Which other scriptures emphasize God's power to exalt His followers? Setting the Stage: Psalm 18:43 “You have delivered me from the strife with the people; You have made me the head of nations; a people I had not known shall serve me.” David celebrates a God who does more than rescue—He promotes. This theme of divine exaltation rings throughout the rest of Scripture. Old Testament Witnesses to God’s Exalting Power • 1 Samuel 2:7-8 – “The LORD brings poverty and wealth; He humbles and He exalts. He raises the poor from the dust… He seats them among princes and bestows on them a throne of honor.” • Psalm 75:6-7 – “For exaltation comes neither from the east nor from the west… but God is Judge: He brings down one and exalts another.” • Psalm 113:7-8 – “He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap to seat them with princes.” • Isaiah 40:4 – “Every valley shall be lifted up, and every mountain and hill made low…” • Daniel 4:34, 37 – Nebuchadnezzar testifies that God “is able to humble those who walk in pride” and restore them when they acknowledge Him. New Testament Echoes: God Still Lifts Up • Luke 1:52 – “He has brought down rulers from their thrones, but has exalted the humble.” • Luke 14:11 – “For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and the one who humbles himself will be exalted.” • Matthew 23:12 – “Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.” • James 4:10 – “Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will exalt you.” • 1 Peter 5:6 – “Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, so that in due time He may exalt you.” • Philippians 2:8-9 – Christ’s path: humility first, then exaltation by the Father—model and guarantee for His people. • Ephesians 2:6 – God “raised us up with Christ and seated us with Him in the heavenly realms,” a present spiritual exaltation with a future physical fulfillment. Tracing the Thread: What These Passages Show • God alone decides promotion; human scheming cannot manufacture it. • Humility consistently precedes honor. • Exaltation can happen on earth (positions, influence) and is guaranteed in eternity (seated with Christ). • God’s lifting up of the lowly magnifies His glory, not the merit of the recipient. • The pattern is visible from Israel’s earliest history through the church age—unchanging character of God. Living in the Light of These Truths Keep walking in wholehearted humility and obedience, confident that the same Lord who made David “head of nations” still delights to lift His people in His perfect timing and His perfect way. |
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