Focus: God's Gentleness

Text: Ps.18:35

"Thou hast also given me the shield of thy salvation: and thy right hand hath holden me up, and thy gentleness hath made me great."

There is always a divine factor in whatever anyone becomes or achieves in this world. God said to Zerubbabel, "Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts" (Zech.4:6). No one achieves greatness or success entirely by sheer force or intelligence.

Solomon says, "I returned, and saw under the sun, that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet favour to men of skill; but time and chance happeneth to them all" (Eccl.9:11). Nothing we are in ourselves can totally guarantee success. God is behind all human success whether we acknowledge it or not. Moses says to God's people, "But thou shalt remember the LORD thy God: for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth…" (Dt.8:18).

How sweet and reassuring to know that our greatness is made possible by the gentleness of God at work in us! The Amplified Version says, "Your gentleness [Your gracious response when I pray] makes me great."

The Passion Translation says, "By stooping down in gentleness, you made me great." The Message Bible translates, "You caress me with your gentle ways." In Psalms 45:4, the word 'gentleness' is translated as 'meekness.' Other possible translations of the word 'gentleness' are: goodness, providence, help, humility, or condescension. As another has said, "providence is nothing more than goodness in action." 

It is by way of providence that we receive the help of the Lord. God doesn't stand in the way of us becoming great. He makes space and makes it possible for us to share in His greatness.

He condescends for us to ascend. The psalmist says, "Thou shalt increase my greatness, and comfort me on every side" (Ps.71:21). Increasing our greatness doesn't in any way diminish His own greatness. James declares, "But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble" (Jam.4:6). In verse 10, he says again, "Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up." Peter says the same thing, "Be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble. Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time" (1Pet.5:5,6).

God is opposed to the proud and arrogant.

God says through Jeremiah, "Thus saith the LORD, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches: But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the LORD which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the LORD" (Jer.9:23-24).

Our humility and God's grace qualify us for divine promotion. I pray you welcome and acknowledge the goodness and meekness of God as the secret of your attainments and accomplishments! We are simply nothing without God. God is not reduced, belittled, or stripped of His own greatness by our own ever-increasing greatness. The grace of God makes possible all the blessings of God upon our lives.

by Bishop Moses E. Peter