What does "remain humble" in Ezekiel 17:14 teach about obedience to God? The Setting: A Covenant Broken and the Call to Humility • Ezekiel 17 recounts Judah’s final king, Zedekiah, placed on the throne by Babylon (the “great eagle”). • God says Nebuchadnezzar “took a seed of the land” (v. 5) and made a treaty “so that the kingdom would be brought low…that it might keep his covenant and survive” (v. 14). • The phrase “brought low” (often paraphrased “remain humble”) reveals God’s purpose: Zedekiah was to accept a lesser, dependent position, honoring the oath he swore in God’s name (cf. 2 Chronicles 36:13). Key Phrase: “Brought Low…Not Lift Itself Up” “so that the kingdom would be brought low and not lift itself up, but would keep his covenant and survive.” (Ezekiel 17:14) • “Brought low” = deliberately reduced stature. • “Not lift itself up” = refusal to exalt self beyond God-given limits. • Result promised: “survive”—life and stability under God’s protective hand. What Humility Teaches about Obedience 1. Obedience starts with accepting God-ordained limits. – Zedekiah’s throne and power were gifts, not rights (Daniel 2:21). 2. Humility guards the heart against rebellion. – Pride fueled the decision to seek Egypt’s help (vv. 15-18), shattering the oath. 3. Submission to God’s covenant brings preservation. – Humble compliance would have spared Jerusalem’s final destruction (2 Kings 25:1-7). 4. True obedience is relational, not mechanical. – Keeping an oath mattered because it was sworn “by God,” making faithfulness an act of worship (Leviticus 19:12; Psalm 15:4). Supporting Scriptures on Humility and Obedience • Deuteronomy 8:2 – God humbles to “test you…whether you would keep His commands.” • 2 Chronicles 7:14 – “If My people humble themselves…and turn…” obedience follows humility. • Micah 6:8 – “walk humbly with your God” brackets “act justly” and “love mercy.” • Philippians 2:8 – Jesus “humbled Himself by becoming obedient to death.” • James 4:6-7 – “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble. Submit yourselves therefore to God.” • 1 Peter 5:5 – “Clothe yourselves with humility…for God opposes the proud.” Practical Takeaways for Today • See every position, resource, and opportunity as stewardship, not entitlement. • Honor every commitment, contract, or promise—your word reflects God’s character. • Resist shortcuts that elevate self while ignoring God’s clear direction. • Remember: God preserves the humble; He opposes self-exalting schemes (Proverbs 16:18). Living It Out Choose daily to “remain humble” by: – thanking God for any authority He grants, – seeking His will before acting, – submitting gladly to His Word even when culture or pride tempts revolt, – trusting that lasting security comes from covenant faithfulness, not self-promotion. |
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