Today’s devotion comes from Psalm chapter 79. Due to the length of this devotion and the importance of humility, we will pause a few days to meditate on today’s devotion. The next devotion, God willing, will be on Wednesday, September 23, 2026.
“O God, the nations have invaded Your inheritance;
They have defiled Your holy temple;
They have laid Jerusalem in ruins.
2 They have given the dead bodies of Your servants for food to the birds of the heavens,
The flesh of Your godly ones to the beasts of the earth.
3 They have poured out their blood like water round about Jerusalem;
And there was no one to bury them.
4 We have become a reproach to our neighbors,
A scoffing and derision to those around us.
5 How long, O LORD? Will You be angry forever?
Will Your jealousy burn like fire?
6 Pour out Your wrath upon the nations which do not know You,
And upon the kingdoms which do not call upon Your name.
7 For they have devoured Jacob
And laid waste his habitation.
8 Do not remember the iniquities of our forefathers against us;
Let Your compassion come quickly to meet us,
For we are brought very low.
9 Help us, O God of our salvation, for the glory of Your name;
And deliver us and forgive our sins for Your name’s sake.
10 Why should the nations say, “Where is their God?”
Let there be known among the nations in our sight,
Vengeance for the blood of Your servants which has been shed.
11 Let the groaning of the prisoner come before You;
According to the greatness of Your power preserve those who are doomed to die.
12 And return to our neighbors sevenfold into their bosom
The reproach with which they have reproached You, O Lord.
13 So we Your people and the sheep of Your pasture
Will give thanks to You forever;
To all generations we will tell of Your praise.”
Psalm chapter 79.
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Notice the humility of the Psalmist, especially in verses 5, 8, and 9.
Even in the plea for help and deliverance in verse 9 in bold italic font above, the Psalmist does not base his requests on his own works or other virtues, but rather, the Psalmist bases his requests on the “the glory of Your name” and “for Your name’s sake.”
“So we Your people and the sheep of Your pasture
Will give thanks to You forever;
To all generations we will tell of Your praise.” Verse 13.
Consider the following verses on humility.
“But He gives a greater grace. Therefore it says, “GOD IS OPPOSED TO THE PROUD, BUT GIVES GRACE TO THE HUMBLE.” James 4:6.
“18 Pride goes before destruction,
And a haughty spirit before stumbling.
19 It is better to be humble in spirit with the lowly
Than to divide the spoil with the proud.
20 He who gives attention to the word will find good,
And blessed is he who trusts in the LORD.” Proverbs 16:18-20.
“The fear of the LORD is the instruction for wisdom,
And before honor comes humility.” Proverbs 15:33.
“Before destruction the heart of man is haughty,
But humility goes before honor.” Proverbs 18:12.
“The reward of humility and the fear of the LORD
Are riches, honor and life.” Proverbs 22:4.
“He leads the humble in justice,
And He teaches the humble His way.” Proverbs 25:9.
“For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.” Luke 14:11.
“The Pharisee stood and was praying this to himself: ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other people: swindlers, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I pay tithes of all that I get.’ But the tax collector, standing some distance away, was even unwilling to lift up his eyes to heaven, but was beating his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, the sinner!’ I tell you, this man went to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted.” Luke 18:11-14.
Reformed Doctrine accurately summarizes Scripture and teaches that salvation is a work of God alone, by grace alone, and that God provides all the points of salvation from beginning to end: from the beginning of “Unconditional Election” through “Limited Atonement” through “Irresistible Grace” to the end of “Preservation of the Saints”, the “U”, “L”, “I”, and “P” of “TULIP”, the Five Points of Calvinism, the Reformed Doctrine of Salvation. This true doctrine of salvation is more fully taught in the Reformed creed Canons of Dordt.
But, consider that “TULIP” starts with “T” representing “Total Depravity” of man. Before we consider all the wonderful things that God does for us, we humbly meditate on our natural condition of “Total Depravity”.
We were “dead” in sin. Ephesians 2:1-5. We were hostile to God. Romans 8:7 and Colossians 1:21. We were in bondage to sin. Romans 7:14-15.
“10 as it is written,
“THERE IS NONE RIGHTEOUS, NOT EVEN ONE;
11 THERE IS NONE WHO UNDERSTANDS,
THERE IS NONE WHO SEEKS FOR GOD;
12 ALL HAVE TURNED ASIDE, TOGETHER THEY HAVE BECOME USELESS;
THERE IS NONE WHO DOES GOOD,
THERE IS NOT EVEN ONE.” Romans 3:10-12.
Only after this point of “Total Depravity” is fully taught does “TULIP” proceed to the next point of “Unconditional Election”, the “U” of “TULIP” which is the basis of salvation, that we are saved by God’s choice, not by our choice nor by our works. If we truly understand “Total Depravity”, then it is easier to believe that our only chance for salvation was God’s “Unconditional Election”. If man is truly dead in sin, then man can not produce the works, nor even as little as the will, to merit salvation, and all glory goes to God for our salvation.
“For He says to Moses, “I WILL HAVE MERCY ON WHOM I HAVE MERCY, AND I WILL HAVE COMPASSION ON WHOM I HAVE COMPASSION.” So then it does not depend on the man who wills or the man who runs, but on God who has mercy.” Romans 9:15-16. In other words, salvation does not depend on our works, nor even as little as our will. God saves whom He wants.
“For consider your calling, brethren, that there were not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble; but God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong, and the base things of the world and the despised God has chosen, the things that are not, so that He may nullify the things that are, so that no man may boast before God. But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption, so that, just as it is written, “LET HIM WHO BOASTS, BOAST IN THE LORD.” 1 Corinthians 1:26-31.
“Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time, casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you.” 1 Peter 5:6-7.
“My soul will make its boast in the LORD;
The humble will hear it and rejoice.” Psalm 34:2.
“16 Let all who seek You rejoice and be glad in You;
Let those who love Your salvation say continually,
“The LORD be magnified!”
17 Since I am afflicted and needy,
Let the Lord be mindful of me.
You are my help and my deliverer;
Do not delay, O my God.” Psalm 40:16-17.
Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions 