Wednesday, October 31, 2012

The case for humility



In II Chronicles 12, Jerusalem was being attacked by Egypt after the people abandoned the law of the Lord. A prophet notified King Rehoboam why they were being attacked. The king and the leaders of the land humbled themselves before the Lord. That caused the Lord to deliver them from the hands of the king of Egypt. 

God loves humility. It activates His arm to action. He gives grace to the humble. He exalts the humble. God saves the humble. He guides them. He crowns them with salvation. Wisdom comes with humility. Humility comes before honor. Humility considers others better than self. Moses was more humble than anyone else on the face of the earth at the time; Numbers 12:3. Jesus Christ’s embodiment is the full measure of humility. He said in Matthew 11:28-30, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

In contrast, the Lord detests the proud. He opposes the proud. He is able to humble the proud. Disgrace follows pride. Pride breeds quarrels. It goes before destruction. “A man’s pride brings him low,” Proverbs 29:23. King Nebuchadnezzar in Daniel 4 was prideful for he thought he built the city with his own hands. After his experience he wrote in verse 37, “Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and exalt and glorify the King of heaven, because everything He does is right and all His ways are just. And those who walk in pride He is able to humble.” Satan is the source of pride. He wanted to exalt himself above the throne of God; Isaiah 14:12-15. Ezekiel 28:11-19 is to be pondered. The created being cannot be exalted above the Creator.

 It is not about you. It is about who you follow. Follow someone who is humble and you will start to display humility. Follow someone who is prideful, then you will be as well. Some of the consequences are above. The choice is always yours. 

“If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land,” the Lord said in II Chronicles 7:14