What does "do not lift up your horn" symbolize in Psalm 75:5? Text Under Consideration “I say to the boastful, ‘Do not boast,’ and to the wicked, ‘Do not lift up your horn. Do not lift up your horn against heaven or speak with an outstretched neck.’ ” What a “Horn” Represents in Scripture • Physical image: the horn of an ox, ram, or other powerful animal • Common biblical symbol of: – Strength and might (Deuteronomy 33:17) – Power to rule or prevail (1 Samuel 2:10) – Dignity or honor bestowed by God (Psalm 89:17; 92:10) • By extension, “my horn” equals “my power, status, or influence” Lifting Up the Horn: A Picture of Self-Exaltation • “Lift up” = raise high, parade, flaunt • The phrase paints a person brandishing his own strength as though challenging heaven itself • It parallels “boast” and “speak with an outstretched neck,” emphasizing arrogant self-promotion Why God Forbids This Posture • Only the Lord lifts up or brings down (Psalm 75:6-7) • Exalting oneself competes with God’s sovereign right to exalt whom He chooses (James 4:6; 1 Peter 5:5-6) • It presumes independence from God, the very root of wickedness (Proverbs 16:5) Supporting Biblical Examples • Nebuchadnezzar’s downfall after boasting of “mighty power” (Daniel 4:30-31) • Haman lifting his horn by demanding honor—then being humbled (Esther 5-7) • Contrast: God “has raised up a horn of salvation for us” in Christ (Luke 1:69); true exaltation comes from Him Living the Lesson Today • Resist any impulse to parade accomplishments, titles, or influence • Redirect praise to the Lord who grants every gift (1 Corinthians 4:7) • Cultivate humility, trusting God to honor in His timing rather than lifting our own horn |
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