Isaiah 57:15 For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.

Matthew 11:29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.

Matthew 23:8 But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren.

9 And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven.

10 Neither be ye called masters: for one is your Master, even Christ.

11 But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant.

12 And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.

Romans 12:3 For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.

James 4:10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.

I Peter 5:5 Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.

MEMORY VERSE: He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God? —Micah 6:8

CENTRAL THOUGHT: After a long background of dealing with a proud and stubborn people, and having many examples in the Old Testament of God’s mercy on those who humbled themselves, when Jesus taught His disciples about His church, He showed by precept and example that humility was an important quality He wanted His people to have.

LESSON BACKGROUND

In the days before the exodus and Mount Sinai, God’s ways of dealing with mankind were fairly simple: those who believed and called upon Him He honored and guided; the proud idolaters who never sought Him perished in their unbelief. The children of Israel who had been slaves in Egypt for several hundred years were down-trodden and depressed in spirit; after their deliverance He had to establish and then constantly reassure their faith and confidence. It was after He gave them His law and led them through the wilderness into Canaan that He warned them to beware of pride—prosperity and progress could cause them to forget Him and become self-sufficient.

The years of Israel’s kings provide many examples of man’s pride that brought him low and God’s ways of humbling him—Saul, Solomon, Ahab, Naaman, Uzziah, Hezekiah, Manasseh, Josiah, Asa; then Nebuchadnezzar and Belshazzar in the time of the captivity. The prophets pleaded, time and time again, for the people of God to repent of their pride, which had not only caused them to forsake God but also to oppress the poor. A strain of truth began to shine clearly: God longed for a people who would be meek and contrite so He could dwell in them, and in the Messiah’s kingdom, those whom He redeemed would be lowly, obedient to His commands and humbly endeavoring to dwell together in unity.

John came preaching repentance and contrition; Jesus followed with teaching after teaching against the arrogance of the Pharisees and a call to meekness and humility. He showed by example—modestly retiring when the crowds wanted to crown Him king, taking the place of a slave and washing His disciples’ feet, attributing all of His works and power to His Father, humbling Himself to the death of a criminal—the truly humble life. The disciples struggled with conceit and ambition during Jesus’ ministry, but after Pentecost, the fire of the Holy Spirit replaced their self-centeredness with a godly humility. Their teachings echoed the call of their Master. As the Gentiles turned to Christ and worshipped with the believing Jews in one body, humility, as the prophets had foretold, was a characteristic with which the saints were marked. And it remained so wherever people yielded soul and body wholly to God and endeavored to follow the example of Christ.

—Sis. Angela Gellenbeck

DISCUSSION:

1. Share an example from the Old Testament that shows how an individual was blessed when he was humble, but fell into transgression when he was lifted up.
2. In whom did God long to dwell?
3. Share an example of Jesus’ own meekness and humility.
4. Share different ways in which God is calling His people to humble themselves.

COMMENTS AND APPLICATION

It is now almost two thousand years after Pentecost, and God still has a people who are meek and humble and who tremble at His word (Isaiah 66:2). Where are they, and what are they like today?

A few clues are in the scriptures in our lesson today; there are many more in the Bible. God’s humble people, as we have learned in previous lessons, still do not belong to this world, still walk by faith, and are a people of fervent prayer. All of those things are actually a part of humility as well. So are the qualities of peaceableness, zeal for souls, purity and honesty. Humility just goes right along with the self-denying lifestyle of a true man or woman of God.

Since the true saint does not love the world with its lusts and pride, he or she will not choose the ostentatious, made-for-show lifestyle; the drive to make a statement, appear wealthy, or “wow” the neighbors is not what motivates the saint of God. When you think about it, when the heart is filled with these holy characteristics, it just makes sense that the apostles forbade the wearing of jewelry and costly array, and admonished the women to adorn themselves in modest apparel, displaying a meek (humble) and quiet spirit. The men are exhorted to not love the world, but be a pattern of good works, including sobriety, purity and sincerity.

Consider the example Jesus gave us, with a command to follow, of washing the disciples’ feet. This pattern of humility has been a legacy of God’s true people down through the ages. Wherever Christianity became formal and lifeless, this practice ceased. Where people sought to follow the scriptures, this practice flourished.

An humble saint doesn’t involve himself in quarrels and strife, but is willing to bear reproach, and take wrong rather than do wrong. He or she doesn’t seek for honor and prestige. There is a meekness in true wisdom, and a humility with spiritual boldness and strength.

—Sis. Angela Gellenbeck

Isaac Chandler
April 20, 1912 — July 11, 1971

He was reared on a farm in Oklahoma. At 14 he was left with the responsibility of supporting his widowed mother and younger sister. His mother, a devout woman, lived a godly example and taught him the Word of God and the value of prayer.

This influence would follow him throughout his life. As he would herd his family’s goats through the woods, he would find a place to pray. His choice was a sandstone near a stand of trees. Here he prayed daily to the extent that the imprint of his knees was worn into the sandstone. This faithful humbling before God continued throughout his life.

Bro. Isaac was known throughout the community as a man of faith. He would spend days in fasting and prayer and there are many instances where God heard and answered.

He was six years old when he gave his heart to the Lord and lived a victorious life. At age 14 he began teaching Sunday School in the community and started his preaching ministry at age 20.

By 1964 he was an active pastor, evangelist, and father of more than a dozen children, and lived in Bakersfield, California. He traveled extensively for the cause of the gospel, putting 100,000 miles on his vehicles annually. He lived a life of faith, humbly trusting God for the support of his family, and for the gospel work.

One evening he needed to catch a flight but had no funds to do so. He had a check that needed to be cashed but it was after hours and that department was closed. He went into Mayfair Market to speak with the manager to see if they would cash it anyway. While he waited, the cashier had a heart attack and collapsed. The ambulance was called but before it arrived Bro. Isaac asked if he could pray for her. He did and the Lord revived and healed her. The manager asked what he needed, he showed the check, the manager cashed it and Bro. Isaac had the funds to take the flight. We have a rich heritage of many such miraculous answers to prayer.

My father’s guidance as a parent and pastor was: “As long as you are able to get on your knees to pray, you should do that.”

—Alice Chandler Johnson (daughter)