Which other Scriptures highlight God's favor towards the humble and contrite? Isaiah 66:2 – Launching Point “Has not My hand made all these things, and so they came into being? declares the Lord. But this is the one I will esteem: he who is humble and contrite in spirit, and trembles at My word.” Echoes in the Psalms • Psalm 34:18 – “The Lord is near to the brokenhearted; He saves the crushed in spirit.” • Psalm 51:17 – “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, You will not despise.” • Psalm 138:6 – “Though the Lord is on high, He attends to the lowly; but the proud He knows from afar.” Wisdom Books Reinforce the Theme • Proverbs 3:34 – “He mocks the mockers but gives grace to the humble.” (Quoted later by James and Peter.) • Proverbs 22:4 – “The reward of humility and the fear of the Lord is riches and honor and life.” • Job 22:29 – “When men are brought low and you say, ‘Lift them up,’ then He will save the downcast.” Prophetic Voices • Isaiah 57:15 – “For this is what the High and Exalted One says… ‘I dwell… with the contrite and humble in spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly and revive the heart of the contrite.’” • Micah 6:8 – “He has shown you, O man, what is good… to do justice, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.” • Zephaniah 2:3 – “Seek the Lord, all you humble of the land… seek humility; perhaps you will be hidden on the day of the Lord’s anger.” Jesus Highlights Humility • Matthew 5:3 – “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” • Matthew 5:5 – “Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.” • Matthew 11:29 – “Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” • Luke 1:52 – “He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has exalted the humble.” • Luke 18:13-14 – The tax collector “beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’… this man went home justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted.” Apostolic Confirmation • James 4:6 – “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” • James 4:10 – “Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will exalt you.” • 1 Peter 5:5-6 – “Clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because ‘God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.’ Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that He may exalt you in due time.” • Philippians 2:8-9 – Christ “humbled Himself and became obedient to death… therefore God exalted Him to the highest place.” Putting It All Together Across law, prophets, writings, Gospels, and epistles, the same melody plays: God notices, draws near to, lifts up, and richly favors those who come to Him lowly, repentant, and tender toward His Word. Pride repels His presence; humility attracts His grace. A contrite heart is the worship God never despises—and always rewards. |
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