Humility is Key

Psalm 119:9-16 Bet ב 9 Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word.10 With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments.11 Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.12 Blessed art thou, O Lord: teach me thy statutes.13 With my lips have I declared all the judgments of thy mouth.14 I have rejoiced in the way of thy testimonies, as much as in all riches.15 I will meditate in thy precepts, and have respect unto thy ways.16 I will delight myself in thy statutes: I will not forget thy word.

In our psalm for this week, we can observe the key component to inviting God into our lives, HUMILITY. Proverbs 3:34 states, “Surely he scorneth the scorners: but he giveth grace unto the lowly.” This is the same verse references by James in 4:6, “But He giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resists the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.” There comes a point in our lives where we realise, even if we already believe in God, that we cannot do “it” without Him.

“What is it that we can’t do without Him?” you might ask. Plainly, we cannot be truly good. We might meet worldly standards of “good”, but we cannot be acceptable to Him. We are not even capable of seeing, let alone conquering, the evil side of our nature, we cannot end inadvertent or unrecognised destructive proclivities, we cannot even love in purity without Him. This Psalm acknowledges this truth from a deeply personal perspective. Acknowledging and accepting the fact that in youth we stray, that we are prone to wander even in our best efforts, and that avoiding sin is only possible with the power of God within us and moving through us. We have to surrender to Him, and His ways if we want to be transformed by Him. The only way God moves in us and through us is if we yield to Him. Yeilding to Him takes humility, recognizing within ourselves that we do not want to do things our way, but God’s way, because His ways lead to life and life in abundance. Our ways on the other hand lead to chaos and destruction.

For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. (Isaiah 55:8-8)

The Hebrew letter Bet, has a complex symbology, but to simplify it, the letter represents a house or vessel. This reminds us of three things: that God wishes to dwell in His people, and in His creation; that we are vessels that are available to be filled by Him; and that we are only safe when we are within His house. If we are in Him, and He is in us, this is where we can eschew evil tendencies, or our own weaknesses that cause pain hurt and destruction in the people we love, and to the world around us. It is only when we acknowledge this truth that God can begin to dwell in us, and keep us in Him.

The psalmist acknowledges that only God can keep them from wandering from obedience (119:10). Further they acknowledge that only God can teach them (119:12). This is noted after the psalmist explains that they have sought God with their whole heart, and that they have hid His word in their heart. They know God, they seek Him diligently, they know His word (both personal and written); and yet, they still cannot do what they know to be His ways without God’s intervention. We may know what God says, but we cannot truly understand without His guidance teaching us the interpretation and meaning. We also cannot accomplish it without His strength.

Only the Holy Spirit can teach us the true depth, interpretation and meaning of who He is and what He asks of us, removed from the corrupting influence of pride and vanity. God transfers the head knowledge into the heart knowledge, and from the heart knowledge the actions arise.

“A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil; for of the abundance of his heart his mouth speaketh.” Luke 6:45

Along side the act of humility we see a list of actions the psalmist uses to proclaim their loyalty and dedication to God. We can interpret this as an exchange between the psalmist and God, I will do these things but please, would teach me how to do this life right, how to follow you? The psalmist proclaims, I will “declare”, I will “rejoice”, I will “meditate”, I will “have respect”, I will “delight” myself, and I will “not forget.” What a powerful list! This is how we maintain availability of our vessel for the Lord. This is how we resist the devil, this is how we make a way for God to teach us and keep us.

The Lord bless thee, and keep thee: The Lord make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee: The Lord lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace. (Numbers 6:24-26)

This week take time to survey this list. Ask yourself, am I declaring God’s goodness and justness? Am I rejoicing in His testimony in my life? Is He more valuable to me than the riches of this world? Do I meditate on the directions He gives me within His word? Do I meditate on His intimate and personal instructions to me? Do I hold God’s ways in high regard? Do I delight in the order and instructions He imparts to me? Am I remembering His words and promises and the fulfilment of all that He has done in my life?

When we focus the mind on these things, then we make a way for Him to lead the way. Dear reader, I promise, on His path goodness will drip from your life like honey.