A Meek and Quiet Spirit

My videos usually drop on Monday mornings at 7:30 am. Then I put this post together and it is e-mailed to you on Fridays.  Most of what is written below is a transcript of the video, but the last 5 minutes of the video are not included.  I've done the transcript for those of you who want to look up the verses, or read along.

 

 

 We are certainly not encouraged to be “meek and quiet” today.  We are no longer encouraged to be “sweet.” We rarely see little girls who look “precious” in their dress and demeanor.

I just heard the most disgusting commercial where adults were singing a song that children were striking poses to with their arms crossed and a pout on their faces, to the words, “No one’s going to tell ME what to do!”

And I just read these names of lipsticks in an old beauty book; these are real lipstick names from the 1980’s and 90’s: Flirt, Gas, Trailer Trash, Lust, Roach, Rat, Asphyxia, and Pleasure/Pain. Why not have lipsticks called “Disgust,” “Dog Poop” or “Lunatic?”

A beautiful woman who is gorgeously arrayed, but who speaks harshly, and is loud, brash, and impudently opinionated, is ugly to all.

But a woman who has chaste behavior, a generous heart, and a meek and quiet spirit is attractive to all. 

1 Timothy 2:9-10 says, In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with braided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array; but (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works.

Shamefacedness means, in this sentence, modest or bashful; you are to dress in a way that shows respect towards God.  Sobriety means, in this sentence, avoiding extravagance.

Today, braided hair is not extravagant or immodest, nor is wearing gold, pearls, or other precious gems. We live in such a wealthy time that what was once extravagant is now common. Paul is stressing that it isn’t what you wear that makes you beautiful – it is your good works that spill out of your compassionate heart.

However, is wearing jeans, or shorts, or having bare shoulders at church, dressing with respect towards God? This kind of dress isn’t allowed in a courtroom, and is frowned upon at a funeral or a wedding (well, except for the bare shoulders, which, imo, most women shouldn’t wear).

Food for thought – are you dressing in a way that shows respect to God?  But we will talk more about that in a future post.  Today I want to focus on what having a meek and quiet spirit means.

Our key verse is found in 1 Peter 3:4 (KJV): 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 always thought that “meek” meant timid. I’d picture a little grey timid mouse of a girl, a wallflower, a girl scared of her own shadow. I thought of meek as being unduly patient or submissive, spiritless, and tame.

But it doesn’t mean that at all! Replace meek with the synonym “gentle.” You conjure up a much different picture, don’t you? A woman with a gentle and quiet spirit is a much prettier picture. She sounds lovely. Don’t you picture an old-fashioned mother in a beautiful long dress with her arms open wide waiting to comfort you?

My 1927 New Century Dictionary says:

Meek: Gentle, mild, kind to others; humbly patient or submissive when under provocation from others.

It quotes this sentence from George Eliot in the book Adam Bede, “Even the man Moses, the meekest of men, was wrathful sometimes.”

When I use the word “gentle” I’m thinking of a woman who is kind, sweet, good-tempered, and has a light touch.

But the word actually has a fuller depth of meaning. This is what my dictionary has to say:

Gentle:

• Of good family, noble, excellent.
• Good, superior, or honorable; courteous.
• Also, from the association of certain characteristics with noble birth: noble, gallant or chivalrous (archaic: a gentle knight).
• Refined, polite.
• Mild, kind, amiable.
• Considerate or forbearing.
• Not severe, rough, or violent.

This peaceful frame of mind must be cultivated. A great way to do this is to have a daily Bible and prayer time with the Lord.

A woman with a quiet spirit is at rest. She is not a bundle of jitters. She makes no disturbance or trouble. She is not a busybody, meddling in other people’s business. 1 Peter 4:15 warns us that busybodies are as bad as murderers, thieves, and evildoers!

She is gentle-hearted, which means gentle in heart or disposition; mild, and kind.

A woman with a quiet spirit has a manner that is peaceful and tranquil. Her mind, heart, and conscience are calm and at peace. She is not ostentatious or showy. When she speaks or does something she is unobtrusive and restrained; her manner is elegant. She is a true “Lady.”

Ladies and Gentlemen is a term of refinement in our society. Back in the Old Country of England, you had to be born into the social rank above Yeoman (your family had to have a coat of arms) to be called a Lady or a Gentleman. A Lady and Gentleman was one step below nobility.

Here in the United States of America, everyone is considered to be a lady or a gentleman. Sadly, though, many people do not care to be called, and certainly don’t act like, ladies and gentlemen anymore.

A gentleman recognizes and fulfills his obligations, and thus keeps the honor of his title. A gentleman is a man of good breeding and polite manners, who has fine (sensitive) feelings and instincts, irrespective of his training and social position.

This is evidenced by his behavior and his generous consideration for others. I think we still find many Christian gentlemen, but men of the world, not so much.

A Lady is a less formal title to be used instead of marchioness, countess, viscountess, and baroness, and for the daughters of dukes, marquises, and earls, or when your husband was a Lord, baronet, or knight, in the Old Countries.

Today in America, every woman can be addressed as a Lady, or as Madam, though that now has a vulgar connotation due to a vile industry, and “ma’am” is often used instead for the everyday woman as a title of politeness by a younger person.

A Lady is the mistress of a household. She has the proprietary rights and authority over her manor. A Lady is also the object of man’s chivalrous devotion! All these definitions I have paraphrased from my dictionary.

Lori used this definition of meek: “Mild of temper; soft; gentle; not easily provoked or irritated; yielding; humble; submissive to the divine will.”

There are six other verses that tell us about meekness in the Bible.  Replace “meek” with “gentle.”

1. Psalm 22:26 The meek shall eat and be satisfied: they shall praise the Lord that seek him: your heart shall live for ever.
2. Psalm 25:9 The meek will he guide in judgment: and the meek will he teach his way.
3. Psalm 37:11 But the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.
4. Psalm 147:6 The Lord lifteth up the meek: he casteth the wicked down to the ground.
5. Psalm 149:4 For the Lord taketh pleasure in his people: he will beautify the meek with salvation.
6. 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.

Meek men and women are highly valued by God. Meek women aren’t timid grey mice; they are beautiful!

• They are content with their God-given role.
• They revel in caring for their children, their husband, and their home.
• Their contentment is a magnet for others.
• Their joy spills out onto all whom they encounter.
• Meek women have good judgment because they are teachable to God’s ways from His Word.
• Meek women are at peace with themselves.
• They don’t need to strive for the world’s applause.
• They are secure in their identity in Christ and of their eternal future.
• They are a daughter of the King and they work for the Lord at home and help behind the scenes in their churches.

1 Thessalonians 4:11 tells us to study to be quiet, to tend to our own business, and to work with our hands.

Paul, in 1 Timothy 2:1-6 says, “I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; for kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.”

Women who fret, who are lazy, who are weak-minded, who live in fear of whatever the news tells them to fear, who focus on negatives, who need to drink alcohol to steady their nerves, who are loud and stubborn, who are aggressive, self-serving, pushy, and who lash out at others  – these are the women people avoid.

But a gentle and quiet woman, one who allows God to transform her life by studying his Holy Word and through prayer, a woman who is content and joyful, this is a woman people flock to be around.

To display a meek and quiet spirit means you are full of love and compassion.  Elizabeth Elliott says it is a spiritual quality, and it springs from love. 

She reminds us that Jesus washed Judas’ feet, even though He knew he was going to betray Him.  He let Judas kiss Him in the garden; “betrayed by a kiss,” even though Jesus’ power made the troop of men fall back at one point.

Meekness is learned.  Gentleness is teachable and attainable.  Being gentle doesn’t mean you are weak and fragile.  No, it means you are secure in Christ and in your God-given role. 

When a meek and quiet woman is insulted or has her feelings hurt, she takes her pain to her Lord, Jesus Christ.

 “Teach me your paths, oh Lord.  Guide me into Your truth,” she prays.

I’ve linked Elizabeth’s video entitled Make Yourself Small: Meekness if you’d like to hear more.

May God bless you as you work on cultivating a meek and quiet spirit (me too!).

Janine

An old expression used by an author towards his reader is “Gentle reader,” meaning a courteous, not critical, reader. Thank you to my Gentle readers!

 

(Lori starts the topic 3 minutes in of the 10 min video.)

Lori Alexander’s book “Biblical Womanhood.” Only $5! (affiliated link)

 

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