Psalms 22:6
David felt this low when he had been humbled before the Lord for his many failings. He was acutely aware of those times he walked in sin and arrogance and pride.
Isn’t he a bit like you and me – Men and women of extremes, of glaring contradictions - a mixture of pride and humility, righteousness and sin? Over the last seventy years I have known both.
To be sure there have been many times in my life when I have walked in self-righteous pride with an inflated sense of my own self-importance. Yes, I have been proud, arrogant, and conceited more times than I can remember. There were times when I cleverly concealed it under a cloak of spiritual zeal and false humility. I have had my share of self-serving agendas and purpose driven blunders all in the name of "Bill". I have been the Bill who has thought of himself more highly than he should. And like the tick sitting on the rump of an ox boasting about how well he has been plowing the field I have been the Bill who has inwardly boasted about all the things he has accomplished for God.
As an old man now, often given to self-reflection, I am acutely aware of my past failures and the sins of my heart. I am keenly aware of those I have sinned against and hurt. I know only too well how the words of my mouth have been unbecoming of a Christian. Yes, I can look back and see the lusts of the flesh, the lusts of the eyes and the pride of life that have been blemishes to my witness and testimony from time to time.
But I have been the broken Bill as well. Just like David who was called on the carpet by the prophet Nathan, I too have been brought exceedingly low and humbled under the chastisement and mighty hand of God. I have been convicted and brought to a place of contriteness and humility before God. I have been the lowly Bill, the broken Bill, and the humbled Bill. Yes, I have seen myself as a worm as well.
Personally, I much prefer the broken and contrite Bill to the pompous and proud Bill. Do you suppose the reason why God called David "a man after God's own heart" was because of his readiness to recognize his sins, humble himself and sincerely repent?
Therefore, “…be clothed in humility, for God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” – (I Peter 5:5)
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