If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land
(2 Chronicles 7:14 ESV).
Last week we looked at four things we need to do as a Church (and as individuals) to receive three things from the LORD.
Humble ourselves; pray; seek His face; repent
Hear; forgive; heal
Let’s look at our first step, humbling ourselves, because if we don’t, the rest ain’t happening. Let’s revisit the definition of humble. There are three perspectives to this verb: God does the humbling; Israel’s enemies are defeated; and we humble ourselves. It is the latter which is described here.
There are a bunch of words in Hebrew translated as some form of humble, and some are rather intense: afflicted, silenced, poor, weak, needy, lowest, abased and oppressed. You can see being humbled by God may not be a pleasant experience. The vast majority of these Hebrew words are relational, binding you with the Most High God.
Whether you choose to humble yourself or be humbled—it’s your choice. But in this situation, it’s we who need to do the humbling.
Donald Gray Barnhouse said, when you pray, “Lord, keep me humble,” you’ve already lost the battle. You need to pray, “Lord, make me humble.”
Now, simply put, humility is the place we need to start. If we are not humble, we may think our land does not need healing. Or we may think we can do it ourselves. Humility—in the context of this verse—causes us to pray, seek and repent. Without humility, that process can’t even begin.
Now the opposite of humility is pride, and let’s see what happens (or doesn’t happen) when we are proud.
The Lord hates everyone who is arrogant; he will never let them escape punishment (Proverbs 16:5 GNT).
And when they cry out, God does not answer because of their pride (Job 35:12 NLT).
Love the LORD, all you godly ones! For the LORD protects those who are loyal to him, but he harshly punishes the arrogant (Psalm 31:23 NLT).
He who trusts in his own heart is a fool, But whoever walks wisely will be delivered. (Proverbs 28:26 NKJV).
“I, the Lord, refuse to accept anyone who is proud. Only those who live by faith are acceptable to me” (Habakkuk 2:4 CEV).
For the LORD of armies will have a day of reckoning Against everyone who is arrogant and haughty, And against everyone who is lifted up, That he may be brought low (Isaiah 2:12 NASB).
I will punish the world for its evil, the wicked for their sins. I will put an end to the arrogance of the haughty and will humble the pride of the ruthless (Isaiah 13:11 NIV).
So, there are some verses about the Lord’s attitude and actions toward the proud. Here’s a Psalm which outlines the life of the proud, and the damage they will cause:
Truly God is good to Israel, to those whose hearts are pure. But as for me, I almost lost my footing. My feet were slipping, and I was almost gone. For I envied the proud when I saw them prosper despite their wickedness. They seem to live such painless lives; their bodies are so healthy and strong. They don’t have troubles like other people; they’re not plagued with problems like everyone else. They wear pride like a jeweled necklace and clothe themselves with cruelty. These fat cats have everything their hearts could ever wish for! They scoff and speak only evil; in their pride they seek to crush others. They boast against the very heavens, and their words strut throughout the earth. And so the people are dismayed and confused, drinking in all their words. “What does God know?” they ask. “Does the Most High even know what’s happening?” Look at these wicked people— enjoying a life of ease while their riches multiply. Did I keep my heart pure for nothing? Did I keep myself innocent for no reason? I get nothing but trouble all day long; every morning brings me pain. If I had really spoken this way to others, I would have been a traitor to your people. So I tried to understand why the wicked prosper. But what a difficult task it is (Psalm 73:1-16 NLT)!
Go get God’s perspective: Then I went into your sanctuary, O God, and I finally understood the destiny of the wicked (v. 17).
Truly, you put them on a slippery path and send them sliding over the cliff to destruction. In an instant they are destroyed, completely swept away by terrors. When you arise, O Lord, you will laugh at their silly ideas as a person laughs at dreams in the morning (v.18-20).
The damage that was done… BUT Then I realized that my heart was bitter, and I was all torn up inside. I was so foolish and ignorant— I must have seemed like a senseless animal to you. Yet I still belong to you; you hold my right hand. You guide me with your counsel, leading me to a glorious destiny. Whom have I in heaven but you? I desire you more than anything on earth. My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak, but God remains the strength of my heart; he is mine forever (vs. 21-26).
We’ve seen the way of the proud. We’ve seen how their way can infect the godly. We’ve seen what it takes to stop believing their propaganda. We’ve seen that Truth can be found. We see God’s justice. And we see that, in spite of our detour, He is with us.
So, do you want to follow the way of the proud?
Let’s look at how God wants us to be:
Here’s what God has done in you: For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified (Romans 8:92-30).
THEREFORE: Let the example of Jesus Christ DEFINE your life. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross (Phil 2:3-8)!
That is our ultimate example of humility. If the King of Kings and Lord of Lords became a servant, should not we follow in His steps?
In Psalm 73 we saw that the arrogant were cast down. So, what happens when we are humble?
That is why Scripture says: “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.” Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up (James 4:6-10).
Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up. Let God do the lifting up.
