In Sunday’s sermon, I observed that humility doesn’t come from seeing yourself more lowly… it comes from seeing yourself more properly in light of a glorious and holy God.
Isaiah saw it: “I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up; and the train of his robe filled the temple … And I said: ‘Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts!'” (Isaiah 6)
So did David: “The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork… The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple… Who can discern his errors? Declare me innocent from hidden faults. Keep back your servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me!” (Psalm 19)
It’s not like these guys were vicious criminals or degenerate perverts who had wallowed deep in sin and just now seen the light: “I am lost!” … “Keep me back from my sin!”
Isaiah was a righteous prophet. David was a man after God’s own heart. But when they were caught in the billion-candlepower-spotlight of God’s power and majesty and holiness, and the sinfulness of their hearts was revealed, they couldn’t help but to fall down on their faces in humility.