Topical Bible: Judgments: should Lead to Humiliation

◄ Judgments: should Lead to Humiliation ►

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In the biblical context, judgments are divine decisions or decrees that often serve as a means of correction or punishment for individuals or nations that have strayed from God's commandments. The purpose of these judgments is not only to administer justice but also to bring about a state of humility and repentance in those who are judged.

Biblical Instances of Judgment Leading to Humiliation

1. Nebuchadnezzar's Humiliation (Daniel 4:28-37): King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon experienced divine judgment due to his pride and self-glorification. As a result, he was driven away from his kingdom and lived like an animal until he acknowledged God's sovereignty. This period of humiliation was necessary for Nebuchadnezzar to recognize the supremacy of God. Daniel 4:37 states, "Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and exalt and glorify the King of heaven, for all His works are true and all His ways are just. And He is able to humble those who walk in pride."

2. Israel's Captivity (2 Kings 17:6-23): The Northern Kingdom of Israel faced judgment through Assyrian captivity due to their persistent idolatry and disobedience to God's laws. This judgment was intended to humble the nation and lead them back to a covenant relationship with God. The narrative highlights the consequences of forsaking God's commandments and the resultant need for national humility and repentance.

3. Judah's Exile (2 Chronicles 36:15-21): Similarly, the Southern Kingdom of Judah was exiled to Babylon as a result of their continued rebellion against God. The destruction of Jerusalem and the temple served as a humbling experience, intended to bring the people to a place of repentance and recognition of their dependence on God. The chronicler notes that this judgment fulfilled the word of the Lord spoken through the prophets, emphasizing the need for humility and submission to God's will.

Theological Implications

Judgments in the Bible are often depicted as a means to bring about humility, a necessary posture for receiving God's grace and mercy. Proverbs 3:34 states, "He mocks the mockers but gives grace to the humble." This principle underscores the idea that humility is a prerequisite for divine favor and restoration.

New Testament Perspective

In the New Testament, the theme of judgment leading to humility is echoed in the teachings of Jesus and the apostles. James 4:6 reiterates, "But He gives us more grace. This is why it says: 'God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.'" The call to humility is a consistent message, urging believers to recognize their need for God's guidance and correction.

Practical Application

For believers, understanding that judgments are intended to lead to humility can foster a spirit of repentance and submission to God's will. It encourages self-examination and a willingness to acknowledge one's shortcomings before God. This humility is essential for spiritual growth and alignment with God's purposes.

In summary, biblical judgments serve as a divine tool to bring individuals and nations to a place of humility, where they can fully experience God's grace and restoration. The consistent biblical narrative emphasizes the importance of humility as a response to divine judgment, highlighting its role in the believer's journey toward spiritual maturity and reconciliation with God.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Joshua 7:6
And Joshua rent his clothes, and fell to the earth on his face before the ark of the LORD until the eventide, he and the elders of Israel, and put dust on their heads.
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2 Chronicles 12:6
Whereupon the princes of Israel and the king humbled themselves; and they said, The LORD is righteous.
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Lamentations 3:1-20
I AM the man that has seen affliction by the rod of his wrath.
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Joel 1:13
Gird yourselves, and lament, you priests: howl, you ministers of the altar: come, lie all night in sackcloth, you ministers of my God: for the meat offering and the drink offering is withheld from the house of your God.
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Jonah 3:5,6
So the people of Nineveh believed God, and proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth, from the greatest of them even to the least of them.
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Library

Zain.
... annihilated, that not a hair of their heads should perish. ... He taught us, where He
enjoined us to say, "Lead us not ... "For I was mindful of Thy judgments from the ...
//christianbookshelf.org/augustine/exposition on the book of psalms/zain.htm

The World.
... which we must separate in order to lead a Christian ... its maxims as the rule of their
actions and judgments. In this you should conform to all that due decorum ...
/.../sainte-foi/serious hours of a young lady/chapter vii the world.htm

"Destroyed for Lack of Knowledge"
... and bow down to graven images and should refuse to ... the commandments, the statutes,
and the judgments" that they ... 1. He knew that if he could only lead Israel to ...
/.../white/the story of prophets and kings/chapter 24 destroyed for lack.htm

Covenant Duties.
... I have chosen the way of truth: thy judgments have I ... to God, and a ground of humiliation
in his ... The least discovery of imperfection in such, should lead to its ...
/.../cunningham/the ordinance of covenanting/chapter iv covenant duties.htm

Temptations and Trials.
... in mortal sin, terrors about His judgments and fear ... faith to a director can never
lead us astray ... Should these sufferings and temptations become redoubled after ...
/.../de caussade/abandonment to divine providence/v temptations and trials.htm

The Story of the Baptist, from his Last Testimony to Jesus to his ...
... not be explained away.' For, the sound critic should never devise ... lies in this: whether
doubt will lead us to ... the tyrant, and looked for those judgments of God ...
/.../the life and times of jesus the messiah/chapter xxviii the story of.htm

The Law of the Lord.
... teach him His law, and make him remember His everlasting judgments. ... What God has
willed and chosen we should do. ... still hangs over our head, ready to lead us to ...
//christianbookshelf.org/kingsley/westminster sermons/sermon x the law of.htm

John Chapter xii. 27-36
... unsearchable are His judgments!" [1058] To such judgments does that ... is come that
the Son of man should be glorified ... of the grain of corn that was to lead to its ...
/.../augustine/homilies on the gospel of john/tractate lii john chapter xii.htm

Letter iii. --The State of one Tempted.
... But," you say again, "I should like to ... of misery and corruption, which, without God's
grace, would lead us into ... and fear of the justice of the judgments of God ...
/.../de caussade/abandonment to divine providence/letter iii the state of one.htm

It is a Ground for Thanksgiving that During the Last Three or Four ...
... God visit the earth with His sore judgments, and though ... send them strong delusion
that they should believe the Lie ... The closing chapters of Zechariah lead to the ...
//christianbookshelf.org/pink/the antichrist/it is a ground for.htm