide variety that is human nature! Unless they invent some sort of pill that when you take it, it expels every negative, hate filled, or loathsome thought, then I am sorry, but there will always be those whose dream it is to have power, be that in the form of money, influence, or territory.

I see no evidence of this ending.

Do you?

 

[enlightenment]

Adolf Hitler is dead. So is Joseph Stalin. And the great "bully-boy" factions which they headed, that seemed so unstoppable at the time, are fading memories. The little people who went on raising their families through the terrible times have left legacies, as the bullies have not. Sure, a lot of the little people were mowed down, and nothing is left of them either, but the survivors have inherited the earth.

Have they?

How have they?

Besides, those you mention may be dead, but there have been other despots since, other brutal state murders, terrorist murders, and simply plain old murders, each day since then. Every few seconds, someone in this world is likely being murdered.

Hardly the greatest sign that these actions will reach some sort of end.

 

[Saltmeister]

Adolf Hitler is dead. So is Joseph Stalin. And the great "bully-boy" factions which they headed, that seemed so unstoppable at the time, are fading memories. The little people who went on raising their families through the terrible times have left legacies, as the bullies have not. Sure, a lot of the little people were mowed down, and nothing is left of them either, but the survivors have inherited the earth.

Perhaps there is some truth to the saying that the ways of the wicked will perish . . .

 

[shawn]

I would love this to be so, but I am afraid that there is one small flaw - the wide variety that is human nature! Unless they invent some sort of pill that when you take it, it expels every negative, hate filled, or loathsome thought, then I am sorry, but there will always be those whose dream it is to have power, be that in the form of money, influence, or territory.

I see no evidence of this ending.

Do you?

But that is the nature of the game..........to be good when there is so much opportunity to not be and to help others when there are so many compelling urges to seek ones own advantage/benefit.
If there was no antagonist, then how could the protagonist appear?
If there was no villain or evil urges then where would be the heroes?
How interesting would this game be if all was utopia?
If you go to the gym and lift weights or work out in any way, do you not challenge yourself by struggling against opposition?
So too with life.
We get so into the moment that we forget the bigger picture.
(Not to mention the emotional attachments.)

 

[enlightenment]

Perhaps there is some truth to the saying that the ways of the wicked will perish . . .

Again, this sounds utopian, since I see not a shred of evidence to suggest that this will be so - none.

If anything, the world is a more dangerous place now, than at any other time.

And even 'wicked' would be entirely subjective.

Jo Stalin? Mass murderer? Sure, but even in the eyes of modern Russians, only around half view him as such. The other half, young people and old, they do not see him as wicked at all. They see him as a philosopher and a great leader. Hitler was a madman? Maybe, but educated and ordinary Germans, they did not view him as such, they saw him as a great leader of their nation, someone who gave them their sense of self worth back.

Some would say that Bush and Blair were terribly wicked - others will tell you that they were not, they were merely men called upon to make tough decisions.

Some would tell you Che Guevara was a wicked terrorist, others will tell you that he was a righteous freedom fighter.

So.

Before the 'wicked' are weeded out - who decides what is wicked, and what isn't?

 

[enlightenment]

How interesting would this game be if all was utopia?

Very interesting, given that the general idea of a 'utopia' is a united one, in which people like in some sort of heaven on earth.

However, what me must remember is this - the 'utopia of one man is the dystopia of another'.

For example, you might have an ideal world in mind which would be one way. The white supremacist, his idea of a heaven on earth, would be the elimination of the other races. I could go on, but I think you get the idea.

Everyone's 'utopia' would be as different as everyone's personality.

 

[Saltmeister]

Again, this sounds utopian, since I see not a shred of evidence to suggest that this will be so - none.

I never said it was a utopia. If utopia is a state of socio-economic and socio-political perfection, then I didn't say it was utopian. I implied that given that it isn't a state of perfection that this was a reason to have hope and optimism. There is a reason for hope and reason to live even when one is living under a tyrant or dictator.

Stalinism is dead. Nazism is dead. Communism is dead. Pol Pot has been overthrown. Tyrants have not succeeded in keeping their regimes in power. Countries have always suffered under their rule. There will always be people who want to remove them. Other despots may come, but these too, will fall.

Napoleon Bonaparte's regime was overthrown. Oliver Cromwell's regime didn't last much more than a generation. The Tokagawa shogunate in Japan lasted only two or three centuries. It was the same with the Qing dynasty in China.

Jo Stalin? Mass murderer? Sure, but even in the eyes of modern Russians, only around half view him as such. The other half, young people and old, they do not see him as wicked at all. They see him as a philosopher and a great leader. Hitler was a madman? Maybe, but educated and ordinary Germans, they did not view him as such, they saw him as a great leader of their nation, someone who gave them their sense of self worth back.

The people who supported these guys were just as bad as the despots themselves.

Some would say that Bush and Blair were terribly wicked - others will tell you that they were not, they were merely men called upon to make tough decisions.

Bush never fit the profile of Adolf Hitler. He didn't have enough power. He didn't suppress the domestic opposition. The prisons in Cuba were the closest thing to concentration camps. But Hitler put an entire race in those prisons. He also committed genocide. Bush didn't. Muslims in America kept their rights even though they weren't trusted as much. They didn't lose their rights legally, and I would hope those rights were still fully enforced.

And even 'wicked' would be entirely subjective.

Have you been a victim of persecution or oppression? The wicked are the people who made your life so difficult. Name your enemy. It's him. My definition would be that anyone who isn't meek must be wicked.

 

[friendofbill]

In the world of horse racing,the word "meek" signifies a horse that is trained to respond to the command of its rider. Such a horse may be quite powerful, fleet, and elegant, but will not be capable of winning a race if it is not meek. Moses was described as being "meek," and we know he had a hot temper and was inclined to demand his own way a lot, but when push came to shove he did what God told him to do, and thus the apellation "meek." Just as it is the meek horse that wins the race, it is also the meek person who acomplishes the purposes God has for him or her. Which explains what Jesus meant when He said, "The meek will inherit the earth."

 

[Dream]

Before the 'wicked' are weeded out - who decides what is wicked, and what isn't?

To say that someone is a 'Wicked Person' means you think they are very destructive on the whole, but there is no one to decide that with finality -- except for the intangible truth itself. I believe that truth about it exists, but we cannot really obtain it. I say it is hidden similarly to the way that some say it is only with God. You said "Before the wicked are weeded out..." Have you ever looked at 'Weeds' and noticed that some of them are very beautiful? Dandelions are officially considered to be weeds where I live, but they have bright yellow flowers, are hardy, and are very nutritious. I don't weed them out or poison them. I like them. If they had thorns, it might be a different story; but they don't. People kill mice because they are filthy and break into food stores, ruining them; and the same goes for other insects. On the other hand, lizards are desirable in some locations for keeping the insect population down. Neither is evil in the grand scheme; but in food pantries mice and bugs are considered evil.

 

[Dream]

To say that the world is not getting any better is a judgment that you can't make. You can't make it, because there are two or three ways of seeing it, each exclusive of the others. That means if you see it negatively, then you can not see it positively at the same time & vice-versa. Since you can't compare the points of view, you don't actually know what is the truth of the matter. Worse, if you see it negatively than you are discouraged from being a positive influence! That is why the best and only reasonable point of view is the positive one.

 

[enlightenment]

In the world of horse racing,the word "meek" signifies a horse that is trained to respond to the command of its rider. Such a horse may be quite powerful, fleet, and elegant, but will not be capable of winning a race if it is not meek. Moses was described as being "meek," and we know he had a hot temper and was inclined to demand his own way a lot, but when push came to shove he did what God told him to do, and thus the apellation "meek." Just as it is the meek horse that wins the race, it is also the meek person who acomplishes the purposes God has for him or her. Which explains what Jesus meant when He said, "The meek will inherit the earth."

So, in short, Jesus early influences were horse racers.

Got it.