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Gentle manMonday, March 17, 2008
Isaiah 42:1-7 He shall bring forth justice to the nations, not crying out, not shouting, not making his voice heard in the street. A bruised reed he shall not break, and a smoldering wick he shall not quench, until he establishes justice on the earth ...
I, the Lord, have called you for the victory of justice, I have grasped you by the hand; I formed you, and set you as a covenant of the people, a light for the nations, to open the eyes of the blind, to bring out prisoners from confinement, and from the dungeon, those who live in darkness.
In his blessings (Matthew 5) Jesus singled out the "meek." Blessed they are, and they shall inherit the earth. The word translated "meek" is "proates" in Greek. William Barclay attributes three meanings to this word: 1) to have the right kind of temper, 2) to be in control of one's life and responsive to God, and 3) to know one's limits and accept them. The Greeks used this word to describe a horse that has adjusted to being controlled and ridden by a man. In time the horse and rider become one, measuring each other, matching each other, in harmony with one another. God inhabits the energy and actions of his servant. Because of this harmony his servant is stronger than prison bars, stronger than death, stronger than Satan. Can such strength wear a mantle of gentleness? I think of Gandhi, and say yes. I think of my father, and say yes. And most of all, I think of Jesus, informed and inhabited by all the attributes of god, coming meekly to the cross. And say yes. Whatever arrogance or bully-ness there is in me, Lord, burn it out. You have shown me gentle strength that never ends and is never defeated. |
Wow, this is beautiful. God's words in Isaiah draw me into so many metaphors. These are about gentleness. The voice that soothes while it straightens, the touch that heals and comforts, the breath that tenderly brings life. At the same time the strength behind this gentleness rips away death, demons and darkness.