We Are Humble

Reading: 1 Peter 5:6-7

1 Peter 5:6–7 ESV

6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, 7 casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.

Pray

Nebuchadnezzar was one of the great kings of the ancient world.

Daniel 1: The boys who refused the king’s food are the ones whom the king honor.

Daniel 2: The dream the advisors cannot interpret is revealed by the servant of God

Daniel 3: The image the king erects pales in comparison to the might of the God who saves his faithful servants.

Daniel 4: The pride the king feels is leveled by the God who reigns over all men.

Daniel 4:37 ESV

37 Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol and honor the King of heaven, for all his works are right and his ways are just; and those who walk in pride he is able to humble.

That’s the overarching lesson of Nebuchadnezzar’s story: God humbles the proud.

Peter has been dealing with two inter-related themes: suffering and submission. He has intricately interwoven the ideals of faithfulness in suffering and humility in submission, because Christ has set the example in both. He suffered willingly and faithfully, and humbly submitted himself to the Father’s will in the process. Peter calls us to follow Christ.

So in chapter 5, when he turns to the elders and tells them to shepherd the flock, he’s telling them to humble themselves - not to seek their own gain or only think of their own interests, but to devote themselves to caring for the flock of God. And when he turns to the followers, he exhorts them to follow their leaders with submission, humbling themselves by choosing not to only serve their own interests but to serve within the rightful authority of those vested with leadership. Then comes the general principle in verse 5:

1 Peter 5:5 ESV

5 Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”

Humility Reveals God’s Dominion over Us

1 Peter 5:6 ESV

6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you,

Ten times in the OT, God is said to have brought Israel out of Egypt “by a mighty hand.”

Humility Accomplishes God’s Purpose in Us

1 Peter 5:6 ESV

6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you,

Humility Brings God’s Liberation to Us

1 Peter 5:7 ESV

7 casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.

When we humble ourselves in recognition of God’s dominion, submitting to God’s purpose and work in us, it allows us to trust him. That trust frees us from anxieties, fears, worries, and doubts. We cast them at the feet of our savior, along with all our crowns and accolades too, because we know that we don’t have to worry about those things. We don’t have to be concerned with what we will eat or drink, or what clothes we wear, because our God clothes the lilies of the field and feed the sparrows. And we are more valuable to him than birds and flowers! We see first hand how our Good Shepherd makes us lie down in green pastures, leads us beside still waters, restores our souls, and leads us in paths of righteousness: all for his name’s sake. We live in the promise that he will never leave, nor forsake us. We know his peace that passes all understanding as he calms the raging seas in our souls, quieting our stormy emotions and healing our brokenness. God loves us, and we get to know that love personally through our humble submission to our Almighty, All-caring God.