What does the Bible say about humility?

Humility is essential for Christians as it aligns them with God's will and shows their dependence on Him. The Bible teaches that humility is a fundamental aspect of the Christian life. In Deuteronomy 8:2, it is stated that God led the Israelites through the wilderness to humble them and test what was in their hearts. This serves as a reminder that recognizing our own limitations and the need for God's grace is vital for spiritual growth. Humility allows believers to acknowledge that they do not live by bread alone but by every word that proceeds from God's mouth, illustrating the dependence on divine provision and guidance.

Why is remembering God's guidance important for Christians?

Remembering God's guidance strengthens faith and fosters gratitude for His provision and mercy. Christians are called to remember the ways in which God has led them as a form of honoring His faithfulness. Deuteronomy 8:2 emphasizes the importance of recalling how God led the Israelites through the wilderness and provided for their needs. This remembrance cultivates gratitude and humility, reminding believers that their successes and provisions come from God, not their own efforts. Acknowledging God's past faithfulness encourages trust in His future guidance and reassures believers of His continual presence in their lives.

How do we know that God's commands are still relevant today?

God's commands remain relevant today as they reflect His unchanging nature and moral truth. The relevance of God's commands is rooted in His unchanging character and the moral truths they embody. Deuteronomy 8:6 instructs believers to keep God's commandments and walk in His ways, which is essential for leading a life that pleases Him. The Ten Commandments and Christ's teachings in the New Testament continue to guide Christians in their daily conduct, emphasizing love, justice, and holiness. As God's principles transcend time and culture, they remain applicable in every generation, aiding believers in aligning their lives with His will.

Remember all the way which the Lord thy God led thee - Stephen Hyde

Let's turn to the book of Deuteronomy and we'll read the eighth chapter. The book of Deuteronomy and reading chapter eight. Deuteronomy chapter eight. All the commandments which I command thee this day shall ye observe to do, that ye may live, and multiply, and go in, and possess the land which the Lord sware unto your fathers.

And thou shalt remember all the way which the Lord thy God led thee these forty years in the wilderness, to humble thee and to prove thee, to know what was in thine heart, whether thou wouldest keep his commandments or no. And he humbled thee, and suffered thee to hunger, and fed thee with manna, which thou knewest not, neither did thy fathers know, that he might make thee know that man doth not live by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the Lord doth man live. Thy raiment wax not old upon thee, neither did thy foot swell these forty years.

Thou shalt also consider in thine heart that as a man chasteneth his son, so the Lord thy God chasteneth thee. Therefore thou shalt keep the commandments of the Lord thy God, to walk in his ways and to fear him. For the Lord thy God bringeth thee into a good land, a land of brooks, of water, of fountains and depths that spring out of valleys and hills, a land of wheat and barley, and vines and fig trees and pomegranates, a land of oil, olive and honey, a land wherein thou shalt eat bread without scarceness. Thou shalt not lack anything in it, a land whose stones are iron and out of whose hills thou mayest dig brass. when thou hast eaten and art full, then thou shalt bless the Lord thy God for the good land which he hath given thee. Beware that thou forget not the Lord thy God in not keeping his commandments, which I command thee this day. lest thou hast eaten, and art full, and hast built goodly houses, and dwelt therein. And when thy herds and thy flocks multiply, and thy silver and thy gold is multiplied, and all that thou hast is multiplied then thy heart be lifted up and thou forget the Lord thy God which brought thee forth out of the land of Egypt from the house of bondage who led thee through that great and terrible wilderness wherein were fiery serpents and scorpions and drought where there was no water who brought forth water out of the rocks of Flint, who fed thee in the wilderness with manna, which thy fathers knew not, that he might humble thee, and that he might prove thee to do thee good at thy latter end.

And thou say in thine heart, My power and the might of mine hand hath gotten me this wealth. But thou shalt remember the Lord thy God, for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth, that he may establish his covenant which he sware unto thy fathers, as it is this day. And it shall be, if thou do at all forget the Lord thy God, and walk after other gods, and serve them, and worship them, I testify against you this day, that ye shall surely perish as the nations which the Lord destroyed before your face, so shall ye perish, because ye would not be obedient unto the voice of the Lord your God.

Well, more particularly, I'd just like to speak to you for a few moments this evening on the second verse in this eighth chapter of Deuteronomy. The second verse, and the second verse reads, And thou shalt remember all the way which the Lord thy God led thee these forty years in the wilderness, to humble thee, and to prove thee, to know what was in thine heart, whether thou wouldest keep his commandments or no. I'm sure we know Moses was 120 years old when he spoke to the children of Israel and clearly it was a burden upon his spirit as we read Deuteronomy his writings before he was to be taken from them he'd been told as he tells the children of Israel he wasn't allowed to go into the land of Canaan because he had disobeyed the Lord and when we think of that Moses what he did relatively we would think today it was a fairly minor thing but we should recognize there's nothing minor with God. He was told to speak to the rock and he took his staff and he hit the rock He disobeyed God and because of that he wasn't allowed to go into the land of Canaan. Well by God's grace he was able to write these first five books in the Old Testament and wonderful and glorious truths they contain. And so he speaks and tells Israel he was so concerned you can read as we read recently the sixth chapter which speaks so much to people to address their children and young people with regard to the right way whenever opportunity presents itself.

And here we have a case where now he says, and thou shalt remember all the way. And that means what it says. It doesn't mean just one or two occasions. It means all the way. which the Lord thy God led thee these 40 years in the wilderness. It was a long time, wasn't it?

But God was with them and God was leading them and what was God doing in those 40 years to Israel? Well, we're told, to humble thee and to prove thee and to know what was in thine heart, whether thou wouldest keep his commandments or no. So really four important things he tells us there. First of all by nature of course we're proud people and we don't like to have to bow down and do things which other people tell us and yet you see here Moses was able to declare very plainly that Israel should remember how the Lord had humbled them during those 40 years, and how he dealt with them kindly, in love. He didn't deal with them as their sins deserved, but he was long-suffering and merciful.

It's a wonderful example to us today of God's love to his ancient people. They didn't deserve it, and nor do we today. And yet how wonderful it is to think that God shows to us his loving kindness, his great mercy, and what a blessing it is. And so here we have this statement.

They were 40 years in the wilderness, A long time, and as we go back and remember, why was it 40 years? Because they spent 40 days examining Canaan to see what it was like. And God had told them it was a good land and that he would be with them, but they leaned to their own understanding and refused to go up and to conquer it. And as a result, the Lord told them, For the 40 days they'd been in that land, they would spend 40 years, a year for every day, in traversing the wilderness. And it wasn't a nice, pleasant land. It was difficult. It was sandy. It was rocky. There wasn't much greenery. There wasn't water. That's why Moses had to obtain water from the rock.

And so through these things, God graciously humbled them. And today, God does the same to us in our little lives. And isn't it wonderful to think that this same God still deals with us in love to our souls, and humbles us, delivers us from the pride of our life. The things that we're so fond of, perhaps, so proud of. Proud, perhaps, of our own ability. Proud, perhaps, of our own skills. And yet you see God comes and deals with us in love.

And so we're told here, they spent 40 years, long time wasn't it, learning to be humble. And then he tells them, not only to humble thee, but to prove them. They had to be proved as to whether they would do the Lord's will or not. And they were told, to keep his commandments.

And you may remember that one of the great commandments, of course, was to keep the institution of that Passover lamb, which had been introduced in Egypt. And it was so significant. And it set before them a grand and glorious way of salvation. through the shed blood of the Lamb. And so that was a command of God. And they were to keep that every year. They weren't to pass over it.

And so when we read this, and thou shalt remember all the way which the Lord thy God led thee these 40 years to prove them, to prove whether they would. Keep God's commands. You know, we read these things, don't we? And yet, you know, God gives us directions in our lives. He gives us commands in our lives that are set down quite clearly in the Word of God, and left to ourselves. We often think we know better, or we think we can ignore them, we think they're not too important, they're not very relevant. And yet you see Moses here recognized the importance of being obedient and to do that which he had commanded.

And therefore, in these 40 years, not just the odd day, 40 years, those years were used to prove, to prove, to know what was in their heart. We're told our hearts are deep deceitful above all things and desperately wicked. Sometimes the Lord opens our eyes a little to observe how evil and bad and vile we are and yet you see the Lord in his grace and mercy uses Those things which are appropriate to prove us, to know what is in our heart. And sometimes we're distressed to see what is in our heart. And the things which we do and say, which are not appropriate and not in accordance with God's will, but they're because of the pride of our heart.

To know what was in our heart. whether thou wouldest keep his commandments or no. Well, we have many words in the scripture to direct us as to what the Lord's commands are for each one of us. And it's a blessing if we can see and know that God's hand is indeed upon us.

And so remember this, as we read here, these words, and they shall remember. The Lord brings his people into that path that they do remember what he's spoken to them and how he's directing them and how he's teaching them. And in this case, they were led 40 years, 40 years, not in a pleasant environment, in the wilderness. And the Lord used these circumstances to humble them, and to prove them, and to know what was in their heart, whether they would keep his commandments or not.

Well, blessed be God, we have the same God today. And let us recognise as he looks upon us, and deals with us in love. We may remember, like these Israelites were, commanded all the way, everything the Lord is instructing us in and teaching us. And what is it? The reason to make us conformable to His image. to make us more Christ-like in our life. And sometimes it takes a long time. In actual fact, it probably takes all our life.

And yet, God is kind and gracious and doesn't deal with us as we deserve, doesn't cut us off as a camera of the ground. He's patient, He's long-suffering. Do we not have to cry out, what a Saviour, so good, so merciful. Well, tonight, may we take these things to heart. I mean, there's so much to meditate on. You can read the book of Deuteronomy. It's very instructive and gives us so much good teaching. Well, may the Lord bless it to us and be gracious to us. May God be with us and add his blessing. Amen.

Remember all the way which the Lord thy God led thee

Key Quotes

What does the Bible say about humility?

Why is remembering God's guidance important for Christians?

How do we know that God's commands are still relevant today?

Sermon Transcript

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Remember all the way which the Lord thy God led thee

Key Quotes

What does the Bible say about humility?

Why is remembering God's guidance important for Christians?

How do we know that God's commands are still relevant today?

Sermon Transcript

Comments

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