The Lowly

The Lowly

The lowly lead a good life, and it gets increasingly better with them as they walk on the way of lowliness and humility. No one else possesses that same true peace and joy, and no one else is strong in God.

It is written about some who said they were Jews, but were not, and there are also many who think they have lowly thoughts about themselves without actually being lowly. Their words and their deeds testify of something else.

God found that Mary was worthy of giving birth to His Son, Jesus Christ, because she was truly lowly in the depths of her heart. In her song Mary rejoices in God and praises Him because He regarded the low estate of His handmaiden. Though there was no room in the inn, she was, nevertheless, completely content and happy to lie in the hay out in the stables, with her Son in her arms. She knew that it was the right place for her. She longed for nothing greater; she was at rest, being deeply thankful, and rejoiced that God had put her in such a lowly place.

Because of the lowliness of her heart, she was able to praise God with great strength in her spirit because He had done great things with His arm: He had scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts; He had put down the mighty from their seats and exalted those of low degree; He had filled the hungry with good things, and the rich He had sent away empty. Luke 1:46-53.

We are able to overcome all the powers of the devil in this state of true lowliness, but if lowliness is lacking, then ambition, pride, and all kinds of evil things will enter in. To be lowly means that I am satisfied and at rest in my heart with all God’s leading in my life.

Hannah also praised God because He raises the poor from the dust to set them among princes and makes them inherit the throne of glory. 1 Sam. 2:8.

The more deeply we descend in our own eyes, the higher God will place us in all eternity. Jesus Himself received a name that is above all names because He humbled Himself and was obedient to death, even the death of the cross. Phil. 2:8-9.

Saul was an anointed and glorious king for as long as he was lowly in his own eyes, but the kingdom departed from him when something else came into his heart.

James says that the lowly brother shall glory in his exaltation. Jas. 1:9. He has good reason to do that, but no one else has that right. Down there, from his faithful place in reproach and lowliness, he can boast with great boldness of his exalted and glorious throne in heavenly places, together with Christ and all the saints.