305. A LESSON IN HUMILITY

(The Information & Edification Series – Batch 10)

As human beings, whether we are Christians or not, there is the temptation to become puffed up and prideful in who we are, how far we have come, who we know, how much we have and what we have achieved.

Pride is a bad thing because God hates it. We are warned to not think of ourselves more highly than we ought (Romans 12:3) because of a truth, we are really not important in ourselves. The scriptures are clear, that “Pride goeth before destruction and a haughty spirit before a fall.” (Proverbs 16:18)

If we need a lesson in humility, the scriptures contain examples for our edification, of people, who were one day proud and self-exalting, thinking that the world revolved around them but the next, humbled because God taught them a lesson by bringing them down.

Let us look at some of these examples:

NEBUCHADNEZZER

Nebuchadnezzar was the king of Babylon. was an ungodly king, as he did not know the true and living God, did not believe on him, had no relationship with him and therefore, did not fear him.

As is typical of people who do not know the Lord and occupy lofty positions of authority, Nebuchadnezzar lived unto himself. He did as he pleased and considered himself accountable to no one. In his pride, he made an image of gold which he set up in the province of Babylon, which he commanded all the people to fall down and worship whenever they heard the sound of the cornet, flute, harp or any other type or music (Daniel 3:1-6). He also made it clear, that anyone who defied his decree, would be cast into the mist of a burning fiery furnace.

Three Hebrew men, respectfully refused to bown down to the idol that Nebuchadnezzar had set up because they knew that this would be displeasing to the God of heaven and earth, whom they feared above all. As a result of this, Nebuchadnezzar in his prideful rage, commanded that the furnace be heated seven times hotter than the norm and that they be thrown into it (Daniel 3:19)

Ironically though, the men who were charged with the command, died from the extent of the heat, as they threw Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego into the flame. Yet, the three Hebrew men remained without scorch and untouched. Verses 23-25 states:

• “And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, fell down bound into the midst of the burning fiery furnace. Then Nebuchadnezzar the king was astonished, and rose up in haste, and spake, and said unto his counsellors, Did not we cast three men bound into the midst of the fire? They answered and said unto the king, True, O king. He answered and said, Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the mist of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.”

Having seen this sight with his own eyes, Nebuchadnezzar then went near to the furnace and told the Hebrew men, who he addressed as “servants of the most high God”, to come out, which they did. Upon inspection and to the king’s shock, he and the great men around him, all saw that the fire had had no effect whatsoever on their bodies, that their hair was not signed or their clothing affected and these men did not even smell as if they had been in a fire (Daniel 3:26-27)

This ought to have been a humbling experience for Nebuchadnezzar and to some extent, it was. He realized that the God of these Hebrew men sent his angel and delivered them, him stating that “there is no other God that can deliver after this sort”. He realized that their God had intervened to save them due to their obedience to His Word despite the king’s command, which he admired. He therefore made a decree that anyone who spoke against these men, would be cut in pieces and their houses made a dunghill and he promoted these three men (Daniel 3:28-29)

However, he did not reverse the decree for all of the other people to bow down to the idol that he had set up or begin to worship the God of these Hebrew men as the true and living God.

In fact, although God was clearly dealing with him and showing him that there was a power greater than his, Nebuchadnezzar continued in his pride. Later on in Daniel 4, he himself recounted how he had dreamed a dream which left him so troubled, that he had decreed that all of the wise men of Babylon should be brought before him, so that they could tell him the interpretation. None of them could but finally, Daniel, a man who feared the true and living God was able to do so.

The dream forbade of what God planned to do in Nebuchadnezzar’s life and it was not pleasant. In interpreting the dream, Daniel told him that God intended to humble him by removing his mental faculties and having him dwell with the beasts of the field for a season, until he knew that it was God that was in charge.

Nebuchadnezzar therefore had opportunity to repent and to change his prideful ways. He had opportunity to humble himself before the true and living God but he did not. Although he had been told what God planned to do, perhaps in unbelief, he carried on in his folly.

The Bible states in Daniel 4:29, that “At the end of twelve months he walked in the palace of the kingdom of Babylon” and said “Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for the house of the kingdom by the might of my power; and for the honour of my majesty?”

In his pride, he did not acknowledge the God of heaven whose breathe he was breathing and who had put him in the position of king, that he occupied. He did not see beyond himself, elevated in pride to the extent where he was worshipping himself, his grandeur and his achievements.

God therefore intervened, then and there, to do exactly as Daniel had prophesied. He took this man which was convinced of his own greatness, to the exclusion of God and brought him down.

The Word of God states:

• “While the word was in the king’s mouth, there fell a voice from heaven, saying, O king Nebuchadnezzar, to thee it is spoken; The kingdom is departed from thee. And they shall drive thee from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field: they shall make thee to eat grass as oxen, and seven times shall pass over thee, until thou know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will. The same hour was the thing fulfilled upon Nebuchadnezzar: and he was driven from men, and did eat grass as oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven, till his hairs were grown like eagles’ feathers, and his nails like birds’ claws.” (Daniel 4:31-33).

This was in keeping with Daniel’s interpretation of the dream that he had had twelve months prior, where Daniel had told him:

• “The tree that thou sawest, which grew, and was strong, whose height reached unto the heaven, and the sight thereof to all the earth; Whose leaves were fair, and the fruit thereof much, and in it was meat for all; under which the beasts of the field dwelt, and upon whose branches the fowls of the heaven had their habitation: It is thou, O king, that art grown and become strong: for thy greatness is grown, and reacheth unto heaven, and thy dominion to the end of the earth.

• And whereas the king saw a watcher and an holy one coming down from heaven, and saying, Hew the tree down, and destroy it; yet leave the stump of the roots thereof in the earth, even with a band of iron and brass, in the tender grass of the field; and let it be wet with the dew of heaven, and let his portion be with the beasts of the field, till seven times pass over him;This is the interpretation, O king, and this is the decree of the most High, which is come upon my lord the king:

• That they shall drive thee from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field, and they shall make thee to eat grass as oxen, and they shall wet thee with the dew of heaven, and seven times shall pass over thee, till thou know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will.

• And whereas they commanded to leave the stump of the tree roots; thy kingdom shall be sure unto thee, after that thou shalt have known that the heavens do rule.

• Wherefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable unto thee, and break off thy sins by righteousness, and thine iniquities by shewing mercy to the poor; if it may be a lengthening of thy tranquillity.” (Daniel 4:20-27)

Notably, Daniel had urged the king back then, to turn away from his sinful way, in the hope that God would delay what he planned to do inevitably. There was no knowing as well, if God would have decided to spare Nebuchadnezzar the ordeal, if he had humbled himself and repented. We saw him do that to the people of Nineveh when they repented.

Yet, Nebuchadnezzar did not humble himself and therefore could not repent and therefore, for a season, God removed his understanding so that he behaved like an animal.

After this period of time had passed, when God was good and ready, he caused Nebuchadnezzar’s human understanding to return and in mercy, restored him to his kingship.

After this humbling experience, Nebuchadnezzar needed no more prompting. He had had his own encounter with God and was convinced that he ruled and reigned over the affairs of men, including himself. Nebuchadnezzar therefore used his mouth to blaize forth the testimony of the greatness of almighty God, pride having gone completely from him and him seemingly having realized the folly of his ways.

In verses 34 to 37, after he had been restored, Nebuchadnezzar declared:

• “And at the end of the days I Nebuchadnezzar lifted up mine eyes unto heaven, and mine understanding returned unto me, and I blessed the most High, and I praised and honoured him that liveth for ever, whose dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom is from generation to generation:And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou?

• At the same time my reason returned unto me; and for the glory of my kingdom, mine honour and brightness returned unto me; and my counsellors and my lords sought unto me; and I was established in my kingdom, and excellent majesty was added unto me.

• Now I Nebuchadnezzar praise and extol and honour the King of heaven, all whose works are truth, and his ways judgment: and those that walk in pride he is able to abase.”

MANASSEH

Manasseh was the son of Hezekiah, a godly King. He ascended to the throne after his father’s death at the tender age of twelve and reigned in Judah for fifty five years. However, although his father had feared and served God, Manasseh did not follow in his footsteps. He did not care for the God of his father and had no regard for him. In his pride, he did as he pleased and  engaged in many evil and idolatrous practices. As if this was not bad enough,  as the ruler of the people of Judah, he also made them engage in wicked practices which God abhorred.

2 Kings 21:2-9 and 16 state:

• f“And he did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord, after the abominations of the heathen, whom the Lord cast out before the children of Israel. For he built up again the high places which Hezekiah his father had destroyed; and he reared up altars for Baal, and made a grove, as did Ahab king of Israel; and worshipped all the host of heaven, and served them. And he built altars in the house of the Lord, of which the Lord said, In Jerusalem will I put my name. And he built altars for all the host of heaven in the two courts of the house of the Lord. And he made his son pass through the fire, and observed times, and used enchantments, and dealt with familiar spirits and wizards: he wrought much wickedness in the sight of the Lord, to provoke him to anger. And he set a graven image of the grove that he had made in the house, of which the Lord said to David, and to Solomon his son, In this house, and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen out of all tribes of Israel, will I put my name for ever: Neither will I make the feet of Israel move any more out of the land which I gave their fathers; only if they will observe to do according to all that I have commanded them, and according to all the law that my servant Moses commanded them. But they hearkened not: and Manasseh seduced them to do more evil than did the nations whom the Lord destroyed before the children of Israel…Moreover Manasseh shed innocent blood very much, till he had filled Jerusalem from one end to another; beside his sin wherewith he made Judah to sin, in doing that which was evil in the sight of the Lord.”

In God’s mercy and longsuffering, he spoke to Manasseh and the people, so that they would humble themselves, repent before him and turn away from their evil practices. However, Manasseh and the people were determined to continue in their evil way. In his pride (which often deludes), he seemingly considered himself to be untouchable and most likely thought that he could never be moved. As a result, he and his people cast scorn on what God told them. They refused to repent. 2 Chronicles 33:10 states, “And the Lord spake to Manasseh, and to his people: but they would not hearken.”

As a result of this and the level of their wickedness, which was great in God’s sight, God decided to bring judgment against Manasseh and the people. 

In 2 Kings 21:10-15, it states:

• “And the Lord spake by his servants the prophets, saying, Because Manasseh king of Judah hath done these abominations, and hath done wickedly above all that the Amorites did, which were before him, and hath made Judah also to sin with his idols: Therefore thus saith the Lord God of Israel, Behold, I am bringing such evil upon Jerusalem and Judah, that whosoever heareth of it, both his ears shall tingle. And I will stretch over Jerusalem the line of Samaria, and the plummet of the house of Ahab: and I will wipe Jerusalem as a man wipeth a dish, wiping it, and turning it upside down. And I will forsake the remnant of mine inheritance, and deliver them into the hand of their enemies; and they shall become a prey and a spoil to all their enemies; Because they have done that which was evil in my sight, and have provoked me to anger, since the day their fathers came forth out of Egypt, even unto this day.”

True to his Word, the Lord caused a foreign people to invade Judah and to take away Manasseh as a captive into a far away land called Babylon. 

The Bible states, “Wherefore the Lord brought upon them the captains of the host of the king of Assyria, which took Manasseh among the thorns, and bound him with fetters, and carried him to Babylon.” (2 Chronicles 33:11)

In this foreign land, the people and the king of Babylon did not care for Manasseh or that he had reigned in Judah as king. In God’s mercy, he was not immediately killed by the king of Babylon but as a prisoner, he was afflicted by his enemies.

In his trouble and pain, God finally got his attention. In his affliction, he looked up to God in his desperation. Perhaps, remembering something of the fear that Hezekiah his father had had for the God of heaven and earth, he realized that he was in the situation that he was in, due to his sins against him. Stripped of his rulership, his pomp and all of his grandeur, while imprisoned in this strange and cruel land, he humbled himself before God and prayed to him, the God of his father, the only one that could help him.

The content of his prayer was not stated but since God’s ears are always open to hear the prayer of a repentant sinner, it is safe to assume that Manasseh confessed his sins before God, acknowledged his wrong and asked him for forgiveness, mercy and deliverance.

As wicked as he had been, because he was genuinely sorry for the wicked life that he had lived, God heard him. No matter how evil one’s past, God is always willing to listen and to forgive the person who genuinely repents.

As a result, although God did not have to, he reached out in mercy and caused the king of Babylon to release Manasseh and to return him to his people in Judah. Another king in Manasseh’s family was not that fortunate. Zedekiah for example, who also chose to live a wicked life and refused to hear when God spoke, would later on be made to witness the brutal execution of all of his sons and then his eyes would painfully put out and he taken to Babylon bound in fetters and brass, where he would then spend the rest of his miserable existence, imprisoned in Babylon, until he died (2 Kings 25: Chronicles 36:11-20).

Although Manasseh was deserving of the same fate, when he emptied himself of his pride and turned to God in prayer, God decided to show him mercy.

 2 Chronicles 33:12-13 states:

• “And when he was in affliction, he besought the Lord his God, and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers, And prayed unto him: and he was intreated of him, and heard his supplication, and brought him again to Jerusalem into his kingdom…”

God having done this for him, Manasseh could never forget it. He had heard about God, no doubt and therefore prayed to him when he was in trouble. However, he had experienced God for himself, as God often does when a person is in affliction and turns to him. 

Manasseh understood, after having been delivered and allowed to go back to Judah, that it was God, the God of Hezekiah his father, that had caused his life to be spared and him restored, not his own might or anybody else’s. When his situation had seemed hopeless and him a goner for sure, God had turned it around anyway, when he had humbled himself before him and prayed to him. He therefore experienced God’s mercy and power for himself, believed on him as the supreme being and became a changed man. 

When he returned to Judah, he no longer continued in the path of evil but committed to serving the God whose mercy he had experienced for himself. He no longer needed to be convinced or persuaded to serve God. He was converted and so willingly did so. He therefore destroyed the idols that he had set up and no longer engaged in the wicked practices that he had engaged in previously.

2 Chronicles 33:13-16 states:

• “Then Manasseh knew that the Lord he was God. Now after this he built a wall without the city of David, on the west side of Gihon, in the valley, even to the entering in at the fish gate, and compassed about Ophel, and raised it up a very great height, and put captains of war in all the fenced cities of Judah. And he took away the strange gods, and the idol out of the house of the Lord, and all the altars that he had built in the mount of the house of the Lord, and in Jerusalem, and cast them out of the city. And he repaired the altar of the Lord, and sacrificed thereon peace offerings and thank offerings, and commanded Judah to serve the Lord God of Israel.”

SAUL

To be continued…

JONAH

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HEZEKIAH

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A Light brighter than the sun