Va'Eschanan (1): Meek and Mighty

לא מרובכם מכל העמים חשק ה' בכם ויבחר בכם, כי אתם המעט מכל העמים
Hashem has not desired you and chosen you because you are greater than all the other peoples rather because you are the smallest.

The implication of the Passuk is seemingly contradictory. The Passuk seems to state that we are the greatest and the slightest, and between those two factors Hashem chose us because of our smallness. But how can it be that we are the mightiest and the meekest simultaneously?

Based on the Shem MiShmuel (p. 33) we can explain as follows:

The Pasuk in Shir HaShirim states how Hashem calls the Yidden "יונתי" - My Dove. The Midrash there asks, why is it that we are only His dove and not objectively doves? The Pasuk there reads "יונתי בחגוי הסלע" - but could have been written, "יונה בחגוי הסלע" - without the possessive connotation.
The Midrash answers that only in regards to our relationship with Hashem are we sweet and soft like doves. We do the Mitzvos with humility and dedication. But when it comes to the nations of the world when they try to prevent Torah and Mitzvos? Then we are ferocious animals. They try to take away Shabbos, Milah and Talmud Torah? We fight back viciously.

Explains the Shem MiShmuel, this is how we are the meekest and the mightiest at the same time. In our relationship with Hashem we are soft as doves, but with we are iron-fisted in foreign policy.
If this is true, one may come to think that it is the power of our fighting spirit that has made us last so long. But the opposite is true. It is Davka because we are like doves that we are the everlasting Chosen People. Those who are כי אתם המעט, give the power to those who are רובכם.

והמבין יבין

This is true not only on the nationalistic level, but in the private domain as well. My true inner storehouses of strength are in my soul, not my body.
Practical thought: My Guf is mighty but my Neshama is quiet and still. Who is the real me?