Which other scriptures emphasize God's support for the humble and lowly? Starting Point: Psalm 18:27 “For You save an afflicted people, but You humble those with haughty eyes.” Tracing the Theme Through the Psalms • Psalm 147:6 — “The LORD sustains the humble, but casts the wicked to the ground.” • Psalm 138:6 — “Though the LORD is on high, He attends to the lowly; but the proud He knows from afar.” • Psalm 25:9 — “He guides the humble in what is right and teaches them His way.” • Psalm 34:18 — “The LORD is near to the brokenhearted; He saves the contrite in spirit.” Wisdom Literature Speaks • Proverbs 3:34 — “He mocks the mockers, but gives grace to the humble.” • Proverbs 22:4 — “The rewards of humility and the fear of the LORD are wealth and honor and life.” • Ecclesiastes 5:2 — “God is in heaven and you are on earth, so let your words be few.” A reminder that reverent humility guards speech. Prophetic Echoes • Isaiah 57:15 — “I dwell in a high and holy place, but also with the one who is contrite and lowly in spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly.” • Isaiah 66:2 — “But this is the one to whom I will look: to him who is humble and contrite in spirit, who trembles at My word.” • Micah 6:8 — “What does the LORD require of you but to act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?” • Zephaniah 2:3 — “Seek the LORD, all you humble of the land… perhaps you will be sheltered in the day of the LORD’s anger.” • 1 Samuel 2:8 — “He raises the poor from the dust; He lifts the needy from the ash heap to seat them among princes.” The Example and Teaching of Jesus • Matthew 5:3 — “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” • Matthew 11:29 — “Take My yoke upon you… 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 14:11 — “For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and the one who humbles himself will be exalted.” • Luke 18:14 — “For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and everyone who humbles himself will be exalted.” Applied in the Early Church • 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… Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, so that in due time He may exalt you.” • Philippians 2:8-9 — “He humbled Himself… Therefore God exalted Him to the highest place.” Living the Pattern • God repeatedly declares that He lifts the lowly and brings down the proud. • Humility invites divine nearness, guidance, protection, grace, and ultimate exaltation. • The Savior Himself modeled the path: lowliness first, glory afterward. • We are called to echo that same posture—trusting that the God of Psalm 18:27 still “saves an afflicted people” today. |
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