The Good News reads
"Take My yoke and put it on you,
and learn from Me because I am
gentle and humble in spirit, and
you will find rest.
We are talking about
character and nature here. We are
talking about our inner man which
has to reflect that of Jesus Christ,
that's the only way to find rest unto
our souls. Many souls (human
beings) see afflictions, and kinds of
bitterness due to self-exaltation
attitude in them. Jesus, speaking
one day told the scribes and the
pharisees to be humbled. "And
whosoever shall exalt himself shall
be abased; and he that shall humble
himself shall be exalted" (Matthew
23:12). To be humble plays a major
role in our Christian life as long as
Jesus is concerned.
Lets delve into this word
"HUMBLE" by defining its
meaning in Strong's Concordance
which contains every word in the
Bible. Humble comes in different
forms: 1) In number 3665 of the
Hebrew language, it means; To
bend the knee, hence to humilitate
(cause to be ashamed). It is the
same as the Greek word- Tapi-noo,
in number 5013, which means to
humiliate, (in condition or
heart), abase, bring down low
into subjection, under, humble
self, subdue. In Philippians 2:8,
Paul says: "And being found in a
fashion as a man, He 'humbled'
Himself and became obedient unto
death, even the death of the cross.
Let us read the lowly attitude of
Jesus by the Prophet Isaiah before
He was born- He was oppressed,
He was afflicted, yet He opened
not His mouth, He is brought as a
lamb to the slaughter, and as a
sheep before her shearers is dumb,
so He openeth not His mouth"
(Isaiah 53:7).
Why was Jesus finally
exalted by His Father (God)?
Because of His humility or humble
attitude demonstrated when He
was on earth as a man (1Tim 2:5).
Verse 9 Philippians 2 is the
opposite direct of Philippians 2:8.
"Wherefore God also hath highly
exalted Him, and given Him a
name which is above every name"
(Philippians 2:9). How this text
match with Matthew 23:12.
Yes, these are some of the
beneficials as being humble. But
you see, Pharaoh never learned to
be humbled. "And Moses and
Aaron came in unto Pharaoh and
said unto him, thus saith the Lord
God of the Hebrews, how long wilt
thou refuse to humble thyself
before Me? Let my people go, that
they serve Me (Lord)" (Exodus
10:3). Kings and Queens who
couldn't learn to be humbled were
all abase. Consider King
Nebuchadnezzar, Herod and
Queen Vasti, just to mention a few.
What happened to them? They lost
their positions as Kings and
Queens, and this should serve as a
great lesson to who ever is called to
hold position in the Kingdom of
God, must humble himself.
The Prophet Jeremiah said:
"Say unto the King and Queen,
Humble yourselves, sit down, for
your principalities shall come
down, even the crown of your
glory" (Jer 13:18). Read also
Lamentation 5:16. This speaks of
sinful and exalted attitude of
Israelites in the days of the Prophet
Jeremiah. In Revelation 1:6, we are
to become Kings and Priests unto
the Lord and needs to be imparted
with the humble Spirit of Jesus
Christ in us.
King Solomon gave advice
to us. "Do this now my son, and
deliver thyself, when thou art come
into the land of thy friend; go,
humble thyself and make sure with thy friend" (Prov 6:3). Now who is
thy friend? here; "Jesus said, Ye
are My friends, if ye do what I
command you" ( John 15:14).
Some of the commands of
God and Jesus that speak about our
humble attitudes are: 1). By
proving whether we would keep
His commandments or not, and
suffering in diverse ways" (Deut
8:2-3). 2). By praying and seeking
the face of the Lord as we turn
from our wicked ways (2nd
Chronicles 7:14). 3). By allowing
our hearts to be tendered-(2nd
Chronicles 34:27). 4). By allowing
ourselves to be cast down by
fit the God-(Job 22:29).
How these quotations fit the
Hebrew word ram-fas, means to
trample i.e prostrate. That is stretch
out face down on the ground, esp,
to show obedience or respect, very
tied and weak in body or mind.
Look at how Isaiah puts it: "I dwell
in the high and holy place, with
him also that is of a contrite and
humble spirit to revive the spirit of
the humble, and to revive the heart
of the contrite ones" (Isaiah 57:15).
The Good News Bible said: "I am
the High and Holy God who lives
forever, I live in a high and holy
place, but I
also live with people who are
humble and repentant so that I can
restore their confidence and hope."
The Psalmist also assured that, God
never forgets the humble-Ps.9:12,
Ps.10:12,17. And to become one of
the greatest in the Kingdom of God
demands humility, Jesus said
so-(Matt.18:4). James an apostle of
Jesus Christ says: God gives more
grace. Wherefore he saith God
resists the proud, but gives grace
unto the humble-(James 4:6,10).
Therefore brethren, LEARN TO
BE HUMBLE.
James Collins Agyare; Ghana