Life-long Humility

“Thus my heart was grieved, and I was pricked in my reins. So foolish [was] I, and ignorant: I was [as] a beast before thee. Nevertheless I [am] continually with thee: thou hast holden [me] by my right hand. Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, and afterward receive me [to] glory.” (Ps 73:21-24 AV)

Asaph, who was chief composer under David, wrote this psalm.  Many suggest that this psalm, which follows the book of psalms directly ascribed to David, is David’s eulogy.  Asaph, with deep respect for his king, wrote the above as a pattern of David’s life.  It is more than astounding that a king as great as David remained humble until his death.  He knew the only hope he had was in the grace of God!  If only we could live as humbly.

The word ‘nevertheless’ is very precious here.  It is the bridge between David’s failures and God’s grace.  The reader is to focus intently on the truth that follows that word.  Regardless of David’s spiritual condition, God is with him.  This does not mean God takes sin lightly.  No doubt David, having lived next door to the temple, that he was a frequent visitor.  No doubt with countless cattle at his disposal, he was not without sacrifice.  We know from the psalms that David was a man of prayer.  So, when our beloved king professes his wicked nature, he can also say with confidence that God never leaves him.  He can also profess with absolute certainty that upon his death, he will rise to glory.  Another truth of importance is the act of God’s providential hand upon David, in spite of his fallen human nature.  Even though the king professes to be no more successful than a beast, it is the hand of God that holds him up.  No wonder David was a man after God’s own heart.  He knew how to accept and live in the grace of God.  He knew how to stay humble and serve God because he was loved by grace.

I think the key to this truth is being ok with living in it.  To remain humble means, we have to be ok with living in and by God’s grace.  We have to be ok with striving against sin, knowing the only and final hope is our glorification.  We have to be ok with being human, yet living in the power of God’s grace.  There should never be a time when we think we have arrived.  There should never be a time when we think we have done enough to be entitled to God’s grace.  There should never ever be a time when we think we are so close to godliness that humility is no longer required.  I get the feeling that David thought of himself the same way he did as a child.  Even though he had grown and changed for the glory of God, I get the impression that no matter how godly he could or would become, it would always be a far cry from the perfect holiness of God.  I think that is true.  The older we get, the more and more we realize our own wickedness.  We are surprised when we hear older people talk this way.  The sins of their youth are forever lost to time.  Their present sinfulness cannot be nearly as bad as it was decades ago.  Although much has changed, there is still far more that needs to be changed.  This was where David was up to the day of his death.  Realistic and humble regarding his wicked state.  May we possess the same humility until the day of our heavenly graduation!