Psalm 25:9
The meek will he guide in judgment: and the meek will he teach his way.
A. W. PINK (1886-1952): What is meekness?
CHARLES SIMEON (1759-1836): The term “meekness” is of very extensive import. But, instead of entering into the variety of senses in which the word is used, we shall find it more profitable to confine ourselves to the precise view in which it is used in the passage before us. Men may be denominated “meek,” when they are sensible of their own ignorance, and when they are willing and desirous to be taught of God.
THOMAS SCOTT (1747-1821): The meek, here spoken of, are not those of naturally easy, quiet, and indolent tempers; but such as are rendered humble, teachable, submissive, and gentle, by the special grace of God. And as the Master in this school is “meek and lowly in heart,” and teaches with gentleness and wisdom; the scholars should surely be teachable, and learn in meekness and humility.
C. H. SPURGEON (1834-1892): Humble, candid, teachable minds receive the Word, and are made wise unto salvation…He that is not willing to learn has not begun right.
J. C. RYLE (1816-1900): A deep sense of sin, a humble willingness to be saved in God’s way, a teachable readiness to give up our own prejudices when a more excellent way is shown, these are the principal things.
C. H. SPURGEON: True meekness is that which Grace gives.
JOHN BERRIDGE (1716-1793): They have been made meek―desirous of being taught, and praying to be so; but, being now sensible of unworthiness, they are afraid that God will not teach them. This may be done to other sinners but not to them. Therefore they are told who may expect teaching, even they who desire and pray for teaching, verses 4 & 5, “Shew me thy ways, O LORD; teach me thy paths. Lead me in thy truth, and teach me.”
C. H. SPURGEON: We must begin with a teachable spirit.
JOHN OWEN (1616-1683): A peculiarly humble frame of spirit, which is teachable. As there is no grace that is either more useful unto our own souls or more acceptable with God than humility, I Peter 3:4, so it is in an especial manner required as a qualification in them who would be instructed in the mind of God out of His Word. So the promise is, “The meek will he guide in judgment; and the meek will he teach his way;”—that is, the humble and contrite ones. And it is the same that is twice expressed in that same psalm by “fear,” verse 12: “What man is he that feareth the LORD? him shall He teach in the way that He shall choose;” and verse 14, “The secret of the LORD is with them that fear Him; and He will shew them His covenant.”
THOMAS MANTON (1620-1677): Those that, in an humble sense of their own nothingness, depend upon direction, them will He teach…By the meek is meant a man humble―that will submit himself to God whatever condition He shall appoint. This man God in His Word will teach and direct.
A. W. PINK: Meekness is not to be confounded with humility, for they are quite distinct qualities. This is clear from the words of the Saviour who said, “Take My yoke upon you and learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart,” Matthew 11:29. The Greek word here rendered “lowly” is translated “humble” in James 4:6 and 1 Peter 5:5.
MARTYN LLOYD-JONES (1899-1981): Well then, what is meekness?
A. W. PINK: There should be no difficulty in discovering the force of this word―the fact that “meekness” is required in order to our being “guided” and “taught” suggests that it signifies a pliant and receptive heart. As humility is the opposite of pride and self-sufficiency, so meekness is the opposite of self-will and stubbornness. Thus, it should be evident that there is a real difference between true humility and meekness. Not only are they distinct—but they are not always operative in the same person. One may be humble and yet far from being meek. One may have a real sense of his own ignorance and stupidity, pray to God for light and wisdom, search His Word for the needed direction, and then when those directions are received, disregard them because unacceptable. Unless our wills be truly yielded to God’s, when His will crosses ours—then we shall decline to heed the same.
C. H. MACKINTOSH (1820-1896): It is a grand point in the soul’s history when one is enabled to bow with meekness to all the dispensations of our Father’s hand.
MATTHEW HENRY (1662-1714): The meek are those who quietly submit themselves before God, to His Word, to His rod, who follow His directions and comply with His designs.
A. W. PINK: As pointed out above, this is not constitutional, but gracious—a precious fruit of the Spirit’s working. Godly sorrow softens the heart, so that it is made receptive to the entrance of the Word. Meekness consists in the spirit being made pliant, tractable, submissive, teachable…The moment any of us really takes it for granted that he already knows all that there is to be known on any subject treated of in Holy Writ, he at once cuts himself off from any further light thereon. That which is most needed by all of us in order to a better understanding of Divine things is not a brilliant intellect, but a truly humble heart and a teachable spirit, and for that we should daily and fervently pray—for we possess it not by nature.
J. C. RYLE: We must pray daily for the teaching of the Holy Ghost, if we would make progress in the knowledge of divine things. Without Him, the mightiest intellect and the strongest reasoning powers will carry us but a little way. In reading the Bible and hearing sermons, everything depends on the spirit in which we read and hear. A humble, teachable, child-like frame of mind is the grand secret of success. Happy is he who often says with David, “Teach me thy statutes,” Psalm 119:64. Such an one will understand, as well as hear.
C. H. SPURGEON: “I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go,” Psalm 32:8. Here the Lord is the speaker, and gives the Psalmist an answer to his prayer. Our Saviour is our instructor. The Lord Himself deigns to teach His children to walk in the way of integrity, His holy word, and the monitions of the Holy Spirit are the directors of the believer’s daily conversation. But “Be ye not as the horse, or as the mule, which have no understanding,” Psalm 32:9―not only David, but all of you. If God will guide you, be guided; if He will teach you, be teachable; if He will be gracious to you, be gracious towards Him.
ALEXANDER MacLAREN (1826-1910): The condition of our hearing and profiting by the guidance is meekness―of which the prime element is the submission of my own will to God’s.
ADAM CLARKE (1760-1832): Such a person has a teachable spirit.
MATTHEW HENRY: Meekness is wisdom.
