Greetings Redeemer family!

After focusing last week on Pride, we continue our series in Proverbs this week by looking at what the book has to say about Humility. We’ve joked around the office about the irony of teaching on humility. Pride seems easy to talk about. We see it in our world regularly. Any time we interact with another person, there’s opportunities both obvious and subtle for pride to creep in. Yet humility is another thing all together. It’s something none of us feel very comfortable with. Humility is a phantom. To think you possess it is, in fact, the proof that you do not. The more you strive after it, the further off it seems.

In putting together the service this week, I was surprised by an insight on a familiar hymn. For years, I’d regarded “All Creatures of Our God and King” as just a doxology – a simple hymn of praise without much depth. It has quaint allusions to the sun, moon, and even the air giving praise to God. The hymn is a good reminder that all of creation was made to worship God.

All creatures of our God and King,

lift up your voices, let us sing:

Alleluia, alleluia!

Thou burning sun with golden beams,

thou silver moon that gently gleams,

Refrain:

O praise him, O praise him,

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!

Thou rushing wind that art so strong,

ye clouds that sail in heaven along,

O praise him, Alleluia!

Thou rising morn, in praise rejoice,

ye lights of evening, find a voice,

Yet the context of humility gave new meaning to the hymn’s fourth verse:

And all ye men of tender heart,

forgiving others, take your part,

O sing ye Alleluia!

Ye who long pain and sorrow bear,

praise God and on him cast your care.

As I reflected on these lines and the previous verses, I was awestruck. Yes, all creation is made to worship God. It is an act of humility for us to accept that assignment: that our ultimate role is no different from the rocks or trees or animals. It is from this position of humility, and realizing that we are not created for ourselves, that we understand our need and freedom to forgive one another. We submit to the pains and sorrows of this current, fallen world, trusting that God cares for us and is working out His glory even in these hardships.

To trust God in this way is not a simple resignation to the world as it is, and shrinking back from action. Instead, it is a courageous act of faith in the promises of God. In this way, humility and faith are extremely interconnected. True humility is not thinking less of yourself or disassociating from your surroundings. True humility is embracing what the Word of God says about you.

21. Q. What is true faith?

A. True faith is a sure knowledge whereby I accept as true all that God has revealed to us in His Word. At the same time it is a firm confidence that not only to others, but also to me, God has granted forgiveness of sins, everlasting righteousness, and salvation, out of mere grace, only for the sake of Christ’s merits. This faith the Holy Spirit works in my heart by the gospel.

Rejoicing in the grace that has been shown even to me,

Tim Sharpe

Worship Director

Redeemer Presbyterian Church, Lynchburg VA