A Humble Heart

I Samuel 9.1-21

Fit for a king!
Humility is a fascinating virtue.

The more blessings we receive the more humble we ought to become. Sense of unworthiness.
The Words of Jesus in Luke 17:10 So you also, when you have done everything you were told to do, should say, ‘We are unworthy servants; we have only done our duty.’”

The more honor bestowed on us the more we should seek to honor the LORD.

How beautiful it is to see and hear and observe a person of "high position" with a humble heart, one who is loaded with blessings and has a heart for God.


1. Position Should Humble A Person

It did Saul at first and it did David his whole life.

After David was well established as king we read this account in II Samuel 7. The news God gave him was met with the similar response as that of Saul. Saul lost this understanding. David, the man after God's own heart, kept it his whole life.

This showed up when in time these men, these kings, both sinned. Saul pathetically tried to deny and cover his sin when confronted by Samuel. David freely and with a broken heart acknowledged it, realized its enormity and was granted forgiveness by the LORD.

Blessed are the people, the nation, led by a humble soul.

Unfortunately if the heart is not guarded then pride can come in.
Proverbs 4:23 Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.

Deuteronomy 17:14-20 When you enter the land the Lord your God is giving you and have taken possession of it and settled in it, and you say, “Let us set a king over us like all the nations around us,” be sure to appoint over you a king the Lord your God chooses. He must be from among your fellow Israelites. Do not place a foreigner over you, one who is not an Israelite. The king, moreover, must not acquire great numbers of horses for himself or make the people return to Egypt to get more of them, for the Lord has told you, “You are not to go back that way again.” He must not take many wives, or his heart will be led astray. He must not accumulate large amounts of silver and gold. When he takes the throne of his kingdom, he is to write for himself on a scroll a copy of this law, taken from that of the Levitical priests. It is to be with him, and he is to read it all the days of his life so that he may learn to revere the Lord his God and follow carefully all the words of this law and these decrees and not consider himself better than his fellow Israelites and turn from the law to the right or to the left. Then he and his descendants will reign a long time over his kingdom in Israel.

Saul qualified in the beginning and then was disqualified.
David qualified and finished well.

2. Humility Is Being Satisfied Being A Nobody.

Most people are not satisfied with that. Few leaders are. Thoughts of bring known as a great spiritual leader, having great respect, being greeted in the public places and having seats of honor at banquets are things that in the hearts of many leaders.

Blessed is that person who views position of authority as one which enables them to serve. Servants of the LORD should follow their Master's example:
Matthew 20:25-28 Jesus called them together and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave— just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Giving our lives to help others is true leadership. Washing feet, being a servant, following Jesus.

Why are we surprised when a leader does the menial task? It is because it is so unordinary! But when it happens it refreshing!

Be content to be known by God. Care not who else knows you or what ye think about you. It does not matter. What He thinks of you is all that counts.


3. Humility Is Being Surprised At Honor.
Saul was.
Davis was.
After David was anointed he went back to the sheep. He was a shepherd.
Psalm 78:70-72 He chose David His servant and took him from the sheep pens; from tending the sheep He brought him to be the shepherd of his people Jacob,of Israel His inheritance. And David shepherded them with integrity of heart; with skillful hands he led them.

When God spoke through Nathan when David wanted to build the Temple for the LORD, we see his humility.


4. God Draws Near To The Humble of Heart.

James 4:8, 10 Come near to God and He will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will lift you up.

Proverbs 11:2 When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.

5. Humble Yourself.
Romans 12:3 For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you.
1 Peter 5:6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.

Humility: to make low, bring low, to level, reduce to a plain
to reduce to meaner circumstances
to assign a lower rank or place to
to abase
to be ranked below others who are honoured or rewarded
to lower, depress
of one's soul bring down one's pride
to have a modest opinion of one's self
to behave in an unassuming manner
devoid of all haughtiness

Pride can be manifested like this, "I am special, I am above the law. I am a leader. I do not need to obey it."

We are really talking about Christlikeness. He humbled Himself. Follow Him. It is not easy but it is a lot more pleasant if we do it rather than having Him do it for us.

Jesus' humility should be our goal.
When I think i am doing well, I look at the Master and realize how much I need to grow.
My deepest prayer, my highest goal, that I may be like Jesus!

Humble yourself. Then you will be fit for the King!