Bible Study About Humility: Walking Humbly with God

Walking Humbly with God: The Power of a Lowly Heart

Brethren, hear this. God looks to the one who is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at His word (Isaiah 66:2).

• Pride ruins. Humility restores.
• Pride resists God. Humility attracts grace (James 4:6).
• Pride grasps at God’s throne. Humility kneels before it (Genesis 3:5; Psalm 95:6).
• Pride seeks the highest seat. Humility takes the lowest and is called higher (Luke 14:7-11).
• Pride is noise. Humility is worship.

Friends, the Lord Jesus made Himself of no reputation, took the form of a servant, and humbled Himself unto death, wherefore God also hath highly exalted Him (Philippians 2:5-11).

This is our path. Go low with Christ and God will lift you in due time (1 Peter 5:6). Walk humbly with thy God and watch Him heal, guide, revive, and crown you with honor at the last (Micah 6:8; Isaiah 57:15; Proverbs 15:33; Luke 14:14). Praise be to God.

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What Humility Is and Why It Matters

Humility is truth before God. In Scripture, the Hebrew sense paints humility as lowly, afflicted, brought down, even bowing in reverence.

The Greek sense speaks of lowliness of mind. The result is simple. God is big. We are not. God’s will rules. Ours yields (Romans 12:16; Philippians 2:3; Matthew 11:29).

Question for the heart: Do I want my own way, or do I want God’s way?

The Word is clear.

• “Better it is to be of an humble spirit with the lowly, than to divide the spoil with the proud.” (Proverbs 16:19)
• “Be not wise in your own conceits.” Learn to condescend to men of low estate (Romans 12:16).
• “Blessed are the poor in spirit.” The kingdom opens to beggars who know their need (Matthew 5:3).
• “God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble. Submit yourselves therefore to God.” (James 4:6-7)

Praise the Lord. He draws near to the broken heart and contrite spirit (Psalm 34:18). He guides the meek and teaches His way to those who bow to His Word (Psalm 25:9). With the lowly is wisdom (Proverbs 11:2).

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Christ, Our Pattern and Power

Friends, look to Jesus. He was equal with God, yet made Himself of no reputation, took the form of a servant, humbled Himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted Him and gave Him the name above every name (Philippians 2:5-11). He could have called twelve legions of angels yet chose the cup the Father gave Him (Matthew 26:53). He said, “I am meek and lowly in heart.” Learn of Him and ye shall find rest unto your souls (Matthew 11:29).

This is the law of the Kingdom.
“Whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased. He that shall humble himself shall be exalted.” (Matthew 23:12; Luke 14:11)

Thank You Lord for the cross. Thank You Lord for the empty tomb. Thank You Lord for the narrow road of humility that leads to glory.

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Living Portraits: When Humility Walks

Joseph: Once proud in youthful dreams, then broken in a pit, a prison, a place of waiting. When Pharaoh asked for answers, Joseph said, “It is not in me: God shall give Pharaoh an answer of peace.” (Genesis 41:16). That is humility learned in fire. God lifted him to save many lives (Genesis 37-50). Praise be to God.

Moses: Scripture says he was very meek, above all the men (Numbers 12:3). He left palace privilege, chose suffering with God’s people, and interceded for rebels. He shows us leadership that kneels, listens, obeys, waits (Hebrews 11:24-25).

David: He fell hard, yet he fell on God. “I have sinned against the LORD.” He cried for a broken and contrite heart that God would not despise (2 Samuel 12:13; Psalm 51). When God promised him a house, he prayed, “Who am I, O Lord GOD?” (2 Samuel 7:18). Friends, repentance is humility in motion.

Mary: “Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word.” Then she sang, “He hath regarded the low estate of His handmaiden… He hath put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of low degree.” (Luke 1:38, 46-48, 52). That is kingdom logic.

The Tax Collector: Head down, chest smitten, “God be merciful to me a sinner.” He went home justified. The Pharisee did not. “Every one that exalteth himself shall be abased, and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.” (Luke 18:9-14)

John the Baptist: “He must increase, but I must decrease.” (John 3:30)

Paul: “Least of the apostles.” “Chief of sinners.” He urges the church to walk with all lowliness and meekness, to put on… humbleness of mind, to think soberly in service and love (1 Corinthians 15:9; 1 Timothy 1:15; Ephesians 4:2; Colossians 3:12; Romans 12:3).

The Early Church: They had all things common. They served the needy with open hands and one heart (Acts 2:44-45; 4:32-35).

Manasseh: When a king who had been horribly proud humbled himself greatly, God heard and restored him (2 Chronicles 33:12-13). Mercy meets the low place.

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Symbols that Teach the Soul

Bowing and Kneeling: “O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the LORD our maker.” Posture preaches. Knees help hearts remember who is Lord (Psalm 95:6).

Sackcloth and Ashes: Nineveh believed and put on sackcloth, from king to commoner. Ahab humbled himself and God noticed. Fasting, dust, tears. God saw and had regard (Jonah 3:5-6; 1 Kings 21:27-29).

The Lowest Seat: Choose it. Let another say, “Friend, go up higher.” For “he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.” (Luke 14:7-11)

A Basin and a Towel: The Master rose from supper and washed feet. Then He said, “I have given you an example.” Greatness serves (John 13:4-5, 15; Matthew 23:11).

A Little Child: Humble yourself as this little child. Learn again to receive, trust, and obey without pretense (Matthew 18:2-4).

Clothed With Humility: Tie on the servant’s apron. Be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility. God gives grace to such garments (1 Peter 5:5).

A King on a Donkey: Rejoice. Thy King cometh… lowly, and riding upon an ass. Jesus fulfilled it in Jerusalem. Heaven’s King chose a beast of peace, not a war horse (Zechariah 9:9; Matthew 21:5-7).

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The Golden Thread From Genesis to Christ

In the beginning, pride whispered, “Ye shall be as gods.” Man grasped. Man fell (Genesis 3:5). The way back was humility. Men called on the name of the LORD (Genesis 4:26). Noah walked with God.

In the wilderness, God humbled Israel to teach them man doth not live by bread only but by every word from His mouth (Deuteronomy 8:2-3). When they humbled themselves and prayed, He raised up deliverers. When they grew proud, He brought them low. “What doth the LORD require… but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?” (Micah 6:8)

The prophets thundered. “Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom… but let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth Me.” (Jeremiah 9:23-24) The Suffering Servant was despised and rejected, oppressed and afflicted, yet opened not His mouth (Isaiah 53:3, 7). Hannah sang, “The LORD maketh poor, and maketh rich. He bringeth low, and lifteth up.” (1 Samuel 2:7) Daniel humbled himself with prayer and fasting. God unveiled His plan (Daniel 9). When God’s people humble themselves and pray, He forgives and heals their land (2 Chronicles 7:14).

Christ fulfilled every shadow. He lived low. He died lower. God lifted Him highest. The pattern stands for every saint. Before honor is humility (Proverbs 15:33). By humility and the fear of the LORD are riches, and honor, and life (Proverbs 22:4). Praise the Lord.

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Promised Blessings For The Lowly

Grace and Nearness: God giveth grace unto the humble and revives the contrite (James 4:6; Isaiah 57:15). He forgetteth not the cry of the humble (Psalm 9:12).

Guidance and Wisdom: The meek will He guide and teach. With the lowly is wisdom (Psalm 25:9; Proverbs 11:2).

Lifting and Honor: Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He shall lift you up (James 4:10). Do your alms in secret and thy Father… shall reward thee openly (Matthew 6:4). The resurrection of the just will vindicate hidden service (Luke 14:14).

Protection and Deliverance: Though the LORD be high, yet hath He respect unto the lowly (Psalm 138:6). He answered Hezekiah’s prayer against Assyria and delivered the city (2 Kings 19:14-37). He led Jehoshaphat who confessed, “We have no might.” God set ambushes for the enemy (2 Chronicles 20). Submit to God. Resist the devil. He will flee (James 4:7).

Peace and Rest: Cast all your care upon Him. He careth for you (1 Peter 5:6-7). Pray and give thanks, and the peace of God will guard your heart and mind (Philippians 4:6-7). Learn of Jesus who is lowly in heart, and find rest (Matthew 11:29).

Joy and Kingdom Richness: The meek shall increase their joy in the LORD (Isaiah 29:19). The humble shall hear… and be glad (Psalm 34:2). The kingdom of God is righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost (Romans 14:17). Looking unto Jesus, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross. Follow Him there and joy will meet you on the other side (Hebrews 12:2).

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When Pride Pretends To Be Faith

Laodicea said, “I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing.” Heaven answered, “Thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked.” Christ counsels us to buy true riches from Him and open the door to His fellowship (Revelation 3:17). Friends, beware spiritual swagger. Better to be poor in spirit and rich toward God (Matthew 5:3).

Diotrephes loved the preeminence. The Spirit kept his name as a warning. Let our hearts answer instead with John the Baptist. “He must increase, but I must decrease.” (3 John, implied; John 3:30)

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Practices That Train A Lowly Heart

Kneel often. Let body teach soul. Worship and bow down (Psalm 95:6).
Fast sometimes. Quiet the flesh. Remember Nineveh. Remember Ahab. God sees humble cloth and hears humble cries (Jonah 3:5-6; 1 Kings 21:27-29).
Choose the low seat. Let God move you up if He wills (Luke 14:7-11).
Wash feet. Serve quietly. Do the hidden task. Happy are ye if ye do (John 13:15, 17).
Clothe humility daily. Tie on the servant’s apron in your mind before you step into your day (1 Peter 5:5).
Give thanks. Thanksgiving is humility that sings.
Confess quickly. Like David, run to mercy, not excuses (Psalm 51; 2 Samuel 12:13).
Pray the brave prayer. “Search me, O God… lead me.” (Psalm 139:23-24)

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Decision Time: The Low Road That Leads To Glory

Friends, hear the invitation. Lose your life for Christ and you will find it (Matthew 16:25). Walk humbly with thy God and He will lift you up in His time (Micah 6:8; James 4:10). Cast your care upon Him and sleep in His peace tonight (1 Peter 5:6-7; Philippians 4:6-7). Pride will not carry you. Humility will. Praise the Lord. Thank You Lord. Praise be to God.

And remember the ending. In heaven, crowned saints cast their crowns before the Throne. All glory returns to the Giver (Revelation 4:10). That is our forever posture. That is our forever joy.

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A Prayer For The Lowly Way

Lord Jesus, meek and lowly in heart, teach us Your way. We renounce pride. We choose the lowest seat. We tie on the servant’s apron. We bow our knee and our will. Give grace to our humble cry. Guide the meek. Lift the contrite. Revive the lowly. Increase our joy in the Lord. Make us a people who say with John, “He must increase, but I must decrease.” Lead us to the cross and through the cross to the crown. In Your Name.