How to stay Humble (Part 1)

Humility is one of the most vital attitudes that every christian must have to lead a healthy and fruitful life. Yet, our sinful nature and the world we live in, makes it incredibly difficult to stay humble. Pride is one of the most obnoxious things to God, and the Bible teaches that God resists the proud while he gives grace to the humble (Proverbs 3:34). Elsewhere in scripture we see that God knows the proud from afar (Psalms 138:6). In the light of these verses, every Christian ought to find ways to stay humble at all times. There might be times when everyone claps for you and you feel like you have achieved something great that sets you apart from the rest. There might be other times when you feel lower and inferior to everyone else due to some failure or lack in your life, even then you must remain humble before the Lord and before men.

Now, many people confuse humility with timidity, lack of confidence, shyness and even fear. But, this is wrong in the light of scripture. Consider what Paul writes to a young Timothy in 2 Tim 1:7.

"For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline."  - 2 Tim 1:7

The Spirit of God that is in every believer gives him power, love and discipline and not fear or timidity. Therefore, to confuse timidity with humility is a gross error. Well then what is humility?

Humility is knowing who you are in the light of scripture and reflecting all glory unto God. The Humble man is a realistic man, he knows his abilities, he knows his past and no amount of boasting or flattering speech will get to him. His feet are on the ground and his head is not in the clouds. In the next post, we will learn how we can go about being humble, through all circumstances of life.

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The Light of New Jerusalem

The following is adapted from the book  Apocalypse: Lectures on the book of Revelation by J.A Seiss.

That shining is not from any material combustion, - not from any consumption of fuel that needs to be replaced as one supply burns out; for it is the uncreated light of Him who is light, dispensed by and through the Lamb as the everlasting lamp, to the home, and hearts, and understandings, of His glorified saints. When Paul and Silas lay wounded and bound in the inner dungeon of the prison of Philippi, they still had the sacred light which enabled them to beguile the nightwatches with happy songs. When Paul was on his way to Damascus, a light brighter than the sun at noon shone round about him, irradiating his whole being with new sights and understanding, and making his soul and body ever afterward light in the Lord. When Moses came down from the mount of his communion with God, his face was so luminous that his brethren could not endure to look upon it. He was in such close fellowship with light that he became informed with light, and came to the camp as a very lamp of God, glowing with the glory of God.

        On the Mount of Transfiguration, that same light streamed forth from all the body and raiment of the blessed Jesus. And with reference to the very time when this city comes into being and place, Isaiah says, "The moon shall be ashamed and the sun confounded," - ashamed because of the out beaming glory which then shall appear in the New Jerusalem, leaving no more need for them to shine in it, since the glory of God lights it, and the Lamb is the light thereof.

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Paul Washer - The Gospel: The most terrifying truth of Scripture

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The LORD is in His Holy Temple (Psalm 11)

Today, we are going to consider another psalm written by David. This short psalm of seven verses, is David's reply to a confused saint of his day who doubted the survival of the righteous. Then, as it is today many had reasoned that since most of society was going astray from God and true religion, the righteous would soon have to follow suit to avoid becoming completely irrelevant in society. David confronts this argument with a succinct reminder of who God is and the extent of his power and influence.

Verses 1-3
In the LORD I take refuge, how can you say to my soul, "Flee like a bird to your mountain, for behold, the wicked bend the bow; they have fitted their arrow to the string to shoot in the dark at the upright in heart; if the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do?"

In these two opening verses, we have a question and answer presented but not in that order. The question is, what can the righteous do when all the foundations, that is things taken for granted or existing from ages before start crumbling around them. These foundations may be customs that are rooted in scripture. For instance, the institution of marriage is from the Bible and can be considered as the foundation of society. Yet, today we are witnessing a heavy attack on marriage as described and ordained in the bible. This can be seen as a crumbling or destruction of foundations.

The answer David provides for the question is however simple -- Trust in God and find refuge in Him. We can be sure that in spite of all the conspiracies of man to overthrow God and the Bible, in the end His words shall never pass away even when the earth and the heavens pass away.  We can also be sure that even if all the evil forces of this world join forces to persecute Christians, there will be a remnant that will be saved and that remnant will be made up of those who trusted in God for salvation even in difficult times.

Verse 4
The LORD is in His holy temple; the LORD's throne is in heaven; his eyes see, his eyelids test the children of man.

David knows that God is a witness to whatever happens in this world and that without him allowing something to happen, it would never happen. This is the basis of the confidence of a saint.

Verse 5
The LORD tests the righteous, but his soul hates the wicked and the one who loves violence.

Testing and temptation are two different things. God does not tempt his children to sin, but he does test them by allowing seasons of suffering and calamity in their lives. This is to teach them to trust in Him more and to grow spiritually. The goal of testing is to bring victory, while the goal of temptation is to destroy and make one captive to sin.

Verse 6
A graphic portrayal of David's desire to see the wicked punished for their deeds.

Verse 7
For the LORD is righteous, he loves righteous deeds; the upright shall behold his face.

God is the perfection of righteousness and He loves to see his character reflected in the lives of his children just like a earthly father would.

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Why Do You Hide Yourself? (Psalm 10)

As one can see from the title of this Psalm, it is written out of a great desire to see God act swiftly in the Psalmist's life. At the time of writing, the Psalmist feels like God has intentionally hidden Himself, and the only question that pops up in the mind of the psalmist is "Why"? This is a familiar feeling for most Christians if not all, we all go through periods of dryness where we cannot experience God, or we feel like God has abandoned us. Some have called this experience, the dark night of the soul. This period, however is used by God to increase our trust in Him and strengthen our faith.

Verse 1

Why O Lord, do you stand far away, Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble?

These two questions stem from the inability of the Psalmist too see God's hand at work or feel his presence during the time of writing. 

Verses 2-4

The Psalmist's description of the poor brings out three important features of the wicked and the ungodly:

1. They "hotly pursue" the poor, that is they are eager to take advantage of the poor and the defenseless for their own selfish gain.

2. They do not seek God - The wicked do not seek God, because they are too proud to do so. Their thoughts are "There is no God." The root of all atheism is pride.

3. They are greedy for gain and in their attempt to gain more for themselves they see God as an enemy and curse and renounce God.

Verse 5

This verse introduces the paradox that troubles many to this day. In spite of all this, the wicked seem to be visibly prospering. This baffles the psalmist and this is one of the reasons he believes that God has hidden Himself.

Verses 7-11

Description of the wicked continues with more graphic language. The wicked are exposed to being  deceitful, oppressive and rapacious.

Verses 12- 13

The Psalmist's plea to God to arise in retaliation against the deeds of the wicked so that justice will be done.

Verses 14

Although, the Psalmist cannot empirically see God's hand at work he reacts in the best way possible. First of all, he cries out to God to act so that he can once again see God at work and give praise unto Him. Secondly, he reiterates his faith which is not based on sight and declares God to be the helper of the helpless.

Verse 15

A call for destruction of the wicked to break their arms so that they won't be able to afflict the poor anymore. 

Verses 16 - 19

The Psalmist's exaltation of God as the merciful King who hears the cries of the fatherless and the oppressed and does justice for their sake.

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I Will Recount Your Wonderful Deeds (Psalm 9)

This Psalm is another of David's many Praise psalms where he is either himself praising God or calling out the people to give praise to God. This particular psalm launches with four "I will" statements showing David's conscious decision to give praise to God for two reasons. Firstly, David expresses gratitude to God for the things God has done in his life. Secondly, David praises God and worships Him for who God is. What God is, and what God does for His people are closely related. The Psalm reveals God as a righteous judge and a savior of the oppressed. David experienced both of these attributes of God in a deeply personal way. However, intertwined with the praises are David's cries for help from those who afflict them. This shows that some of his enemies remained at large and ready to strike. This is a picture of Christian life, we will always have spiritual enemies who repeatedly taunt and attack us. In all this, we are to find refuge in God who is the Savior of the oppressed. For our battle is not against flesh and blood but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in heavenly places. (Eph 6:12)

Verses 1-2

David's decision to give praise and thanks to God for his wonderful deeds. Sometimes, praise comes spontaneously, at other times we have to consciously remove our eyes from everything else and praise God on purpose.

Verses 3-6

The fall of David's enemies before God's righteous judgement. This was a fall from which they could not get back up. Verse 5 says, that their names were blotted out forever, indicating complete destruction.

Verses 7-9

David's declaration of God as the eternal righteous judge and the stronghold for the oppressed. God is not simply obsessed with justice just for the sake of justice alone, but he seeks justice because of who He is and because of his care for the suffering.

Verse 10

"And those who know your name put their trust in you, for You, O LORD, have not forsaken those who seek you."

This shows the necessity of making God's name known. Men can put their trust in God, only if they first know who God is. This knowledge comes from the Word of God being preached faithfully in season and out of season.

Verses 11-12

David urges the reader to Sing out praises to God and tell of his mighty deeds among the peoples. As we saw earlier, God's deeds and His nature are inextricably tied together. So, making his deeds known would inevitably lead to a better knowledge of God among the people, which in turn will result in some of them putting their trust in God to save them from their oppressors.

Verses 13-14

David's cry for help in the midst of praises is an indication that there still remained some enemies who hated him.

Verses 15-16

"The nations have sunk in the pit that they made; in the net that they hid, their own foot has been caught."
This is what scholars call as the "Boomerang" principle of exact retribution. It is a fact that sometimes, the wicked get caught in their own wicked deeds and experience judgement on this side of eternity. Now, this is not Karma or anything like that. God, in His mercy prolongs judgement on the wicked to the afterlife. Not a single deed of the wicked will go unanswered and unpaid when they stand before the throne of God. We can be sure of that.

Verses 17-20

The climax of a great hymn from David, asking for God's intervention in the judgement of the wicked and the salvation of the poor and needy.

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How Majestic Is Your Name (Psalm 8)

This Psalm is a Praise psalm and is unlike some of the Psalms we have considered before. Evidently, David is writing this during a good season in his life because he doesn't make any mention of his troubles. The Psalm can be divided into two parts. In the first part, David attempts to glorify the name of God by describing Him and his works. In the second part, David ponders on the position of mankind in God's created universe.


1. O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory above the heavens.

David uses the word "Lord" in two different ways here in the opening verse. The first time he uses it, he refers to the revealed name of God, Yahweh. The second time he uses the word, it is to show God's ownership of his life and that of Israel.

2. Out of the mouth of babies and infants, you have established strength because of your foes, to still the enemy and the avenger.

David ponders on how God has used the weak and the defenseless to make them strong and then wage war against much larger and stronger enemies.

3,4. When I look at your heavens, the works of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you care for him?

This verse is the heart of the Psalm and possibly the initial thought that made David pen this Psalm. David starts by first acknowledging that the heavens were made by God, but note the words he uses to bring out God's glory in the fullest possible manner. He maintains that the "fingers" of God were involved in the making of the moon and the stars. This is not a contradiction with the Genesis account, but a poetic way of making the Creator larger than the creation. If the fingers of God made the moon and the stars, he wants the reader to understand that the Creator is infinitely larger than creation and that God exists outside of its limitations.

The second part of the verse is a rhetorical question that magnifies God and diminishes mankind. David looks at the heavens in all its glory and then thinks to himself what man is worth in all of creation. He comes to the rather logical assumption that mankind is not worth a mention compared to the vastness of the universe. All pride must be laid down, before one can witness the greatness of God. This is what David tries to do here.

Verses 5-8

In spite of the smallness of man, God has made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned man with glory and honor. Not only that, God also gave man dominion over all the animals that he created. We learn this truth from the creation account in Genesis.This is where the agnostic and the Christian part ways. The agnostic would come to the same conclusion that David came to in the previous verse concerning the insignificance of mankind. In this sense, the agnostics are more honorable that atheists,  as in they at least see their weak nature! However, they refuse to believe that the God or the being that is supposedly responsible for the creation of the universe would have anything to do with mankind. However, they come to this conclusion because they look at the whole scenario through fallen eyes. In their eyes, rulers, creators, bosses and the like are all entitled individuals who don't care a bit about the common man. Then, they project the same character onto God who they think would be worse than the proudest of earthly bosses. This is a wrong conclusion, since God is not a man. God is love, and he loves his creation, especially the human race who he has placed as the crown of creation.

This position that God has given us and the news that we are treasured and loved even to the point that God gave His own Son for us, is the gospel. It is good news, that asks all men to repent and follow this God in this life and the life to come.

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In You Do I Take Refuge (Psalm 7)

The seventh Psalm in the book of psalms, is termed as a Shiggaion. A Shiggaion is defined as an "erratic melody betokening excitement and agitation." So we see that Psalm is again straight from David's heart and he is not concerned about the melody and the aesthetics of the psalm. He simply wants to pour out his heart through this song to God and his hearers.

As one proceeds through this psalm, it is easy to see that David progresses through many stages. In the first stage, David is pleading for divine intervention to deliver him from his enemies. In stage two, he argues his innocence before God, the divine judge and in the last stage he waits patiently for God to act decisively over his enemies.

Verses 1-2
A plea for God to help him, so that his enemies might not destroy him like a lion tears its prey into pieces.

Verses 3-5
David establishes his innocence by boldly saying that he will gladly accept ruin if what his accusers are saying can be proved to be true. The accusation against David was that he repaid evil towards his friends, and plundered his enemies without cause. David, who is absolutely sure of his innocence in this matter asks God to settle the case once and for all to see.

Verses 6-7
A battle cry from David to see his God arise against his many foes.

Verses 8-11
A description of God's attributes. God is a righteous judge, and he judges not by what human eyes can see but by testing the minds and hearts of men. No human court can judge minds and intentions, because they lack the perception to see the deep things of the mind.

Verses 12-16

The result of God's judgement on the wicked is described in very serious language. Verse 12 says, "If a man does not repent, God will whet his sword; he has bent and readied his bow." How dreadful it is to fall into the hands of the living God. Sometimes, the wicked judge themselves by their own unrighteous acts. This is shown in verse 15 and 16, " He makes a pit digging it out, and falls into the hole that he has made. His mischief returns upon his own head, and on his own skull his violence descends."

Verse 17
David's declaration and decision to give thanks to the Lord and sing praises to His matchless Name.

The principles of judgement found in this Psalm, might sound like wishful thinking on David's part, but we who live in this generation have undeniable proof that it is the truth. Over the last decade, we have witnessed in the news many oppressive leaders being overthrown in the middle east by the people and by this these leaders received the same violent treatment that they dished out on their people. This is true throughout history.

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O Lord, Deliver My Life (Psalm 6)

This Psalm paints a picture out of David's personal struggles and desperation. It is a very intense psalm written from the heart of a man who seems to be crushed from all sides. However, as we have seen time and time again hope springs eternal in David' heart and by the end of the Psalm he is once again in a defiant mood.

1. O LORD, rebuke me not in your anger, nor discipline me in your wrath.

David seems to have made a habit out of starting most of his Psalms with a direct plea to God. This time his plea is for mercy from God. He fears God's rebuke and discipline that come out of His wrath.

2. Be gracious to me, O LORD for I am languishing; heal me, O LORD, for my bones are troubled.

David's condition is expressed in these words. He is completely worn out both physically and emotionally. Even his bones are troubled, which is a way of expressing deep seated grief. We are not given the exact cause of these emotions, but evidently it was caused by men who were David's enemies.

3. My soul also is greatly troubled. But you, O LORD --- how long?

In the midst of his trials, David is growing weak and tired of waiting for God's intervention. But, even in the midst of this he continues to hold on to his hope that God will come through in the end.

4. Turn, O LORD, deliver my life, save me for the sake of your steadfast love.

David implores God to deliver him from his troubles for the sake of his steadfast love. David reasons with himself that if God doesn't deliver him that would be against God's essential quality of love.

5. For in death there is no remembrance of you; in Sheol who will give you praise?

David sort of argues with God saying that if he dies now and goes to Sheol (grave), he wont be able to praise God anymore through Psalms or any other means.

6. I am weary with my moaning every night I flood my bed with tears; I drench my couch with my weeping.

Its been a sleepless season for David where he found himself crying throughout the night. This goes to show the extent of darkness he was experiencing on a day to day basis.

7. My eye wastes away because of grief; it grows weak because of all my foes.

His eyes are weary because of the lack of sleep caused by intense grief.

Verses 8-10

Depart from me, all you workers of evil, for the LORD has heard the sound of my weeping. The LORD has heard my plea, the LORD accepts my prayer. All my enemies shall be ashamed and greatly troubled; they shall turn back and be put to shame in a moment.

This is a sudden change in attitude from David. He goes from pitying himself and his condition to a mood of defiance in a flash. He his completely certain that God has heard his prayer and weeping and will act soon in his defense. He expects God to act and bring trouble on his enemies in a moment, that is to say quickly.

In this Psalm, we can once again not miss David's undying hope in God even in the midst of the most difficult trials. This is a lesson for all of us, to keep hoping and trusting in God in our darkest days. Let us remember that weeping may last for a night, but joy comes in the morning. Whatever you are going through today, be confident that it too shall pass.

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You are Not Your Body

I just wanted to quickly share this anecdote I read just now. The time is now 11:13 pm and it is time for me to sleep, but I felt like I have to type this up before I sleep so here it goes.

One day in his 80th year... John Quincy Adams was approached by a friend who said, "And how is John Quincy Adams today?"

The former President of the United States replied graciously, "Thank You, John Quincy Adams is well, sir quite well, I thank you. But the house in which he lives at present is becoming dilapidated. It is tottering upon its foundations. Time and the seasons have nearly destroyed it. Its roof is pretty well worn out, its walls are much shattered, and it trembles with every wind. The old tenement is becoming almost uninhabitable, and I think John Quincy Adams will have to move out of it soon; but he himself is quite well, sir quite well." And with this the venerable statesman, leaning heavily upon his cane, moved slowly down the street. (From the Glory of Heaven, by John MacArthur)

The cares of this world have been especially strong these days in my life and I have been feeling rather unwell spiritually. Although I churned out posts each day, it has been a rather tough period in my life. But I was sent this book through the mail and I have been reading it bit by bit and the thoughts of heaven has given me such endurance and relief. Let us set our affection on things above and remember that life on this planet is temporary. Our eternal abode is in Heaven.

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