UNDER GOD’S MIGHTY HAND
1 Peter 5:6
THREAD: 1 Peter 5:6 “Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that He may lift you up in due time.”
The verse we will focus on today is not a difficult verse to read. It is not a difficult verse to understand. The verse we will focus on today is one that is difficult to put into practice and live out. It is difficult to live out because of the topic, the imagery, and the promise that it gives us.
I. “HUMBLE YOURSELVES”
The topic that 1 Peter 5:6 presents to us is not a topic that we like to think about. The topic is humbleness. Humility. Others before ourselves. The Apostle Peter, in verse 5, gives us a command to “humble ourselves.” In this particular context, the humility that we are commanded to have is not before our parents, our bosses at work, our government officials, or any other person. There are certainly plenty of verses in the Bible which speak to that. The humility that Peter commands us is humility before our God. Peter commands us to have humbleness before God and he is not the only one in Scripture to do so.
In the Book of Exodus, Moses and Aaron had audience after audience with Pharaoh, king of Egypt, to ask him to let the Hebrew people go from their slavery and leave the country. Pharaoh refused. He refused and he refused. In Exodus 10:3 it says, “So Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and said to him, "This is what the LORD, the God of the Hebrews, says: 'How long will you refuse to humble yourself before me? Let my people go, so that they may worship me.” What did God want from Pharaoh? A humble heart.
In the Book of Deuteronomy, the people of Israel had escaped from Egypt, but had to wander in the desert for 40 years because of their disobedient hearts. Towards the end of the 40 year journey, Moses said to the people in Deuteronomy 8:2-3, “Remember how the LORD your God led you all the way in the desert these forty years, to humble you and to test you in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep his commands. 3 He humbled you, causing you to hunger and then feeding you with manna, which neither you nor your fathers had known, to teach you that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD.” What did God want from His people? A humble heart.
In the Book of Ezra, the people of God had endured a 70 year exile as discipline because they sinned against God. Ezekiel, a prophet and leader, was leading a group back to their homeland. Ezra was calling his countrymen back to faith in God. In Ezra 8:21-22 in says, “There, by the Ahava Canal, I proclaimed a fast, so that we might humble ourselves before our God and ask him for a safe journey for us and our children, with all our possessions. 22 I was ashamed to ask the king for soldiers and horsemen to protect us from enemies on the road, because we had told the king, "The gracious hand of our God is on everyone who looks to him, but his great anger is against all who forsake him.” What did Ezra lead the people to have so that God would hear their prayers of faith? A humble heart.
In the Book of Daniel, Daniel was a prophet of God who was put in service to kings who did not know God. It was always a tough situation. In Daniel chapter 10, Daniel relates one of his many visions. Daniel tells us in Daniel 10:12, “Then he continued, "Do not be afraid, Daniel. Since the first day that you set your mind to gain understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to them.” Fear was removed from Daniel. Understanding, wisdom, and knowledge was added to Daniel. Daniel’s prayers were heard by God. How was fear removed, wisdom added, and prayers heard for Daniel? A humble heart.
In the Books of James and 1 Peter, both men quote the same verse from Proverbs 3:34 which says, “He mocks proud mockers but gives grace to the humble.” In James 4:6, James is speaking about God giving us grace and 1 Peter 5:5 is talking about young men in the church listening to those who are older. The passage from James 4:6 grabs my attention between the two. James 4:5-8 says, “Or do you think Scripture says without reason that the spirit he caused to live in us envies intensely? 6 But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” 7 Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.” James tells us that arresting sin in our lives means paying attention to the Holy Spirit, accepting grace, resisting the Devil, and drawing near to God. How is any of that accomplished in the life of a believer? A humble heart.
As the Apostle Peter teaches us about having a personal relationship with God, he gives us an important attitude that we should have as we come to God. We must have humbleness before God in everything we do. What does that look like? What are the attitudes we should have before God that create in us a humble heart? What types of thoughts will move us towards humbleness before Him?
* Recognize the infinite greatness and power of God
* Understand that we have sinned greatly and God has poured out mercy
* Celebrate that every good gift or thing in our lives comes from God
* Be thankful that God is quick to listen
* Understand that the God of the Universe served us as Jesus Christ
* Consciously remember each day who is in charge of your life… and it isn’t you
* Pray and ask God for a humble heart
* Pray and ask that God would help you live out the Scriptures
It seems like to me, because of our sinful nature, humbleness before God is a conscious choice.
ILLUSTRATION… bible.org/article/counsel-concerning-our-cares-1-peter-56-7
On a visit to a museum in Bonn, a young American student became fascinated by the piano on which Beethoven had composed some of his greatest works. She asked the guard if she might play a few bars on it. To help persuade the guard, she also slipped him a lavish tip. The guard agreed and the girl went to the piano and played a short portion of Moonlight Sonata. As she was leaving she said to the guard, “I suppose all the great pianists who come here want to play on that piano.” The guard shook his head and said, “Paderewski [the famed Polish pianist] was here a few years ago, and he said he wasn’t worthy to touch it.”
It seems like to me, because of our sinful nature, humbleness before God is a conscious choice that in the face of power and majesty and awesomeness that we will choose to think of ourselves less. One of the most basic teachings the Apostles of Jesus give us is that our personal authentic relationships with God must be marked by humbleness before Him.
THREAD: 1 Peter 5:6 “Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that He may lift you up in due time.”
II. “UNDER GOD’S MIGHTY HAND”
The imagery of 1 Peter 5:6 is also something that gives us pause. The middle part of the verse says that we are “under God’s mighty hand.” When you think about God’s hand, how does it look? What position is His hand in? What is it doing?
It is highly possible that when you think of God’s Hand over your life, you see it as a giant finger pointing at you. What does that kind of hand gesture mean? It is accusing. It is blame. It is judgment. It might be that when you think of God, your default view of Him is one as the Judge of the Universe who levels out judgment based on sin. He certainly does that. To deny that, would be to deny all of who God is and all of what the Bible says. Babel in Genesis 11. Sodom and Gomorrah in Genesis 19. Israel because of David’s census in 2 Samuel 24. Ananias and Sapphira in Acts 5. The Seals, Trumpets, and Bowls of God in Revelation. God certainly is the Judge, Jury, and Executioner of what is morally right and morally wrong in His Universe. That is part of Who God is, but not what Peter is expressing here.
It is highly possible that when you think of God’s Hand over your life, you see a fist coming down hard. What does that kind of gesture mean? It is anger. It is wrath. It is attack. It might be that when you think of God, your default view of Him is one that is always angry. God is angry with you because you sin and He won’t accept you. God is angry with you because you messed up again. God is angry because you don’t do enough for Him. God certainly has anger and wrath as part of who He is. To deny that, would be to deny all of who God is and what the Bible says. The Golden Calf in Exodus 32. Uzzah touching the Ark of the Covenant in 2 Samuel 6. Jesus overturning tables in the Temple in Matthew 21. Jesus and the Fig Tree in Mark 11. God certainly has anger and wrath as part of His characteristics. That is part of Who God is, but not what Peter is expressing here.
It is highly possible that when you think of God’s Hand over your life, you see a hand completely covering you. What does that kind of gesture mean? It is protection. It is shelter. It is defense. It might be that when you think of God, your default view of Him is one that is the consummate protector of those He loves. He certainly does that. To deny that God is a protector, would be to deny all of who God is and all of what the Bible says about Him. Noah in Genesis 7-9. The sandals of the Israelites did not wear out for 40 years and He provided food and water in Deuteronomy 29. Protection of Solomon during his reign in 1 Kings. The defense of Jerusalem under Hezekiah in 2 Kings 19. Peter and John in Acts 5. Paul in prison in Philippians 1. God is our protector and does come to our defense. That is part of who He is, but that is not what Peter is highlighting here in this passage.
It is highly possible that when you think of God’s hand over your life, you see it outstretched ready to help. This is the imagery that Peter sees in this passage when he talks about God (it makes sense with the last part of the verse). It might be that when you think of God you think of His hand outstretched ready to give you a hand up. To deny that God offers a grace-filled hand up would be to deny all of Who God is and what the Bible says about Him.
Isaiah 41:13 “For I am the LORD, your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you.”
Jeremiah 31:31-33 "The time is coming," declares the LORD, "when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah. 32 It will not be like the covenant I made with their forefathers when I took them by the hand to lead them out of Egypt, because they broke my covenant, though I was a husband to them," declares the LORD. 33 "This is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after that time," declares the LORD. "I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people.” (repeated in Hebrews 8:9-10)
Matthew 9:24-25 “Jesus said, "Go away. The girl is not dead but asleep." But they laughed at him. 25 After the crowd had been put outside, he went in and took the girl by the hand, and she got up.”
Mark 9:25-27 “When Jesus saw that a crowd was running to the scene, he rebuked the evil spirit. "You deaf and mute spirit," he said, "I command you, come out of him and never enter him again." 26 The spirit shrieked, convulsed him violently and came out. The boy looked so much like a corpse that many said, "He's dead." 27 But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him to his feet, and he stood up.”
It seems like to me, because of our many view of God, it is important that one of the major understandings that we have of God is His grace and mercy. God is definitely our Judge. God definitely has holy anger as part of Him. God certainly protects us. All of His anger, wrath, judgment, discipline, and protection is flavored by His boundless grace. One of the most basic teachings the Apostles of Jesus give us is that our personal authentic relationships with God must be marked by our acceptance of God’s help and grace and mercy in our lives.
THREAD: 1 Peter 5:6 “Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that He may lift you up in due time.”
III. “THAT HE MAY LIFT YOU UP IN DUE TIME”
I mentioned to you that this verse is difficult to live out because of the topic, the imagery, and the promise. The topic is humbleness which is difficult for us because pride is at the heart of much of our sin. The imagery is difficult because we often see God’s hand in other major ways other than as a gracious helping hand. Now we come to the promise which is perhaps the most difficult part of the verse.
The promise that Peter expresses in 5:6 is that God will lift us up. That is true. God promises us help and He gives it.
Deuteronomy 33:29, “Who is like you, a people saved by the LORD? He is your shield and helper and your glorious sword.”
Psalm 28:7, “The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and I am helped.”
Psalm 86:17, “Give me a sign of your goodness, that my enemies may see it and be put to shame, for you, O LORD, have helped me and comforted me.”
Psalm 118:13, “I was pushed back and about to fall, but the LORD helped me.”
2 Corinthians 6:2, “For he says, "In the time of my favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you." I tell you, now is the time of God's favor, now is the day of salvation.”
We can be absolutely sure that God is ready, willing, and able to help us. Actually though, that is not the end of the verse. The end of the verse is the most difficult part for us to swallow and obey.
The promise that Peter expresses in 5:6 is that God will lift us up “in due time.” What does that mean?
Does it mean God will help us when He is good and ready and not before? Yes.
Does it mean God will help us when He wants to? Yes.
Does it mean God will help us if it lines up with His will? Yes.
Does it mean God will help us if it is for our good? Yes.
Does it mean God will help us if we are humble? Yes.
You see, the help that we receive from the hand of God comes as a result of our humble hearts being yielded to Him in all things. God helps those who are humble before Him in the manner and time in which He sees fit. And for those who are humble before Him, that is just fine. I don’t know how to explain it more than that. This is a basic teaching of Christianity.
CONCLUSION
