In case I missed it when I was reading in 2 Chronicles this morning, my reading in Psalm 149 punctuated it. This morning’s word to chew on: “humble.”

I read about three kings of Judah; Hezekiah, his son, Manasseh, and Manasseh’s son, Amon. Hezekiah started well but then got tripped up by his own pride. Manasseh’s reign, on the other hand, was marked from the get-go by doing what was evil and faithless until the LORD brought him to his senses and graciously allowed him to finished well. And Amon? Well, let’s just say he was a chip off the old block when it came to ruling like dad and failed to learn anything from grandpa’s or dad’s story.

And what’s the common thing highlighted about all three of these guys? Did I mention this morning’s word to chew on?

But Hezekiah humbled himself for the pride of his heart, both he and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the wrath of the LORD did not come upon them in the days of Hezekiah.

(2Chronicles 32:26 ESV)

And when [Manasseh] was in distress, he entreated the favor of the LORD his God and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers. . . . And his prayer, and how God was moved by his entreaty, and all his sin and his faithlessness, and the sites on which he built high places and set up the Asherim and the images, before he humbled himself, behold, they are written in the Chronicles of the Seers.

(2Chronicles 33:12, 19 ESV)

And [Amon] did not humble himself before the LORD, as Manasseh his father had humbled himself, but this Amon incurred guilt more and more.

(2Chronicles 33:23 ESV)

Humbled himself . . . It peals, again and again, like an echoing tower bell, as I read through these chapters. A long, loud, repeating foreshadowing for what I then read in Psalms.

For the LORD takes pleasure in His people;
He adorns the humble with salvation.

(Psalm 149:4 ESV)

It’s a parallel thought. Who does God take pleasure in? Who does he adorn with salvation? His people . . . the humble.

Wanna describe the people of God? You should be able to use the word humble. Those who are brought down. Brought under. In subjection. Subdued, meek, lowly.

To who? The Lord? For sure (Ja. 4:10).

Is that it? Nope.

Then who else? To other people — a LOT of other people (Eph. 5:21, Php. 2:3-4).

Isn’t that kind of hard? Yup. But it starts with the heart. Do you want to be humble? Are you willing to humble yourself? Do you believe the meek are blessed, because it’s they who will inherit the earth (Mt. 5:5)? Do you believe that what the prophet says is true is, in fact, really true?

For thus says the One who is high and lifted up, who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: “I dwell in the high and holy place, and also with him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit . . .

(Isaiah 57:15a ESV)

Okay, but you know I’m gonna fail at times . . . like maybe a lot. Yeah, that’s how it works while we’re being transformed by the renewing of our minds and being conformed (Rom. 12:2a) to the likeness of Christ (Rom. 8:29).

Humble myself. Really? Can I really do that? Not on your own. But the question really should be can WE do that? You’re not doing this alone for it’s no longer you who live, but Christ who lives in you (Gal. 2:20). And His Spirit-infused grace is sufficient for your flesh-bound weakness (2Cor. 12:9). So, ask yourself, “Can WE do it?” You bet, for we can do all things through the Christ who gives us strength (Php. 4:13).

The LORD takes pleasure in His people;
He adorns the humble with salvation.

Take pleasure, my King. Adorn away, my God.

By Your grace. For Your glory.