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Cultivating Humility in the Face of God's Mysterious Ways

Humility, a prominent Christian grace, is a state of mind that is pleasing to God and is characterized by a tranquil soul and patience in trials [1]. It is often understood as a proper regard for God that counteracts human delusions of self-sufficiency [8]. The Bible frequently links humility with wisdom and honor, stating that "Before honor is humility" (Proverbs 15:33) [2, 4].

The concept of humility is deeply rooted in biblical teaching. The Psalms declare that God "will guide the humble in justice" and "teach the humble his way" (Psalm 25:9) [3]. God regards the humble, hears their prayers, and enjoys their presence [4]. He delivers them, lifts them up, and exalts them [4]. The greatest promises are made to the humble, as seen in passages like Psalm 147:6 and Isaiah 57:15 [1].

Jesus Christ serves as the ultimate example of humility [1, 4]. His humility was evident in his willingness to take on human nature (Philippians 2:7; Hebrews 2:16), his birth (Luke 2:4-7), his subjection to his parents (Luke 2:51), and his choice of a humble station in life (Matthew 13:55) [5]. He embraced poverty (Luke 9:58), partook in human infirmities (Hebrews 4:15), submitted to ordinances (Matthew 3:13-15), and became a servant (Philippians 2:7) [5]. His humility was further demonstrated by associating with the despised, refusing honors, and washing his disciples' feet (John 13:5) [5]. The Apostle Paul exhorts believers to have the same mindset as Christ, who, "though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross" (Philippians 2:6-8) [1].

Cultivating humility involves recognizing one's own unworthiness and dependence on God's grace [12]. It is a call to "Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time" (1 Peter 5:6) [6]. This humbling before God involves quietly submitting to His will, patiently enduring afflictions without murmuring, and acknowledging one's sinfulness [9]. It means standing in awe of God's majesty and recognizing His omnipotence, which cannot be opposed [9].

Humility is particularly fitting when considering humanity's state before God's kindness and love intervened [11]. It is a response to God's mysterious ways, acknowledging that "It is the glory of God to conceal a thing" (Proverbs 25:2) [13]. While God reveals many things, the "modus" or manner of them often remains hidden, such as the Trinity, the incarnation of Christ, or the specifics of predestination [13]. The "secret of the Lord" is with those who fear Him, meaning that some of His purposes and providences are made known to them [14]. However, even with such revelations, a posture of humility is maintained in the face of God's ultimate inscrutability. Moses' request to see God's glory, and God's partial revelation of Himself, illustrates the limits of human comprehension and the need for humility in approaching the divine [10]. It is a "fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God" (Hebrews 10:31), underscoring the reverence and humility due to Him [7].

Sources

  1. Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Humility — A prominent Christian grace (Rom. 12:3; 15:17, 18; 1 Cor. 3:5-7; 2 Cor. 3:5; Phil. 4:11-13). It is a state of mind well pleasing to God (1 Pet. 3:4); it preserves the soul in tranquillity (Ps. 69:32, 33), and makes us patient under trials (Job 1:22). Christ has set us an example of humility (Phil. 2:6-8). We should be led thereto by a remembrance of our sins (Lam. 3:39), and by the thought that it is the way to honour (Prov. 16:18), and that the greatest promises are made to the humble (Ps. 147:6; Isa. 57:15; 66:2; 1 Pet. 5:5). It is a "great paradox in Ch”
  2. Proverbs “The fear of Yahweh teaches wisdom. Before honor is humility. -- Proverbs 15:33”
  3. Psalms “He will guide the humble in justice. He will teach the humble his way. -- Psalms 25:9”
  4. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Humility — Necessary to the service of God -- Mic 6:8. Christ an example of -- Mt 11:29; Joh 13:14,15; Php 2:5-8. A characteristic of saints -- Ps 34:2. The who have Regarded by God. -- Ps 138:6; Isa 66:2. Heard by God. -- Ps 9:12; Isa 10:17. Enjoy the presence of God. -- Isa 57:15. Delivered by God. -- Job 22:29. Lifted up by God. -- Jas 4:10. Exalted by God. -- Lu 14:11; 18:14. Are greatest in Christ's kingdom. -- Mt 18:4; 20:26-28. Receive more grace. -- Pr 3:34; Jas 4:6. Upheld by honour. -- Pr 18:12; 29:23. Is before honour -- Pr 15:33. Leads to riches, honour, ”
  5. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Humility of Christ, The — Declared by himself -- Mt 11:29. Exhibited in his Taking our nature. -- Php 2:7; Heb 2:16. Birth. -- Lu 2:4-7. Subjection to his parents. -- Lu 2:51. Station in life. -- Mt 13:55; Joh 9:29. Poverty. -- Lu 9:58; 2Co 8:9. Partaking of our infirmities. -- Heb 4:15; 5:7. Submitting to ordinances. -- Mt 3:13-15. Becoming a servant. -- Mt 20:28; Lu 22:27; Php 2:7. Associating with the despised. -- Mt 9:10,11; Lu 15:1,2. Refusing honours. -- Joh 5:41; 6:15. Entry into Jerusalem. -- Zec 9:9; Mt 21:5,7. Washing his disciples' feet. -- Joh 13:5. Obedi”
  6. I Peter “I Peter 5:6 (Geneva1599) — Humble your selues therefore vnder the mightie hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time.”
  7. Hebrews “Hebrews 10:31 (Geneva1599) — It is a fearefull thing to fall into the hands of the liuing God.”
  8. Proverbs (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Proverbs 15:33: 15:33 Fear of the Lord fosters humility because proper regard for God counteracts our delusions of self-sufficiency.”
  9. 1 Peter (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on 1 Peter 5:6: Humble yourselves therefore,.... Or be ye humbled before God, and in his sight; quietly submit to his will; patiently bear every affliction without murmuring, repining, or replying against him; be still under the rod, and despise not the chastening of the Lord; mourn over sin as the cause, acknowledge your vileness and unworthiness, and stand in awe of his majesty, considering yourselves as under the mighty hand of God a phrase expressive of his omnipotence which cannot be stayed, and it would be madness to oppose it; and which is able to cast down the proud, and da”
  10. Exodus (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Exodus 33:18: I beseech thee, show me thy glory--This is one of the most mysterious scenes described in the Bible: he had, for his comfort and encouragement, a splendid and full display of the divine majesty, not in its unveiled effulgence, but as far as the weakness of humanity would admit. The face, hand, back parts, are to be understood figuratively. Next: Exodus Chapter 34”
  11. Titus (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Titus 3:3: 3:3 Humility (3:2) is fitting, considering our state when God’s kindness and love came to us (3:4; see Eph 2:1-4; 5:8; Col 3:7; 1 Pet 4:3).”
  12. James (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on James 4:10: Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord,.... Which is done, when men, before the Lord, and from their hearts, and in the sincerity of their souls, acknowledge their meanness and unworthiness, their vileness, sinfulness, and wretchedness, and implore the grace and mercy of God in Christ, as did Abraham, Jacob, Job, Isaiah, Paul, and the publican; and when they walk humbly with God, acknowledging they can do nothing without him; owning their dependence on his grace, and ascribing all they have, and are, unto it: and he shall lift you up; this is God's usual way to l”
  13. Proverbs (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Proverbs 25:2: It is the glory of God to conceal a thing,.... Secret things belong unto him, and they are kept so by him: many things which he does reveal, yet the "modus" or manner of them remains hidden; as what relates to his own being, and manner of subsisting; the trinity of Persons in the Godhead; the filiation or the Son, and the procession of the Spirit; the incarnation of Christ, and the like: the predestination of men to life and death, though that there is such a thing is certain, yet who they are is not known; the purposes and decrees of God, all that he determines to ”
  14. Psalms (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Psalms 25:14: The secret of the Lord is with them that fear him,.... The secret of his purposes with them; as his purpose according to election; his resolution to redeem his chosen ones by his Son; his design to call them by his grace; his predestination of them to the adoption of children, and eternal life; which are the deep things of God the Spirit of God reveals; and all which are made manifest to them in effectual calling; and the secret of his providences is with them; some are made known to them that fear the Lord before they come to pass; as the destruction of Sodom and Go”
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