3 Steps to Becoming the Greatest Humble Person EverSýnishorn

David and Absalom

We are like clay in God’s hands. David’s life was a demonstration of how much David allowed God to carry out His purposes, however difficult they were. 

When we read the story of how David’s son Absalom rebelled against him and carried out a coup d’état, we are able to see what a humble person David was. As he ran away from his palace and kingdom to let his own son take over, we find a king allowing evil to take over without taking matters into his hands. His greatest advisors rebuked him for allowing his son take the kingdom from him without a fight. But, David only had one response; he was not going to hang on to what was probably not his anymore. He decided not to fight his son, for he knew that he was not in control. Someone else was in control, someone mightier: his God and Lord. David knew well who was Lord over Israel; he knew how to yield control to the Lord.  

David had learned that even if he was a great king, he was not in control. Instead of controlling the situation, he decided to control himself. If David had thought himself great and all-powerful, he would have taken control of the situation. Yet, he considered himself a servant of God, a servant king who was willing to let God reign over Israel and even over his own home. Indeed, David was a humble king, one who allowed his own son humiliate him, who then saw his God exalt him as he returned to his palace after Absalom’s death. He did not return as a boastful king, but as a mournful father.  

David did not hang on to his throne. He demonstrated he was willing to let it go. He did not cling to earthly privileges. A humble heart is ready to let go of riches and power. Let us pray for such a humble heart. Let us pray for God’s grace to seek not the first places, but the lowest ones. Let us not seek to be acknowledged or recognized, but rather to serve God. Let us surrender all our gifts, privileges, and titles at the feet of the cross, for in time we will be exalted.