Tuesday, March 2, 2010

A Meek and Quiet Spirit

I looked up the word quiet in my Bible - it has a small concordance in the back.  Here is what I found:
  • Proverbs 1:33 - But whoso hearkeneth unto me shall dwell in safety, and shall be quiet from fear of evil.  
  • 1 Thessalonians 4:11 - And that you study to be quiet and to do your own business amd to work with your own hands, as we commanded you.
  • 1 Timothy 2:2 - For kings and for all that are in authority that we may lead a quiet and peacable life in all godliness and honesty.
  • 1 Peter 3:4 - 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.
I found "meek" in the back of my Bible 10 times.  Here's what I found:
  • Numbers 12:3 - (Now the man Moses was very meek, above all the men which were upon the face of the earth.)
  • Psalm 22:26 - The meek shall eat and be satisfied: they shall praise the LORD that seek him: your heart shall live for ever.
  • Psalm 25:9 - The meek will he guide in judgment: and the meek will he teach his way.
  • Psalm 37:11 - But the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.
  • Psalm 149:4 - For the LORD taketh pleasure in his people: he will beautify the meek with salvation.
  • Isaiah 29:19 - The meek also shall increase their joy in the LORD, and the poor among men shall rejoice in the Holy One of Israel.
  • Isaiah 61:1 - The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound;
  • Matthew 5:5 - Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.
  • Matthew 11:29 - Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
  • 1 Peter 3:4 - 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.
When I first started looking into meekl and quiet, I knew that God had made a mistake.  there is NO way I could be meek and quiet, and I perceived meek and quiet to be.  How could someone once described as a spitfire and strongly opinionated have a meek and quiet spirit?!?!?!?

 Then I read the following quote on a forum, written by a woman I admire:  Rebekah Pearl Anast.  She gave me hope!  What do you think?

The two people in the bible who were described as meek were Moses and Jesus. Both were willing to endure hardship for the sake of others... believing what lay ahead. Heb 11. Both were amazingly bold before God in prayer, but willing to suffer even death that others might live. Some say that meekness is "quiet strength." I think it is best understood by reading through the lives/stories of Moses and Jesus.

A quiet spirit is exactly that: A spirit that is quiet... not full of turmoil or distress. Not loud and impatient... just quiet. No matter what is going on around you, you discipline your spirit to stand in faith, quietly... waiting on God, not freaking out. Not panicking at the circumstances, but waiting and believing.

The phrase "not afraid with any amazement" is a description of Abraham's wife, Sarah. When Abraham said they were going to leave home and family and wander the wilderness looking for a city whose builder and maker was God... Sarah was not amazed or afraid. She followed him. When he said they were going to have a son when they were nearly a century old... she laughed... but she wasn't afraid to give it go...  Wink

Hbr 11:11          Through faith also Sara herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised.
 Hbr 11:12         Therefore sprang there even of one, and him as good as dead, [so many] as the stars of the sky in multitude, and as the sand which is by the sea shore innumerable.

When the famine hit and they went to Egypt, when she was told say she was his sister rather than wife, when her son was taken to be sacrificed on an altar...

Sarah was not afraid with any amazement. She was fearless and unamazed. She stood waiting for God to show Himself in every situation and refused to let herself question and panic and drive Abraham to something other than obedience to God.

Her husband was sufficed with God... so she was sufficed as well. No emergency rooms, no desperate calls to mama, no panic-attacks and tearful pleading for him to do something else...

She was not afraid with any amazement. Whose daughter ye are if ye do well.   Wink


1Pe 3:1      Likewise, ye wives, [be] in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives;
1Pe 3:2      While they behold your chaste conversation [coupled] with fear.
1Pe 3:3      Whose adorning let it not be that outward [adorning] of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel;
1Pe 3:4      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.
1Pe 3:5      For after this manner in the old time the holy women also, who trusted in God, adorned themselves, being in subjection unto their own husbands:
1Pe 3:6      Even as Sara obeyed Abraham, calling him lord: whose daughters ye are,

1 comment:

Joel & Dess said...

Gurl it has been a while since blogging for you. I need a larson pic fix. Love you.

Dess