Humility Vs. Pride

 Everyone deals with disaster in different ways. Some people go into denial. They try to block out what happened as protectively as possible so as not to face the overwhelming emotions of the situation and the sense of failure. Others get angry and find someone or something to blame for what happened, while others are overwhelmed with sadness.

David felt all these emotions after his first attempt to bring the ark of the covenant to Jerusalem after it had lain in obscurity for seventy years. Still, unfortunately, his attempt was unsuccessful (1 Samuel 6). The disaster at the first attempt to retrieve the ark took the life of one man as the anger of the Lord broke out against Uzzah for touching the ark. David ceased his efforts to bring the ark to Jerusalem at this point and left it at the house of a foreigner. The ark remained at the home of Obed-edom for three months.

God blessed the house of Obed-edom because the ark was there. This inspired David to try again. On the second attempt to retrieve the ark, no cart was used to transport the ark. Instead, the Levites carried the ark. The presumption of the earlier attempt is gone. They did their homework on how to move the ark. This time, they moved forward with extreme caution. After six steps, the procession stopped and offered a sacrifice. David was dancing “before the LORD with all his might (2 Sam 6:14).

The trappings of pomp and dignity were absent. Displays of power and prestige were nowhere to be seen. This was not about David. “David danced before the LORD”. It was the joy of humility; there were no royal robes, no encouragement for the crowd to cheer or bow to David. Instead, “David wore an ordinary linen ephod”. It was not the trappings of greatness.

As this extraordinary procession approached the city, Michal, David’s wife, looked out the window and saw King David leaping and dancing before the Lord. She despised him (2 Samuel 6:16). Michal did not like what she saw. Michal is identified not as “the wife of David” but as “the daughter of Saul.” To her, it was undignified. No king should be acting like this before his people. Where was the royal dignity? Michal saw his conduct as unbecoming of a king. “She despised him in her heart”.

The dignity, power, and splendor of the King were too important to the daughter of Saul. David had put aside these things, joyfully humbling himself “before the LORD.” Saul’s daughter could not accept this. To her, it was simply uncouth. David had abandoned his royal dignity “before the LORD” as an act of glad humility. He knew who was the real King. David was making himself nothing. He was not counting his own dignity as something to protect.  Michal was embarrassed. David’s humility brought him joy, while Michal’s pride brought her misery and pain.

It’s The Lord

John gives us a picture of the risen Christ standing on the beach at dawn. Jesus gave the disciples breakfast and showed them his compassion and direction. The disciples had already seen and experienced the resurrected Christ, but still had many questions. They felt a surge of expectation, so they traveled the ninety miles from Jerusalem back up to Galilee to go fishing. Though they were still trying to put it all together, this was familiar territory, and they were hopeful. They conversed as they traveled and discussed their future plans. When would they see him again? What would he say to them?

They fished all night but caught nothing. Then, a lone figure on the shore asked them: “Did you catch anything?” They replied, “No.” He told them to cast their nets on the right side of the boat, and when they did, they made a huge catch. The same thing had happened three years earlier at the beginning of Jesus’ ministry. They had fished all night and had caught nothing. They made an enormous catch when Jesus told them where and when to cast the nets. The fishing trips were similar.  Both times, the disciples had been frustrated by a fruitless catch. Both times, Jesus commanded them to let down the net once more. Each time, there was an incredible catch. They saw Christ’s care for his followers in these miracles of provision and providence.

They did not recognize Jesus when he called out to them from the shore. It was still dark, as dawn was just beginning to appear, and the disciples were tired and ready to call it a day. They probably were not thinking of the Lord, but Jesus had not forgotten them. “Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not realize it was Jesus” (John 21:4-5).

One of the great tragedies of the Christian life is failing to recognize the most significant victories in life and eternity when they are staring us in the face. We are often blind to what God has done and is doing. Mary Magdalene did it when she said, “They have taken my Lord away” John 20:13). Mary’s eyes were fixed on the empty tomb, which represented disappointment and sorrow. Her Lord was gone. Overwhelming sorrow and regret will take away your Lord. Willful sin and self-indulgence will take away your Lord. Pursuit of self-will will rob you of peace and take away your Lord. Mary looks at the tomb with her back to the Lord, unaware that He is there. Not until he speaks does she turn around.

John recognized who it was and called out, “It’s the Lord!” (John 20:7). When they landed, he told them to bring some of their catch. He did not need their fish. What he had would have been enough. But he was teaching them that he valued their part.

“It is the Lord!” It expresses the idea for all of us as we toil through life. In the darkness, “It’s the Lord!” He is There! “It is the Lord!” In our failures, when the nets are empty, “It is the Lord!” When our nets are full, “It is the Lord!” In all of life, “It is the Lord!”