Humility

God commands humility

Mic 6:8; Jas 4:10; 1 Pe 3:8

See also Ex 10:3; Pr 16:19; Is 57:15; Is 58:5; Zep 2:3; Lk 14:9–11; Ro 12:3 sober assessment of oneself; 1 Co 1:28; Eph 4:2; Col 3:12; Tt 3:2; Jas 3:13; 1 Pe 5:5

God exalts the humble

Luke 1:52 NASB95

“He has brought down rulers from their thrones, And has exalted those who were humble.

See also 2 Sa 7:8; 1 Ki 14:7

Believers should humble themselves before God

2 Ch 7:14; 1 Pe 5:6

See also 2 Sa 22:28

Humility linked with repentance:

1 Ki 21:29; 2 Ki 22:19; 2 Ch 12:6–7; 2 Ch 12:12; 2 Ch 30:11; 2 Ch 33:12; 2 Ch 33:19; 2 Ch 34:27

Humility linked with God’s favour:

Ps 18:27; Ps 25:9; Ps 138:6; Ps 147:6; Ps 149:4; Pr 3:34; Pr 18:12; Jas 4:6; Is 29:19; Is 38:15; Is 57:15; Pr 15:33; Pr 22:4

Ps 35:13; Je 44:10 lack of humility linked with disobedience

God humbles his people to renew and restore them

Psalm 44:9 NASB95

Yet You have rejected us and brought us to dishonor, And do not go out with our armies.

See also Le 26:41; Dt 8:2; Dt 8:16; 1 Ki 11:39; 2 Ch 28:19; Ps 107:39; Is 9:1; 2 Co 12:21

God humbles the proud

Luke 18:14 NASB95

“I tell you, this man went to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted.”

See also 1 Sa 2:7; Is 2:11; Is 2:17; Is 5:15; Is 13:11; Is 23:9; Is 25:11; Is 26:5; Da 4:37

Examples of humble people

Outstanding individuals

Ge 32:10 Jacob; Ge 41:16 Joseph; Nu 12:3 Moses; 1 Sa 9:21 Saul

David:

1 Sa 18:18; 2 Sa 7:18

1 Ki 3:7 Solomon; Da 2:30 Daniel; Mt 3:14 John the Baptist; Lk 1:43 Elizabeth; Lk 1:48 Mary, the mother of Jesus Christ

Paul:

1 Ti 1:15; Ac 20:19

Other examples

2 Sa 16:4; Pr 6:3; Pr 11:2; Pr 16:19; Pr 29:23; Da 5:22; Mt 8:8; Mt 15:27; Mt 18:4

The example of Jesus Christ

Philippians 2:5–8 NASB95

Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

The humility of Jesus Christ foretold:

Is 53:3–5; Is 53:7–8; Zec 9:9

Mt 11:29; Mt 20:28; Lk 22:26–27; Jn 13:4; 2 Co 8:9