Humble Pie – Fit for a King

By Debra DuPree Williams @DDuPreeWilliams

Here are just a few of my thoughts based on our pastor’s sermon this past Sunday.

The New Oxford American Dictionary defines humility as a modest or low view of one’s importance. Most of us can probably think of a few people we know who would fit into that category.

The shepherd boy turned giant killer, turned king, David was one such person. In fact, he was considered so lowly by his own family, when the prophet Samuel went to the house of Jesse and asked to meet his sons as one of them was called to be the next king of Israel, Jesse had even forgotten about him. After the seven older brothers had passed before Samuel, he finally had to turn to Jesse and ask him if he had any more sons.

If you know the story, you know that Jesse never thought about David fitting God’s call to be king. He answered somewhat like, “Oh, him. You don’t mean him, surely. He’s just a boy, and besides, he’s out in the fields watching the sheep.” I can just see the disdain on his brothers’ faces and hear it in his father’s voice.

Samuel refused to even sit until someone went out to the fields and brought David into the house where Samuel immediately knew that he was the one called by God. Then and there, Samuel anointed David by pouring oil over David’s head.

WALKING HUMBLY WITH HIS GOD

What did David do? I can’t imagine his surprise, but it didn’t go to his head. He was so humble, he went right back to tending the sheep and he remained in that position for several years, until such a time as God appointed for him to become the King of Israel, replacing King Saul.

Think about Psalm 23. In it, David declares that the LORD is his shepherd, indicating that he is a sheep. He will follow the LORD all the days of his life. Indeed, David was called a man after God’s own heart. ( I Samuel 13:14 and Acts 13:22).

The difference between David and King Saul? David was truly repentant. His heart was touched by his sin to the point of writing Psalm 51. He knew he’d sinned, that he needed to repent and ask for God’s forgiveness. King Saul? He rationalized away all his misdeeds (sins).

RATIONALIZATION – MAKING EXCUSES

How many times have we done that? I know I have. Well, everyone else did it. It’s the times in which we’re living. Things are different now. No one will ever know. The Bible tells us that Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8).  If we live for him, the rules don’t change, no matter in what time period or what everyone around us chooses to do.

So, how could God declare that David was a man after his own heart? Both he and Saul committed egregious sins. What could be worse than those done by David? But David was truly sorry. And when we repent, God not only forgives, he forgets our sins, just as He forgave and forgot David’s. I don’t know about you, but that makes me wipe my hand across my forehead with a big WHEW!  (And don’t forget, it was through the line of David that Jesus came into this world).

The bottom line is, we don’t have to carry around a load of guilt and shame for the things we’ve done. From the least to the worst thing we’ve ever done, when we take it to God and lay it at the foot of the cross in true repentance, He forgives us and remembers it no more (Hebrews 8:12). Hallelujah!

Are you carrying around things that are weighing you down? If you haven’t done so yet, go to your Bible and pray Psalm 51 just as David did. Humble pie is good for David and for us.

 

Blessings, y’all.

Humble Pie - Fit for a King @DDuPreeWilliams #faith #writing Share on X

 

My friend, Author Lori Roeleveld has written a wonderful devotional book, Running from a Crazy Man (and Other Adventures Traveling With Jesus). I highly recommend it. Here is a link.

https://smile.amazon.com/Running-Crazy-Other-Adventures-Traveling/dp/1941103782/

 

Here is a link to an anthem set to David’s words in Psalm 51.

https://youtu.be/S0gQpwQMqLo