Humility Before God

Jim:

Each of the readings today have something to say about humility before God, or about God choosing weakness over power.

1 Kings 21:17-29
After Elijah prophesied against King Ahab for his iniquities, the king went into mourning, fasting and wearing sackcloth. God took note of Ahab’s actions and said to Elijah, “Have you seen how Ahab has humbled himself before me? Because he has humbled himself before me, I will not bring the disaster in his days; but in his son’s days I will bring the disaster on his house” (verse 29). Ahab’s repentance caught the attention of God who relented from the punishment God had announced.

1 Corinthians 1:20-31
In verses 27-29 Paul says, “But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, things that are not, to reduce to nothing things that are, so that no one might boast in the presence of God.” Again, humility and weakness are the attributes and attitudes that God favors among God’s people. God does not value the things that we believe are wise, strong, or significant. God seeks for trust, contrition, and servanthood. As Psalm 147:10-11 says,

(God’s) delight is not in the strength of the horse,
nor his pleasure in the speed of a runner;
but the Lord takes pleasure in those who fear him,
in those who hope in his steadfast love.

What makes sense to us, what makes us feel safe and secure may be completely opposite to what God seeks from our lives.

Matthew 4:12-17
Matthew quotes Isaiah 9:1-2 in attesting to the actions of Jesus in the early part of his ministry. “(T)he people who sat in darkness have seen a great light, and for those who sat in the region and shadow of death light has dawned.” The Messiah was not promised to those with wealth, power, or standing in their community. The Messiah came for those who were oppressed, who were overwhelmed, who sought help to escape from their sins, who knew they were in need. The humble, the downcast, these are the people whom God favors with the Son, not the proud and haughty. As the prophet Habakkuk wrote, “Look at the proud! There spirit is not right in them, but the righteous live by their faith” (Habakkuk 2:4). This is our calling, to live not for power or prestige or glory, but to live in humble service, one to another and all to God.