Posted by
R.P. Woitowitz Sr. on Sunday, July 01, 2007 9:52:22 AM
Humble Yourself Before Him
By R.P. Woitowitz Sr.
(Part six of expanded series)
1 Peter 5:6
“Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time”
Before we start I would like to relate to you an old TV commercial. It was by a company named Hebrew National. They produced frankfurters and for those of you that remember at the end of each and every commercial the narrator would always say;
“we answer to a higher authority”
Keep this in mind as you read further on in this essay.
In Wikipedia we find an interesting set of paragraphs that just happen to refer today’s topic. It is as follows;
Humility comprises the following behaviors and attitudes:
- submission to God and legitimate authority;
- recognition of the virtues and talents that others possess, particularly those which surpass one's own, and giving due honor and, when required, obeisance;
- recognition of the limits of one's talents, ability, or authority; and, not reaching for that which is beyond one's grasp.
I find it particularly interesting that the first defining point is the “submission to God AND legitimate authority”
In Stong’s Concordance we find both the Greek (tapeinoo) word and the Hebrew (shuwach) word for translated thusly;
As to sink or depress (literally) bow down, incline (one’s self)
When we humble ourselves befor Him we are showing not only our willingness to submit to God’s authority, but we are also committing ourselves to the following of His ways. This includes, but is not limited to, His commandments, His laws, His wisdom and His desire for us to be as He is.
In Matthew 8:9 we read of the Roman centurian who sought the aid of Jesus for one of his own. He knew of what authority meant to him for he himself was one that commanded others. Those he commanded likewise recognised autthority. So it is not so much of a strecth of imagination that he likewise could be able to submit himself to the authority of those that were above him. He knew authority when he saw it and as such KNEW that Jesus had the authority to do what he asked of Him. So he did indeed humble himself by saying;
“Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldst come under my roof: but speak the word only, and my servant will be healed”
The centurion debased himself speaking in terms that he himself knew all to well that being that Jesus was INDEED in full command of the situation and that all with the centurion’s power could not and would not heal his servant.
And so it should likewise be with us.
We have the blessing that God gave us of free will. Let us seek to use it wisely and submit ourselves to His ways. Humble thyself before Him and you will find that He will guide you firmly and wisely. Plant and ground yourself on the rock of His word in this submission to Him and you can never go wrong. Let us always seek to answer to a higher authority.
Related Study Scripture
James 4:10
Matthew 18:4
2Chronicles 7:14
Ephesians 3:17