SCRIPTURE
The leaders of Israel and the king humbled themselves and said, "The Lord is just." (2 Chronicles 12:6)
OBSERVATION
The Bible gives the background to this scene in chapter 12 of 2 Chronicles. Rehoboam, the king, and all Israel abandoned the law of the Lord. Because of their unfaithfulness, Shishak king of Egypt attacked Jerusalem. Shemaiah, the prophet, went to the people and told them the Lord had abandoned them because they had abandoned him. They responded by humbling themselves and in their humility declared, "the Lord is just". The Lord relented and delivered the people.
The people recognized God's justice in disciplining them through Shishak, king of Egypt. In other words, they knew they deserved it. The turning point came when they humbled themselves. God's justice is more clearly seen through humility. Specifically, when we've warranted his discipline through our disobedience. When we are prideful we tend to think we know more than God. When we think we know more than God, his discipline does not appear just.
Humility means to "arrange under." When we humble ourselves before God we arrange ourselves under him. We are the creature, he is the creator. Looking through the eyes of pride we see his discipline as unfair.Pride arranges God under us. We question his motives and goodness. We don't deserve it. Why is this happening? I'm a good person. Pride or humility will shape how we see God's activity in our lives.
APPLICATION
In those moments when I'm tempted to label God as unfair or unjust, I need to take a step back and ask what the condition of my heart is at that moment. I can arrange God under me, by pride, and critique his activity as unjust. It is in those times when I evaluating the events from a superior postion. But when I humble myself, arrange myself under God, I can trust him and see his justice. Even in the difficult things of life. Humility doesn't mean the event makes sense, but it does mean I place my life in the hands of a good, gracious, and just God.
PRAYER
Lord, I have often not seen your justice because of my pride. I've placed myself in a position where I am evaluation and judging your activity. When I live in humbleness, I also live in trust.
