HUMILITY AND ESCHATOLOGY

The Day of the Lord
Written By Bill Scofield

A society filled with humble humans is better than one filled with arrogant humans. Most of the modern world would agree with this statement. By the 1st century, the subject of humility in Jewish thought had come to reference something quite different—something beyond a desirable human virtue. It referenced an eschatological conviction. Let me explain. Throughout the Hebrew scriptures humility has a unique role to play in the story. Moses, the Hebrew Bible’s primary protagonist, was “a very humble man, more so than anyone on the face of the earth.”[1] Humility is not only an admirable trait. The God of Israel is near to the humble in a way He is not with others. He “sustains the humble”[2] and “leads the humble in what is right and teaches them his way.”[3]

This nearness, this special attention by God, had implications. Humility, “results in wealth, honor, and life.”[4] “A person’s pride will humble him, but a humble spirit will gain honor.”[5] A lot is at stake here. Humility, after all, didn’t reference a personality trait or a nice way of talking with others. It had very action-oriented implications. The invitation throughout the Hebrew Bible is to embrace a more difficult way of life, but one that will be richly rewarded. Humility in the Hebrew Bible is the means to obtain favor from God. Do you lack wealth, honor, wisdom, life? Humility is the way to obtain them.

Except, of course, for the fact that this doesn’t usually happen. While it may certainly grant a sense of nearness to God, this closeness seldom produces the advertised outcomes. In fact, 1st century Judaism—much like our own day—was defined by the opposite. The proud were the ones who had obtained wealth and honor. The humble were generally oppressed; they were poor and weren’t usually the top of the banquet invite list. I can imagine the humble asking for their money back. This created a problem for the Jewish world in the second temple period. When exactly should we expect the humble to be exalted? When will the arrogant be deposed of their roles of honor and power?

The prophets weigh in here: A Day is coming. God’s Day—referenced from the earliest prophetic period[6]—was the answer to the question. This day would see the proud brought low.[7] They will be like stubble consumed in a fire on His day.[8] The humble will also encounter a change in fortune. Isaiah announces that,

“Every valley will be lifted up, and every mountain and hill will be leveled…See, the Lord God comes with strength, and his power establishes his rule. His wages are with him, and his reward accompanies him.”[9]

This conversation within the Jewish world helps us understand the teachings of Jesus and his disciples. During their day, an exhortation to be meek and humble was an eschatological stance in no uncertain terms. “…God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble. Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God, so that he may exalt you at the proper time,”[10] The proclamation of the Gospel in the 1st century was the announcement of the guarantee of the ‘proper time’ in which God would exalt the humble. The reference to ‘the proper time’ helps us situate this conversation within the larger groaning in the Jewish world for God to make things right and to bring justice. God’s proper time is the Day of the Lord. The Gospel announces that the Day of the crushing of the proud and the exaltation of the humble is certainly coming.

Jesus told a parable to some guests at a Shabbat meal who were selecting the best places at the table.

“But when you are invited, go and sit in the lowest place, so that when the one who invited you comes, he will say to you, ‘Friend, move up higher.’ You will then be honored in the presence of all the other guests. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”[11]

Humility permeates the teachings of Jesus as a conviction of the certainty of God’s coming Day. The table will most certainly be reorganized one day. If the prophets are true and God’s Day still delays, then faith most naturally expresses itself in humility.

These convictions caused Jesus’ teachings on humility to stand out from many other ideas circulating during His day. The world then, as today, generally agreed that humility > arrogance. Yet, the Master’s convictions about the Day of the Lord placed humility as an absolute claim. That is, humbling oneself isn’t something that one turns on or off contingent on the benefit/repercussion. Jesus famously, “humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death— even to death on a cross.”[12] Paul, in this passage assumes that this is the path disciples should likewise follow.[13] It isn’t as though the Master was unaware of the vulnerability involved in the embracing of humility.

This is where humility takes on an apocalyptic sense in the teachings of Jesus. The Day of God and, with it, the reversal of fortunes were at hand. This changes everything. By Luke’s account, Jesus began his ministry when he entered a synagogue in his hometown and read Isaiah 61. He began,

“The Spirit of the Lord God is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor.”[14]

The word here translated ‘poor’ is most often translated as ‘humble’ in the Hebrew Bible. His Gospel was good news for the humble. The year of God’s favor was truly going to come. God was certain to re-seat the table, the ‘proper time’ was coming. The lowly would soon be exalted, loss would be turned to gain, and the meek will inherit the earth. While we certainly find this eschatological thrust in the Hebrew Bible, Jesus—and later His disciples—lived with a certainty of this coming day that empowered them to embrace humility in a way that gave meaning to loss incurred and gave courage in the face of vulnerability.

I can say with certainty that the Master’s way is right. Though not easy, it is wise to embrace humility even when it brings loss. The resurrection was not only a vindication of Jesus, but of His way of life. Philippians 2 says that it was “For this reason God highly exalted Him and gave Him the name that is above every name,”[15] His utter humility mirrored His utter exaltation. This is how the Day of the Lord will work. It will be like a filter that causes the meek and lowly things of this age to rise to the top. The opposite will be true for the proud and lofty. The teachings of Jesus can rightly be summarized in this way: ‘The least will be the greatest, the last will be first. So, live accordingly.’[16]

 

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

  1. What might it look like for you to live a life of humility?

  2. What does it mean for you that “The table will most certainly be reorganized one day.”

  3. How can you draw comfort and strength from Jesus as you seek to walk in humility, awaiting the Day of the Lord? (especially when faced with trials, struggles, or situations in life that don’t have you at the top of the ladder)

 

 
Bill Scofield
Next

THE BENEDICT OPTION AT MY SYNAGOGUE