Humble Yourselves James 4:10

As the people within the “twelve tribes scattered abroad” obeyed James by “drawing near to God”, the promise would be for God to “draw near” to them. They were to be “afflicted, to mourn, and weep” and allow their “laughter to be turned to mourning” and their “joy to heaviness”. In chapter four and verse ten of his letter, James told his readers to “humble” themselves “in the sight of the Lord” where we read:

Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.

The verse begins, “Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord,...” James began with the words, “humble yourselves” which means “to make themselves low, reduce to a plain and meaner circumstance” “in the sight” or “in the presence of, in an occupied place or over against and opposite to anyone and toward which another turns his eyes” “of the Lord” which refers to “he to whom a person or thing belongs about which he has power of deciding, master and the title given to God the Messiah”. James' exhortation was for his readers to “make themselves low, plain and mean” within God's presence.

The verse goes on to say, “...and he shall lift you up.” James continued, “and he” which refers to “The Lord God” “shall lift” or “exalt, raise to the very summit of opulence and prosperity, dignity, honor and happiness” “you up” which means “the people of the “twelve tribes scattered abroad” shall be lifted to an exalted state”. When the people “humbled themselves”, God would exalt them to higher “prosperity, honor and happiness”.

When we consider these words of James, we should note a distinct advantage to “humbling” ourselves before God. As we obey the Lord by submitting to a subordinate position before Him, we actually put ourselves in the best place of advancement. It seems counter intuitive to “humble” ourselves to be “exalted”, however this is Jesus Christ's way, and He was our ultimate example for this behavior - “And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God also has highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:” (Philippians 2:8,9). May we observe Jesus' example and follow Him in obeisance and humility.

Next time James tells his readers to “speak not evil one of another”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, and the new devotional “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.