Walk Humbly

For God alone my soul waits in silence; from him comes my salvation. He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be greatly shaken. Psalm 62:1-2

These are the words of King David. David was facing a devastating crisis. His own son, Absalom had turned on him and was triumphantly parading through Jerusalem. Additionally, those close to David, those he trusted, turned to Absalom. You can read about these events in 2 Samuel 15, but notice the picture of David below as he is dealing with the situation.

But David went up the ascent of the Mount of Olives, weeping as he went, barefoot and with his head covered. And all the people who were with him covered their heads, and they went up, weeping as they went. 2 Samuel 15:30

He is a broken man. David was in the valley. He was a humbled man.

David had been on the mountaintop. He was chosen among his brothers and anointed as the King. As a boy, he was thrown into fame as he defeated Goliath. David was a powerful King leading victories.

And there was war again. And David went out and fought with the Philistines and struck them with a great blow, so that they fled before him. 1 Samuel 19:8

From the mountaintop to the valley, and he pens the words in Psalm 62. Humbled, he stills his soul before God, waits in silence, and depends on Him.

Humility has a way of bringing one to depend on God. The journey of life is not lived on a mountaintop. If it were, dependence would certainly be on ourselves. A man that lacks humility, is a man that has inner turmoil. For this man depends on their own actions, their own victories, how they are perceived by the world, which will never bring peace.

Peter was an emotional leader of the disciples and a dedicated follower of Jesus. However, he was humbled as he found himself, uncontrollably, denying Christ on his way to the Cross. As strong and emotional as Peter was, I envision him starting a war against those arresting Jesus if he would not have been humbled. But, he was humbled and depended on God.

Although humility is painful, there is great value. A recognition of God, who He is, how He is to be worshipped, is emphasized during the valley. When one is humbled, like David, there is room to still the soul and depend on the one who is in control. And, experiencing and knowing that valleys do indeed exist in life, makes one journey with an appreciation for times when everything seems right in the world.

Being aware of the peaks and valleys on the journey of life is key to traveling well. Having a foundation built on the word of God helps one weather the storms, the rocky times, and, also, helps one walk with constant humility, even during the great times.

“Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.” Matthew 7:24-27

Praise God that life is not lived perpetually on the mountaintop.

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