Humility Is Our Defense

Read time:

10–15 minutes

(See related principle on the dynamic of humility and confidence)

Aside from being the entry point into the Kingdom (in wisdom and righteousness), humility primarily serves for our defense, preserving and protecting our position of peace and power. Defense against the voice of accusation, keeping us from its snare that wants us to engage, preserving us from its goading attempts to unseat us from our position of peace and power.

Accusation is much more than a statement from someone – it is the voice of fear, from a position of fear to produce a reaction based in the premise of fear. A voice that is heard in our direct thoughts. More insidiously, its a voice embedded in cultures and systems of thought that influence the framework in how we perceive and interpret our environment, and therefore driving our reaction.

Engaging the premise of accusation makes it more formidable, not less. Fighting against the voice of fear in accusation is fighting against fog – illusive and disorienting. It seeks to provoke our engagement. In so doing, we validate its presence and premise, unaware that we are lending it authority and validity.

Humility disempowers accusation. Humility is a position in heart and mind, informed by the truth of our need and dependency on God – the operational truth about who we are and our standing before Him, one that is enabled by His greatness and goodness. The truth that it was HE who chose us, and WE are chosen.

It is critical we are aware of the voice of accusation that surrounds us and build our defenses on humility. Demonstrating humility in the waiting and silence unlocks the door to rest in the power of God’s mercy that evaporates the voice of fear behind accusation, preserving our position of peace and power.

The Voice of Accusation

Accusation surrounds us. The enemy of God’s children (all of humankind) is known as “the accuser” in Revelation 12:10, where he accuses all before God night and day (See also Job 1, Zechariah 3, Matthew 3). A picture of relentless scolding, scoffing, and blame. This is an active reality. There is a relentless persecution of the mind upon the generations seeking to seed accusation that produce fear-based beliefs and behavior. No matter the range of specific fruit, the consequence is an overall spiritual weariness from its heavy weight that slows our movement, dims our vision, and crushes our spirit.

(Psalms 62) How long will you attack a man, That you may murder him, all of you, Like a leaning wall, like a tottering fence? They have planned only to thrust him down from his high position; They delight in falsehood; They bless with their mouth, But inwardly they curse. Selah

Typical targets:
- Security: the belief that the future in an area of life (near or far) is secure and that everything will be okay
- Hope: the belief that better is on the horizon and, like Christmas, can look forward to the future with excitement. Personal inspiration.
- Self-Efficacy: the belief that you have the power and capability to influence your direction, environment, and circumstances. Personal agency. (To where even if there was good to expect, you are subject to forces outside of your control).
- Significance: the belief that you are “someone,” you are unconditionally loved (seen, heard, known, pursued, valued). That you have substance and have a place among the crowd.
- Acceptance: the belief that you are blameless, and therefore acceptable and welcomed

There are two predominant forms that accuse these targets:

Threats: a voice of intimidation seeking to produce despondency
- Likened to the spirit of Goliath, a formidable presence that brings contemptuous mocking and scoffing that debilitates and weakens the knees in its bullying
- Illustration: Denethor’s breakdown (Lord of the Rings)
Challenges: a voice of provocation seeking to produce a reaction that is based on self-advocacy and self-reliance
- Likened to the spirit of a pack of hyenas, an illusive presence that chirps and taunts from the fog and goads you in distraction and hesitation, proving that there is nothing to worry about because it is in control
- Illustration: Joker’s goading (The Dark Knight)

Both forms have the same attempt: to unseat us from, or prevent us from being seated in, a throne with Christ that rules over fear through the unconditional love of the Father.

There are also two types.

Justified: accusations of guilt that has a basis that has a “legal” place to stand because of areas of compromise in heart, word, or deed whether in the present or past (or the fear of it inevitably being present in the future)
- Accusations that hold fact-based reasons over your head as to why you have reason to fear
- The presence of sin and faithlessness present an open hold in the wall of our defenses that allow accusers to harass based on legitimate claims
- Illustration: White Witch’s accusation against Edmund (Chronicles of Narnia)
Unjustified: accusations of doubt that creates the perception something is wrong, capitalizing on our pride or ignorance and goad us out from a place of security and peace
- Our walls are secure, our gates are secure, so the only place we can be defeated is outside of our protection by shaking the confidence
- Illustration: Silva’s psychological strategy against Bond (Skyfall)

Yet, grappling with accusation is the trap. Accusation wants us to engage. It gets in our face, seeking to provoke our reaction through any means because no matter how we engage directly against the accusation, it wins. It’s goal is to unseat us from a position of peace and power, removing us from our source of strength. Drawing us, or keeping us, from the shelter of the Most High and resting in the shadow of the Almighty. Consider accusations like the “Devil’s Snare” from Harry Potter. Our bondage is strengthened in our struggle.

Silence & Waiting

If the voice of accusation surrounds us and made formidable by engaging it, how then do we defend ourselves? We don’t. He does. Every accusation listed above, while framed as if they are against us, are actually accusations against God that invite us to agree with them, and then become defeated by them.

The accusation that “No one will advocate for you if you don’t” is based on “God’s love and favor upon you will not be sufficient.” The accusation that “Your future is threatened and needs to be protected and controlled” is based on “God isn’t in control and will not guide you in wisdom in the right timing.”

So then, the demonstration of our humility is in the silence and the waiting. Humility is the entry point into victory, focusing our hearts and minds of the greatness of God that has always been our strength and hope.

Silence disempowers the accusation and the accuser, avoiding the Devil’s Snare of grappling with fear.
- King Hezekiah: (Isaiah 36 and 2 Kings 18) Assyria came against Israel and Assyria’s ambassador Rabshakeh accused God, Hezekiah, and the people of being unable to defend themselves, saying, “Who among all the gods of these lands have saved their land from my hand, that the LORD would save Jerusalem from my hand?” Yet, the people did not answer him a word because they were commanded to remain silent.
- King Jehoshaphat: (2 Chronicles 20) Multitudes came against Judea with an overwhelming force. Jehoshaphat was intimidated but called a nationwide fast and the whole people gathered together to seek the face of the Lord. The king calls out to God in a beautiful prayer, ending with, “‘Our God, will You not judge them? For we are powerless before this great multitude that is coming against us; nor do we know what to do, but our eyes are on You.” And All Judah was standing before the LORD, with their infants, their wives, and their children.’” There was a silence upon the nation as they waited.
- King Jesus: (Isaiah 53, Matthew 27, Philippians 2) When accused by the elders, scribes, leaders, He answered them none. He did not attempt to defend Himself, and didn’t deflect, but remained silent as His accusers grew in volume and intensity.
- King David: (Psalms 62) When battered by enemies and “accusers” that seek to harrass and destroy him, his response, “My soul waits in silence for God alone; From Him comes my salvation… My soul, wait in silence for God alone, For my hope is from Him.”

Waiting shifts our gaze from the accuser, ourselves, and the perceived problems, to the greatness of God, restoring us to the peace in His strength, solutions, and what He says on the matter.
- In each of the illustrations above, the humility in the silence paved the way to wait upon the Lord to seek His face and prioritize His word.
- Hezekiah: sought the Lord in His sanctuary, and waiting upon the Lord was answered with victory.
- Jehoshaphat: sought the Lord in the assembly, and waiting upon the Lord was answered with victory.
- Jesus: already sought the Father in the garden, and knew His focus and remained undeterred from his mandate. Obedient unto death and then victory.
- David: (Psalms 62) “He alone is my rock and my salvation, My stronghold; I will not be greatly shaken. … He alone is my rock and my salvation, My refuge; I will not be shaken.“

(Psalm 34) I sought the LORD and He answered me, And rescued me from all my fears. They looked to Him and were radiant, And their faces will never be ashamed. This wretched man cried out, and the LORD heard him, And saved him out of all his troubles. The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear Him, And rescues them. Taste and see that the LORD is good; How blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him!

Resting In Mercy

When it comes to accusation, it is the mercy of God that establishes us in peace and keeps us in a position of power.

Our security is this – His mercy is greater than our need for it.

Whether justified or unjustified, our security comes from relying on the nature of God, and nothing else. We trust that even if all the accusations were correct, that He remains merciful and the ultimate say. So we cast ourselves upon Him and are kept/restored in peace.

(Psalm 91) He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.

Resting in mercy: In 1 Chronicles 21, David sins against the God by conducting a census which was forbidden. For context, performing a census was a means of measuring the nation’s wealth for taxes or men for military conquest. It was a violation of trust in God who fought the wars of Israel, immediately relying upon their own strength. God responded with 3 options, 1) a 3 year famine, 2) 3 months of being swept by his enemies, or 3) a plague for 3 days. David’s response:

I am in great distress; please let me fall into the hand of the LORD, for His mercies are very great. But do not let me fall into human hands

David, who sinned against God, asked to be entrusted in God’s own hands because of how much he relied on His mercy. He knew the depth of His heart, that it was better to trust himself in the hands against the one who he sinned against, rather than make it out on his own strength.

The nature of God’s mercy: Psalms 107 is the context that David was operating from. It wonderfully captures the nature of the everlasting and unending mercy of God.

Those whom He redeemed from the hand of the enemy, who wandered about in the wilderness and were hungry and thirsty, whose souls felt weak within them…
- They cried out to the Lord in their trouble, and He saved them from their distresses.
- For He has satisfied the thirsty soul, And He has filled the hungry soul with what is good.
Those who lived in darkness and in the shadow of death, who were prisoners because they rebelled against God and rejected his plan…
- Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble; He saved them from their distresses.
- He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death And broke their bands apart.
Fools, because of their rebellious way, And because of their guilty deeds, were afflicted…
- Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble; He saved them from their distresses.
- He sent His word and healed them, And saved them from their destruction.
Those who go down to the sea in ships, Who do business on great waters; who saw the works of the Lord and the stormy winds to the point where their souls melted in misery…
- Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble, And He brought them out of their distresses.
- He caused the storm to be still, So that the waves of the sea were hushed.

(Psalm 107) But He sets the needy securely on high, away from affliction, And makes his families like a flock. The upright see it and are glad; But all injustice shuts its mouth. Who is wise? He is to pay attention to these things, And consider the mercy of the LORD.

Humility is our defense. It appeals to a greater authority and rests in the knowledge of His nature. Waiting and stillness become our strength. We rest in His great mercy, and great love with which He loves us.

(Ephesians 2) But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our wrongdoings, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the ages to come He might show the boundless riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.

We reign over the fear of accusation through the peace of His mercy.