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Humility
a Reasonable Requirement
"He hath showed thee, O man, what is good; and
what doeth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and
to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?"
Micah 6:8. The Hebrew rendering of this last sentence
reads: "humble thyself to walk with thy God." We
have the same admonition from apostles James and Peter.
"Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he
shall lift you up." James 4:10. "Humble
yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he
may exalt you in due time." I Pet. 5:6.
This implies implicit obedience to
all the requirements of God—a perfect agreement with
Him. There is a striking difference between the omnipotent
sovereignty of God and humility. A walk with God at once
suggests an exalted and lofty position, quite opposite
from one of humiliation. This is all clear when we see
that humiliation is the requirement necessary for
exaltation. It is a sinking before a rising. A humiliation
of all that pertains to self, that there may be in us the
exaltation of God in all His perfect will. This is what
exalts us. It is God working "in us both to will and
to do of his good pleasure." This is the most exalted
and honored position that redeemed mortals on earth could
ever desire.
Enoch must have enjoyed a life
similar in many respects to this; for he had this
testimony, that he pleased God. He humbled himself to walk
with his God. His exaltation was so great and his walk so
perfect and the harmony so complete, that it would seem
that God could not do without him, and "took
him." A wonderful exaltation, and yet no greater in
the part of his life on earth with God than ours should
be.
All this divine requirement is for
our highest good. It is also a most reasonable demand.
Every earthly king demands as much of his subjects. Who
could reasonably expect a promoted position for life with
a king, without a complete submission to all his sovereign
will? Thus we through true humility may rise into the
glorious life interests with God. A few more Scriptures
will emphasize this thought, that humility precedes honor.
"The fear of the Lord is the
instruction of wisdom; and before honour is
humility." Proverbs 15:33.
"Before destruction the heart
of man is haughty, and before honour is humility."
Proverbs 18:12.
"By humility and the fear of
the Lord are riches, and honour, and life." Proverbs
22:4.
"A man's pride shall bring him
low: but honour shall uphold the humble in spirit."
Proverbs 29:23.
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