Healing Through Humility
Humble yourself and you will find healing and help from Jesus.
“When Solomon finished praying, fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices, and the glory of the LORD filled the temple…they worshiped and gave thanks to the LORD, saying, “He is good; his love endures forever…they had celebrated the dedication of the altar for seven days and the festival for seven days more…he sent the people to their homes, joyful and glad in heart for the good things the LORD had done…When Solomon had finished the temple of the LORD…the LORD appeared to him at night and said: “I have heard your prayer…“When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain…if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land…As for you, if you walk before me faithfully as David your father did, and do all I command…I will establish your royal throne…But if you turn away…and go off to serve other gods and worship them, then I will uproot Israel from my land…and will reject this temple I have consecrated for my Name.” 2 Chronicles 7:1-20
The people of God did not need cable tv back in the day. They could simply go and watch God move. They could witness and all consuming fire consume offerings in front of their eyes. Interestingly, they were not afraid of the fire. The response of the people was humility and worship. What is your response when God does something incredible in your life? Do you move on quickly?
The text says the people celebrated for seven days and then seven days more. When was the last time you worshiped God for 336 straight hours? The text says the people left glad. Truth tells us the more time we spend with God the more gladness we will have in our hearts. How much time are you spending with the Lord?
God appeared face-to-face to Solomon. The all powerful God is also an all personal God. Like a good Father, the Lord gave Solomon great advice. He told him that during the hard times when nothing is going right you get down on his knees and humble his heart. Repentance leads to restoration. Humility leads to healing. How amazing is it that God gave Solomon the answer before the test? God said that going through a dry patch does not need to lead to death. But he also said that you will need to die to yourself before you can find life.
Why is humility so important? What does humility demand of you? How does it change your perspective and challenge your thinking? Humility requires letting go of Lordship of your life. Two rulers cannot sit on the same throne. You have to decide. Either Jesus is Lord or you are. God said to Solomon as king he had to step down in order to rule rightly.
This passage is profound. It has the ability to impact every day of your life. God gave a word that can never be broken. It is a promise, but comes with a conditional clause. If. If my people will then I will. The hard part is we want the cure without giving up control. We want power but let our pride get in the way of pursuing God.
God knew that one day Solomon would turn away from Him and serve foreign gods after falling in love with many women. He warned him of what would happen. One of the most amazing things about the love of God He loves and pursues us with the knowledge of how we will betray Him. Our actions do not change His affection for us but they do impact our inheritance. God will not bless disobedience so He gives us the directions for how to get back to the living water when we find ourselves in the desert of rebellion.
“O God, why have you rejected us forever? Why does your anger smolder against the sheep of your pasture?…God is my King from long ago; he brings salvation on the earth. It was you who split open the sea by your power…It was you who opened up springs and streams; you dried up the ever-flowing rivers. The day is yours, and yours also the night; you established the sun and moon. It was you who set all the boundaries of the earth; you made both summer and winter. Have regard for your covenant, because haunts of violence fill the dark places of the land. Do not let the oppressed retreat in disgrace; may the poor and needy praise your name.” Psalms 74:1-21
One of the beautiful things about the Bible is how it relates to our everyday experiences. These are not ancient words from ancient tax that are irrelevant; they are living words that guide us through life’s ups and downs. This song not written on a sunny day. It was written during a time where the psalmist had no way of knowing if things would work out. All he saw were his losses piling up and his enemy winning every battle. How do you respond when things do not go your way or everything you try seems to fail?
Asaph is the attributes author of this psalm. He made a decision in the middle of the melancholy that makes all the difference. He said God you are still king. So many people quit on their faith when life falls apart. They stop serving or obeying God because of their suffering. They throw in the towel and turn off their trust. This is the worst thing you can do. In the first passage, we heard that during those moments we should humble ourselves and turn to God not run from Him.
Asaph says God you are the One who saves and splits seas. What emerges from this text is a reminder to maintain a focus on the Father even when you feel farther from an answer to your prayers. Where you look determines what you will see. If you stare at a mountain, you will see a mountain. If you stare at the Maker of mountains, you will see Him move them. What have you been focusing on? How could humility help you see God in every circumstance?
“The crucible for silver and the furnace for gold, but the LORD tests the heart. A wicked person listens to deceitful lips; a liar pays attention to a destructive tongue. Whoever would foster love covers over an offense, but whoever repeats the matter separates close friends. Evildoers foster rebellion against God…Starting a quarrel is like breaching a dam; so drop the matter before a dispute breaks out. A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for a time of adversity. Whoever loves a quarrel loves sin; whoever builds a high gate invites destruction. A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones. The one who has knowledge uses words with restraint, and whoever has understanding is even-tempered.” Proverbs 17:3-27
How would other people describe your temperament? Are you even keeled and calm in the storm? When you enter a room, do you bring peace or poison? Solomon said the wise person is even tempered and uses words with restraint. He said fools start quarrels, gossip, listen to lies, and foster rebellion against God.
Have you ever read the comments people make on social media? Have you ever made harsh comments? Would Solomon describe what you have seen or written on social media as wise or foolish? When someone does something offensive is your first response to cover the hurt with the love of Christ or to call someone else and complain about it? Our words can be weapons that harm or ways we bring life. When we hold on to humility with how we talk we help spread healing to others.
The Lord tests our hearts every single day. sometimes the test is very hard. On those days we do well to remember we are part of a community of love. Turn to your brothers or sisters in Christ for strength. A cheerful heart is the best medicine and our most cheerful times are never alone. They are always found when we are with others. Who could you spend time with today to cultivate cheer?
“Remember, LORD, what has happened to us; look, and see our disgrace. Our inheritance has been turned over to strangers, our homes to foreigners. We have become fatherless, our mothers are widows. We must buy the water we drink; our wood can be had only at a price. Our ancestors sinned and are no more, and we bear their punishment. Joy is gone from our hearts; our dancing has turned to mourning. The crown has fallen from our head. Woe to us, for we have sinned! You, LORD, reign forever; your throne endures from generation to generation. Restore us to yourself, LORD, that we may return; renew our days as of old”
Lamentations 5:1-21
In a striking contrast to the celebrations that Solomon and the people experienced at the temple dedication, is seen in the suffering of the people in exile. The people who were made to dwell in the land of milk and honey with hearts devoted to the Lord Almighty were uprooted like God had warned. They had not listened and found themselves lost.
In the last chapter of lamentations, there is a glimmer of hope. While we do not see what happens after this chapter ends we know that God is faithful. We see the people humbling themselves and turning to God. We see them living out the prayer that God had told them would be answered. The same is true for us today. Like this author, we do not know what the future will hold, but we do know that God is faithful. We do know that the seeds of prayer we plant today will harvest righteousness and redemption tomorrow. What seeds will you plant? What prayers will you sow?
“I beg you to listen to me patiently. And now it is because of my hope in what God has promised our ancestors that I am on trial today. I too was convinced that I ought to do all that was possible to oppose the name of Jesus of Nazareth. Many a time I went from one synagogue to another to have them punished…On one of these journeys I was going to Damascus with the authority and commission of the chief priests. About noon, King Agrippa, as I was on the road, I saw a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, blazing around me and my companions. We all fell to the ground, and I heard a voice saying to me in Aramaic, ‘Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me? I asked, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ “ ‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,’ the Lord replied. ‘Now get up and stand on your feet. I have appeared to you to appoint you as a servant and as a witness of what you have seen and will see of me. I will rescue you from your own people and from the Gentiles. I am sending you to them to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me…I preached that they should repent and turn to God and demonstrate their repentance by their deeds…Agrippa said to Paul, “Do you think that in such a short time you can persuade me to be a Christian?” Paul replied, “Short time or long—I pray to God that not only you but all who are listening to me today may become what I am, except for these chains.” Acts 26:1-29
What do you think was going through Paul’s mind when he was on trial before the king? How do you prepare for a moment like that? Paul chose to tell his story and point to Jesus. He knew what it was like to be in the wrong direction. Paul was humbled, but he was not destroyed. He was knocked down but not overtaken. Jesus humbled him heal him. That same hope ran through every passage today.
Humility is not God pushing us down; it is the place where we finally stop trying to save ourselves and realize our salvation is in Him alone. When we humble ourselves, pray, seek His face, and turn toward Him, we discover that His promises are never broken and He wants to bring us back to where we belong.
Maybe today is a great day. Maybe you feel like celebrating an accomplishment like Solomon after the temple was built. Maybe you feel like Asaph caught in the midst of the crossroads. Maybe you feel lost like Lamentations and you have nowhere else to turn. Wherever you are, healing is found when you turn to Jesus.
You do not have to know how the your life’s story ends, you just need to know where new life begins. Everything begins by looking to the author and perfecter of your faith. Jesus came to us before we came crawling to Him. He chose the cross for the joy set before Him. So humble yourself and He will lift you up. Seek His face. Enthrone Him as King. Step off the throne. Let Him lead you. Let him have control of your words and work. Choose to restrain your responses so others could see His righteousness in you.
Paul’s life reminds us that repentance is more than apologizing. He did not endlessly apologize for his past sin. He moved on to the calling set before him to become a light to others. Repentance means turning to God and allowing Him to transform how we live that we might help others fins a reason to celebrate the God whose love endures forever.