Examples of Humility and Reverence in Approaching God's Revelation

Humility and reverence are essential postures in approaching God's revelation, characterized by a recognition of one's own limitations and God's supreme authority and wisdom. Humility is considered a prominent Christian grace, pleasing to God and preserving the soul in tranquility ^[1]. It involves having low thoughts of oneself and behaving humbly towards both God and humanity ^[14]. Reverence for God, often termed "the fear of the Lord," is intimately connected with wisdom and humility, serving as a guide for wise counsels and correcting unwise actions ^{[16, 6]}.

The Bible frequently highlights humility as a virtue. Proverbs 15:33 states that "The reverence of Yahweh, is the correction of wisdom, and, before honour, is humility" ^[6]. Similarly, Proverbs 22:4 connects humility with the fear of the Lord, promising riches, honor, and life as its reward ^[7]. True humility involves submission to and dependence on God ^[13]. This disposition is necessary for the service of God, as indicated in Micah 6:8 ^[2]. Those who are humble are regarded, heard, and delivered by God, and they enjoy His presence ^[2]. God lifts up and exalts the humble, and they receive more grace ^{[2, 15]}.

Jesus Christ serves as the ultimate example of humility ^{[1, 2]}. His humility was evident in His taking on human nature, His birth, His subjection to His parents, His poverty, and His willingness to become a servant ^[3]. He declared His own humility, saying, "I am gentle and lowly in heart" (Matthew 11:29) ^[3]. Christ's example of washing His disciples' feet (John 13:5) further illustrates His profound humility ^[3]. This example calls believers to cultivate humility, entertaining mean thoughts of themselves and valuing others, submitting to God's will, and attributing all they have to God's grace ^[9].

Reverence, or the fear of the Lord, is not a cowering dread but a profound respect and awe for God's majesty and authority ^{[14, 16]}. It is the foundation of wisdom and knowledge ^[16]. Moses, when encountering God in the burning bush, was taught by secret inspiration the depth of the mystery, which prepared his mind to reverence God, enabling him to profit from the revelation ^[10]. This suggests that a reverent attitude is crucial for understanding and receiving divine truth.

Humility and reverence are also linked to prudence and diligence. Prudence, which is intimately connected with wisdom, is exemplified by Christ and involves understanding the ways of God and one's own ways ^[4]. Diligence, also exemplified by Christ, is required in seeking God, obeying Him, and striving for perfection in Christian graces ^[5]. These qualities, when coupled with humility and reverence, enable believers to approach God's revelation with the right disposition.

The apostle Paul exhorts believers to walk "with all lowliness and meekness" (Ephesians 4:2), emphasizing humility as a characteristic of those called by God ^{[9, 11]}. This humility is fitting when considering humanity's state before God's kindness and love intervened ^[8]. The sincerity of one's heart, described as "godly sincerity," is a testament to this humble approach in the presence of God ^[12].

In essence, approaching God's revelation requires a recognition of one's place before a holy God, a willingness to submit to His will, and an attitude of awe and respect for His divine wisdom. This posture, exemplified by Christ, allows for a deeper reception and understanding of spiritual truths ^{[1, 3, 10]}.

Sources

Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Humility — A prominent Christian grace (Rom. 12:3; 15:17, 18; 1 Cor. 3:5-7; 2 Cor. 3:5; Phil. 4:11-13). It is a state of mind well pleasing to God (1 Pet. 3:4); it preserves the soul in tranquillity (Ps. 69:32, 33), and makes us patient under trials (Job 1:22). Christ has set us an example of humility (Phil. 2:6-8). We should be led thereto by a remembrance of our sins (Lam. 3:39), and by the thought that it is the way to honour (Prov. 16:18), and that the greatest promises are made to the humble (Ps. 147:6; Isa. 57:15; 66:2; 1 Pet. 5:5). It is a "great paradox in Ch”
Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Humility — Necessary to the service of God -- Mic 6:8. Christ an example of -- Mt 11:29; Joh 13:14,15; Php 2:5-8. A characteristic of saints -- Ps 34:2. The who have Regarded by God. -- Ps 138:6; Isa 66:2. Heard by God. -- Ps 9:12; Isa 10:17. Enjoy the presence of God. -- Isa 57:15. Delivered by God. -- Job 22:29. Lifted up by God. -- Jas 4:10. Exalted by God. -- Lu 14:11; 18:14. Are greatest in Christ's kingdom. -- Mt 18:4; 20:26-28. Receive more grace. -- Pr 3:34; Jas 4:6. Upheld by honour. -- Pr 18:12; 29:23. Is before honour -- Pr 15:33. Leads to riches, honour, ”
Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Humility of Christ, The — Declared by himself -- Mt 11:29. Exhibited in his Taking our nature. -- Php 2:7; Heb 2:16. Birth. -- Lu 2:4-7. Subjection to his parents. -- Lu 2:51. Station in life. -- Mt 13:55; Joh 9:29. Poverty. -- Lu 9:58; 2Co 8:9. Partaking of our infirmities. -- Heb 4:15; 5:7. Submitting to ordinances. -- Mt 3:13-15. Becoming a servant. -- Mt 20:28; Lu 22:27; Php 2:7. Associating with the despised. -- Mt 9:10,11; Lu 15:1,2. Refusing honours. -- Joh 5:41; 6:15. Entry into Jerusalem. -- Zec 9:9; Mt 21:5,7. Washing his disciples' feet. -- Joh 13:5. Obedi”
Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Prudence — Exhibited in the manifestation of God's grace -- Eph 1:8. Exemplified by Christ -- Isa 52:13; Mt 21:24-27; 22:15-21. Intimately connected with wisdom -- Pr 8:12. The wise celebrated for -- Pr 16:21. They who have Get knowledge. -- Pr 18:15. Deal with knowledge. -- Pr 13:16. Look well to their goings. -- Pr 14:15. Understand the ways of God. -- Ho 14:9. Understand their own ways. -- Pr 14:8. Crowned with knowledge. -- Pr 14:18. Not ostentatious of knowledge. -- Pr 12:23. Foresee and avoid evil. -- Pr 22:3. Are preserved by it. -- Pr 2:11. Suppress angry fee”
Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Diligence — Christ, an example -- Mr 1:35; Lu 2:49. Required by God in Seeking him. -- 1Ch 22:19; Heb 11:6. Obeying him. -- De 6:17; 11:13. Hearkening to him. -- Isa 55:2. Striving after perfection. -- Php 3:13,14. Cultivating Christian graces. -- 2Pe 1:5. Keeping the souls. -- De 4:9. Keeping the heart. -- Pr 4:23. Labours of love. -- Heb 6:10-12. Following every good work. -- 1Ti 5:10. Guarding against defilement. -- Heb 12:15. Seeking to be found spotless. -- 2Pe 3:14. Making our call, &c, sure. -- 2Pe 1:10. Self-examination. -- Ps 77:6. Lawful business. -- Pr 27:”
Proverbs “Proverbs 15:33 (Rotherham) — The reverence of Yahweh, is the correction of wisdom, and, before honour, is humility.”
Proverbs “Proverbs 22:4 (Rotherham) — The reward of humility, is the reverence of Yahweh, riches, and honour, and life.”
Titus (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Titus 3:3: 3:3 Humility (3:2) is fitting, considering our state when God’s kindness and love came to us (3:4; see Eph 2:1-4; 5:8; Col 3:7; 1 Pet 4:3).”
Ephesians (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Ephesians 4:2: With all lowliness and meekness,..... In the exercise of humility, which shows itself in believers, in entertaining and expressing the meanest thoughts of themselves, and the best of others; in not envying the gifts and graces of others, but rejoicing at them, and at every increase of them; in a willingness to receive instruction from the meanest saints; in submission to the will of God in all adverse dispensations of Providence; and in ascribing all they have, and are, to the grace of God: and so to behave, is to walk agreeably to their calling of God; and what the”
CCEL (Reformed) “Calvin, Harmony of the Law, Vol. 1, section 11.5: us in vain, because we presumptuously reject such great mercy. Let us learn, then, by the example of Moses, as often as God invites us to himself by any sign, to give diligent heed, lest the proffered light be quenched by our own apathy. But from his calling it a “great sight,” we gather that he was taught by secret inspiration the depth of the mystery, though it was as yet unknown. In this way God prepared his mind to reverence, 38 38 A humilite. — Fr . that he might the sooner profit by it. 4. God called unto him out of the midst of the bush.”
Ephesians (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Ephesians 4:2: Here the apostle proceeds to more particular exhortations. Two he enlarges upon in this chapter: - To unity an love, purity and holiness, which Christians should very much study. We do not walk worthy of the vocation wherewith we are called if we be not faithful friends to all Christians, and sworn enemies to all sin. This section contains the exhortation to mutual love, unity, and concord, with the proper means and motives to promote them. Nothing is pressed upon us more earnestly in the scriptures than this. Love is the law of Christ's kingdom, the lesson of h”
2 Corinthians (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 2 Corinthians 1:12: For--reason why he may confidently look for their prayers for him. our rejoicing--Greek, "our glorying." Not that he glories in the testimony of his conscience, as something to boast of; nay, this testimony is itself the thing in which his glorying consists. in simplicity--Most of the oldest manuscripts read, "in holiness." English Version reading is perhaps a gloss from Eph 6:5 [ALFORD]. Some of the oldest manuscripts and versions, however, support it. godly sincerity--literally, "sincerity of God"; that is, sincerity as in the presence o”
Zephaniah (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Zephaniah 2:3: 2:3 all who are humble: True humility involves submission to and dependence on God (Pss 18:25-27; 119:142-144; Prov 15:33; 18:12; 22:4).”
Proverbs (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Proverbs 22:4: See here, 1. Wherein religion does very much consist - in humility and the fear of the Lord; that is, walking humbly with God. We must so reverence God's majesty and authority as to submit with all humility to the commands of his word and the disposals of his providence. We must have such low thoughts of ourselves as to behave humbly towards God and man. Where the fear of God is there will be humility. 2. What is to be gotten by it - riches, and honour, and comfort, and long life, in this world, as far as God sees good, at least spiritual riches and honour in th”
1 Peter (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on 1 Peter 5:6: Humble yourselves therefore,.... Or be ye humbled before God, and in his sight; quietly submit to his will; patiently bear every affliction without murmuring, repining, or replying against him; be still under the rod, and despise not the chastening of the Lord; mourn over sin as the cause, acknowledge your vileness and unworthiness, and stand in awe of his majesty, considering yourselves as under the mighty hand of God a phrase expressive of his omnipotence which cannot be stayed, and it would be madness to oppose it; and which is able to cast down the proud, and da”
Proverbs (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Proverbs 15:33: See here how much it is our interest, as well as duty, 1. To submit to our God, and keep up a reverence for him: The fear of the Lord, as it is the beginning of wisdom, so it is the instruction and correction of wisdom; the principles of religion, closely adhered to, will improve our knowledge, rectify our mistakes, and be the best and surest guide of our way. An awe of God upon our spirits will put us upon the wisest counsels and chastise us when we say or do unwisely. 2. To stoop to our brethren, and keep up a respect for them. Where there is humility there i”

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