I’m So Proud of My Humility (2 Samuel 7:18)

 I’m So Proud of My Humility

Humility is a strange thing. Just about the time you mention it, it disappears. Just about the time you notice it, it hides. Just about the moment you take pride in it, well, it no longer exists.

David the King of Israel, at the end of his life, after all His accomplishments, still operated from a root of humility. And I think that is the difference: the root. If you are proud in your root, you can pretend to be humble, but really, you’re not. And those who are discerning will know it before you do.

David wants to do one more big, noble thing in his life. He wants to build a temple for the Lord. He already has defeated his enemies. He has secured the kingdom. But the worship of God still takes place in a makeshift dwelling. David says, “I’ll build a temple.” But God said, “no.” In place of permission, God makes a promise, called the Davidic Covenant, in which God promises that David’s throne will endure. A root of pride would have said, perhaps secretly, “I deserve it.” But here is what David said:

“Who am I, O Lord GOD, and what is my house, that you have brought me thus far?” (2 Samuel 7:18 ESV)

Are we more surprised when God sends favor into our lives, or affliction? The humble person would be more surprised at the favor. Are you more surprised when God expands your borders, or increases your income? Or when He shrinks your holdings and allows you to experience a pay cut? The humble person would be more surprised at the former; not the latter. 

The humble person has a God-sized appreciation of grace. And the humble person realizes that he/she stands in need of that grace on a daily basis. The proud person proudly stands on their own two feet, and says, “Look what I have done?” For the proud, it’s a meritocracy, and those who don’t have what they have clearly don’t deserve it.

The humble person knows what he deserves. He is more aware of his sins than he is aware of his neighbor’s sin, or the sins of his in-laws, or the sins of the president. He knows the strength of his weakness, and the weakness of his strength. He knows the limits of his faithfulness, and how often his good intentions die on the vine. He knows what he deserves, and he is eternally thankful that God does not give him what he deserves. Instead, God gave Jesus.

Where do you get this root of humility? It’s comes through conversion, by regeneration. That is, it comes as God works in your life, and convinces you that your world really revolves around Him.