Humbling ourselves for His glory is the unwanted truth that is most needful.
Why the need of humbling? To raise the question at least intimates insensibility as to our low state. Lukewarm Laodicea lacks "eye-salve" (spiritual perception) and is oblivious to its spiritual poverty and blindness. "Ephraim also is like a silly dove without heart." "...strangers have devoured his strength, and he knoweth it not"
(Hos. 7:11,911Ephraim also is like a silly dove without heart: they call to Egypt, they go to Assyria. (Hosea 7:11)
9Strangers have devoured his strength, and he knoweth it not: yea, gray hairs are here and there upon him, yet he knoweth not. (Hosea 7:9)). Samson "wist not that" "his strength went from him" (Judg. 16:20, 1920And she said, The Philistines be upon thee, Samson. And he awoke out of his sleep, and said, I will go out as at other times before, and shake myself. And he wist not that the Lord was departed from him. (Judges 16:20)
19And she made him sleep upon her knees; and she called for a man, and she caused him to shave off the seven locks of his head; and she began to afflict him, and his strength went from him. (Judges 16:19)). The most privileged of all the tribes of Israel sank into insensibility in the days of Malachi and could impudently say, "...Wherein have we despised Thy name?" (Mal. 1:66A son honoreth his father, and a servant his master: if then I be a father, where is mine honor? and if I be a master, where is my fear? saith the Lord of hosts unto you, O priests, that despise my name. And ye say, Wherein have we despised thy name? (Malachi 1:6)).
How beautiful, was the church's beginning! All were filled with the Holy Spirit. All were of one heart and soul and great grace was upon them (Acts 4). But before long they left that first love and then sank to the level of the world. Furthermore, they were ensnared into "the depths of Satan" (Rev. 2). The Reformation deliverance soon developed formal sects out of which God gathered hearts to the alone precious name and presence of the Lord Jesus Christ. Their lives were fragrant with "a little power" of the Holy Spirit by which they glorified Christ. This too was a beautiful state. But how do we see it now? "How is the gold become dim!" If none can claim to be Philadelphia, many are nominally gathered correctly as to position and virtually boast "The temple of the Lord, The temple of the Lord, The temple of the Lord," while dishonoring the Lord, being "conformed to this world." Surely this shows the need of humbling ourselves.
Guaranteeing "peace and safety" because of correct divine position, to those who deliberately disregard truths they do not want, is shameful unfaithfulness and deception. It is speaking "smooth things" to tickle the ear. It is popular lullabying that defeats humbling ourselves, at the very time it is most needful. And how dull are we if we do not see that these many afflictions of God's people are the Lord's voice and His chastening hand upon us. The very disinclination to recognize this is a further indication of our low state.
We live in a day and in a land of prosperity and luxury, of houses, cars, TV's, worldly magazines, profusion of foods, liquors, cigarettes, dope, cosmetics, glamorous and vulgar styles (but scarcity of heart and conscience for Christ), modern conveniences, travel and no end of worldly attractions to distract the mind. Along with this are institutions, degenerating schools and a host of diabolical religions. Such is the current of this wicked and adulterous generation. Witness the drift to dissolute hippy-ism. And many Christians are being drawn into this current of the world, instead of living in the enjoyment of our heavenly calling and hope. Should not this humble us?
"All seek their own, not the things of Jesus Christ" (Phil. 2:2121For all seek their own, not the things which are Jesus Christ's. (Philippians 2:21)), forgetting that "ye are not your own, for ye are bought with a price" (1 Cor. 6:19,2019What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? 20For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's. (1 Corinthians 6:19‑20)). "Ye are not of the world," "are not of the world," "are not of the world, even as I am not of the world" (John 15:19; 17:14, 1619If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. (John 15:19)
14I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. (John 17:14)
16They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. (John 17:16)). "That they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto Him who died for them" (2 Cor. 5:1515And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again. (2 Corinthians 5:15)). "Who gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us from this present evil world" (Gal. 1:44Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father: (Galatians 1:4)), that we be not conformed to it (Rom. 12:22And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. (Romans 12:2)), nor crave its attractive things. "Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world...for all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world" (1 John 2:15,1615Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. (1 John 2:15‑16)). Satan is "the god of this world" (2 Cor. 4:44In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. (2 Corinthians 4:4)) that crucified God's beloved Son, our blessed Savior. And Satan's great business is to allure souls by every worldly attraction to make them earthly minded and to hinder Christians from being heavenly minded. God wants us to set our affections and mind upon His beloved glorified Son, and He urges us to give Him our whole heart ( Prov. 23:2626My son, give me thine heart, and let thine eyes observe my ways. (Proverbs 23:26)). "For where your treasure is there will your heart be also" ( Luke 12:3434For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. (Luke 12:34)).
Jesus! Thou art enough
The mind and heart to fill.
O fix our earnest gaze
So wholly, Lord, on Thee,
That with Thy beauty occupied
We elsewhere none may see.
The epistle to the saints at Corinth has a special voice for us and our present low, worldly state. Although given all the grace of God in Jesus Christ with ample gift, knowledge and hope of the Lord's coming, the apostle saw the need of beseeching them that there be no divisions among them. And why does he tell them that "there must also be sects among you" (1 Cor. 11:1919For there must be also heresies among you, that they which are approved may be made manifest among you. (1 Corinthians 11:19))? Their state plainly merited God's disapproval and the need of sloughing off the careless and unfaithful element. They were carnal, walking as men, reigning as kings, and not discerning the body of their Lord in the loaf. The loaf speaks of His holy body in which He bore that dreadful judgment for sin. If our lives become forgetful of this and we do not judge ourselves, He is faithful and permits Satan to sift and divide us.
Our Example and Our Need
"He humbled Himself and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted Him" (Phil. 2:99Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: (Philippians 2:9)) and now He is "crowned with glory and honor" (Heb. 2:77Thou madest him a little lower than the angels; thou crownedst him with glory and honor, and didst set him over the works of thy hands: (Hebrews 2:7)). "He that humbleth himself shall be exalted" (Matt. 23:1212And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted. (Matthew 23:12); Luke 14:11; 18:1411For whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted. (Luke 14:11)
14I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted. (Luke 18:14)). "If My people, which are called by My name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven" (2 Chron. 7:1414If my people, which are called by my name, shall 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. (2 Chronicles 7:14)). Josiah having done this very thing, God spoke consolingly to him, "Because thine heart was tender, and thou didst humble thyself before God, when thou heardest His words against this place, and against the inhabitants thereof, and humblest thyself before Me, and didst rend thy clothes, and weep before Me; I have even heard thee" (2 Chron. 34:2727Because thine heart was tender, and thou didst humble thyself before God, when thou heardest his words against this place, and against the inhabitants thereof, and humbledst thyself before me, and didst rend thy clothes, and weep before me; I have even heard thee also, saith the Lord. (2 Chronicles 34:27)). "'To this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at My word" (Isa. 66:22For all those things hath mine hand made, and all those things have been, saith the Lord: but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word. (Isaiah 66:2)). God "encourages those that are brought low" (2 Cor. 7:66Nevertheless God, that comforteth those that are cast down, comforted us by the coming of Titus; (2 Corinthians 7:6) N.T.) Daniel confessed "by prayer and supplications with fasting, sackcloth and ashes" (Dan. 9:33And I set my face unto the Lord God, to seek by prayer and supplications, with fasting, and sackcloth, and ashes: (Daniel 9:3)). "Ezra confessed, weeping and casting himself down" (Ezra 10:11Now when Ezra had prayed, and when he had confessed, weeping and casting himself down before the house of God, there assembled unto him out of Israel a very great congregation of men and women and children: for the people wept very sore. (Ezra 10:1)).
Nehemiah took sides with God, confessing "Thou art just in all that is brought upon us; for Thou hast done right, but we have done wickedly" (Neh. 9:3333Howbeit thou art just in all that is brought upon us; for thou hast done right, but we have done wickedly: (Nehemiah 9:33)).
The Fruitful Valley
If this "valley of the shadow of death" was the scene of our Lord's deep sorrows and humiliation, it was also the place of His great victory over death, sin, the world and Satan. So was it in that notable day "in the valley of Ajalon," "there was no day like that," when Joshua vanquished the host of darkness by enlisting the light and power of heaven (Josh. 10). Likewise David "in the valley of Elah" slew the giant Goliath (1 Sam. 17). Again, when Moab rebelled against Israel, Jehoshaphat became involved with others in the warfare. A difficulty arose, for "there was no water for the host." Elisha was summoned, who said, "Thus saith the Lord, Make this valley full of ditches" (2 Kings 3:1616And he said, Thus saith the Lord, Make this valley full of ditches. (2 Kings 3:16)). Their obedience, bending down low to dig those ditches, brought an abundance of refreshing water springing up. And not only so, but when the sun arose upon the water in the valley their enemies concluded that it was the blood of their self-slaughtered opponents, and were drawn into their death-trap.
There is a saying that the Christian's victories are fought on his knees.
"Passing through the valley of Baca (weeping), they make it a well-spring: yea, the early rain covereth it with blessings" (Psa. 84:66Who passing through the valley of Baca make it a well; the rain also filleth the pools. (Psalm 84:6) N.T.)
"They came as far as the valley of Eshcol, and cut down thence a branch with one bunch of grapes, and they bore it between two upon a pole; and they brought of the pomegranates, and of the figs... and showed them the fruit" (Num. 13:23,2623And they came unto the brook of Eshcol, and cut down from thence a branch with one cluster of grapes, and they bare it between two upon a staff; and they brought of the pomegranates, and of the figs. (Numbers 13:23)
26And they went and came to Moses, and to Aaron, and to all the congregation of the children of Israel, unto the wilderness of Paran, to Kadesh; and brought back word unto them, and unto all the congregation, and showed them the fruit of the land. (Numbers 13:26) N.T.) The valley is the place to produce fruit.
What victories, blessings, fruit and hope are found in the valley!
Faithful and courageous Jeremiah wept much over the hopeless state of God's most privileged people Judah. His lamentations are not popular, nevertheless they show the upright soul the one way of hope. He said, "My strength and my hope is perished...my misery, the wormwood and the gall. My soul hath them still in remembrance, and is humbled in me.—This I recall to heart, therefore have I hope... The Lord is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in Him...in the dust, if so be there may be hope" (Lam. 3:18-2918And I said, My strength and my hope is perished from the Lord: 19Remembering mine affliction and my misery, the wormwood and the gall. 20My soul hath them still in remembrance, and is humbled in me. 21This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope. 22It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. 23They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness. 24The Lord is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him. 25The Lord is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him. 26It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the Lord. 27It is good for a man that he bear the yoke in his youth. 28He sitteth alone and keepeth silence, because he hath borne it upon him. 29He putteth his mouth in the dust; if so be there may be hope. (Lamentations 3:18‑29)). "In the dust" (Jer. 25:3434Howl, ye shepherds, and cry; and wallow yourselves in the ashes, ye principal of the flock: for the days of your slaughter and of your dispersions are accomplished; and ye shall fall like a pleasant vessel. (Jeremiah 25:34) N.T.) "In the dust" (Mic. 1:1010Declare ye it not at Gath, weep ye not at all: in the house of Aphrah roll thyself in the dust. (Micah 1:10)). Israel must yet be brought low before their day of blessing.
Naomi is another type as she said, "The Lord hath brought me low" (Ruth 1:2121I went out full, and the Lord hath brought me home again empty: why then call ye me Naomi, seeing the Lord hath testified against me, and the Almighty hath afflicted me? (Ruth 1:21) N.T) But she was assured that her offspring "shall be unto thee a restorer of thy life, and a nourishes of thine old age" (Ruth 4:1515And he shall be unto thee a restorer of thy life, and a nourisher of thine old age: for thy daughter in law, which loveth thee, which is better to thee than seven sons, hath born him. (Ruth 4:15)). His name, Obed (meaning servant), came into fame in the genealogy of the progenitors of David's Lord and Son, the Redeemer, God's perfect Servant and the Hope of Israel.
GEN 42:2121And they said one to another, We are verily guilty concerning our brother, in that we saw the anguish of his soul, when he besought us, and we would not hear; therefore is this distress come upon us. (Genesis 42:21)At the threshold of Judah's future blessings will there be great and bitter mourning in Jerusalem and the land shall mourn; every family will be bowed in deep humiliation before God when "they shall look upon Me whom they have pierced and shall mourn" (
Zech. 12:10-1410And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn. 11In that day shall there be a great mourning in Jerusalem, as the mourning of Hadadrimmon in the valley of Megiddon. 12And the land shall mourn, every family apart; the family of the house of David apart, and their wives apart; the family of the house of Nathan apart, and their wives apart; 13The family of the house of Levi apart, and their wives apart; the family of Shimei apart, and their wives apart; 14All the families that remain, every family apart, and their wives apart. (Zechariah 12:10‑14)), and confess that "He was wounded for our transgressions" (
Isa. 53:55But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. (Isaiah 53:5)).
So it becomes us in the little while that remains in these Laodicean days to seek grace from above to overcome our heartless and conscienceless tendency. The Lord alone can wean and warm and restore us wholeheartedly to Himself, that we may "flee youthful lusts and follow righteousness, faith, love and peace" in happy fellowship "with those that call upon Him with a pure heart" (2 Tim. 2:2222Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart. (2 Timothy 2:22))
We need to "be clothed with humility: for God...giveth grace to the humble." May we then humble ourselves under His mighty hand, that He may in due time exalt us with Himself.
A. C. B.
Low at Thy feet, Lord Jesus,
This is the place for me.
Here have I learned deep lessons,
Truth that has set me free.
Naught but Thy love, Lord Jesus,
Conquered this stubborn will;
But for Thy love constraining
I’m apt to be stubborn still.
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