A Case For Humility
Hazzy Redgard unpacks how Jesus’ example of emptying Himself is the highest form of meekness
“From heaven the LORD looks down and sees all mankind; from his dwelling place he watches all who live on earth.”
“Then the Spirit lifted me up, and I heard behind me a loud rumbling sound as the glory of the Lord rose from the place where it was standing.”
The Lord can see the whole earth from His dwelling place, and as He looks down on us, we look up to Him. And because He can see everything we do, nothing is hidden from Him- even our secrets. The glory of the Lord has a loud sound, a rumbling sound and it is mighty. Is there a reverent sound surrounding you?
The presence of the Lord is wholly reverent, reverent to the point that it would be scary to many. When Ezekiel saw the presence of God, He fell face down (Ezekiel 1:28). How do you behave when you are in the presence of God? We all get the privilege to go before Him and say anything we want, so what’s our response? What do you say? How humble are you? How reverent are you? Do you worship God for who He is? Do you remind God how awesome and mighty He is, or do you need reminding of how awesome and mighty He is?
Reading Ezekiel has really helped me change the way I see God. For starters, I didn’t know just how terrifying Heaven actually is, and this gives fearing (respecting) God a whole new meaning. When I pray, I often differentiate God and Jesus. I sometimes pray to God and pray to Jesus separately, because I find it so difficult to understand that Jesus is exalted so highly, and that the sound of the glory of the Lord that is constantly around Him, of cherubim before Him is so awesome. Yet, He came to earth to live a lowly and humble life.
In the West, Jesus is often depicted as caring and loving, the One who is your best friend and will forgive you of all your sins. That is who He is, but He is also the same God depicted in Ezekiel. He is enthroned in Heaven watching everything we do. He is mighty and exalted, surrounded by angels who look terrifying, yet who fear Him as He deserves to be feared (respected). I can read about how Jesus was treated in the Bible and I find it so hard to contemplate that a man who was constantly persecuted, beaten and abused is the same God who orders the earth and gives orders to the morning (Job 38). This is how humble God is. But I ask myself: how humble am I?
If Jesus can humble Himself like that, how much more can I? I’ve thought about what Jesus went through. I’ve thought about Him hanging naked on a cross publicly, being abused by men, and it’s so humiliating to go through that – I couldn’t do it. But He did!
How can I walk around thinking ‘I’m all that’ when Jesus humbled Himself to the lowest position anyone could be in. I have no right to be prideful; I am just one of many humans. Pride is when we think we are better than other people, but Jesus literally considered mere mortals as better than Him (Philippians 2:3-8). And by remembering Jesus’ example, this keeps me humble.
Whenever you’re tempted to be prideful, whenever you’re tempted to think you know better, whenever you’re tempted to think you’re above something or someone, remember Jesus and the way He humbled Himself.
For more scriptures depicting the terrifying glory of God, I recommend reading Ezekiel chapter 1. For help in understanding the Bible or joining online Bible study groups, contact Hazzy Redgard: Email | Instagram
