1 Peter 5:6
This sermon emphasizes the importance of humility and submission to God, promising that those who humble themselves will be exalted in due time.
John Gill emphasizes the importance of humility before God, urging believers to submit quietly to His will and endure afflictions without complaint. He explains that being under the mighty hand of God is both a position of safety and a pathway to exaltation, as God opposes the proud but lifts up the humble. Gill reassures that those who humble themselves will be exalted in God's perfect timing, whether in this life or at the return of Christ. He encourages mourning over sin and recognizing our unworthiness, which fosters a deeper reverence for God's majesty.
Text
Ver. 6. Humble yourselves therefore,.... Or be ye humbled before God, and in his sight; quietly submit to his will; patiently bear every affliction without murmuring, repining, or replying against him; be still under the rod, and despise not the chastening of the Lord; mourn over sin as the cause, acknowledge your vileness and unworthiness, and stand in awe of his majesty, considering yourselves as
under the mighty hand of God a phrase expressive of his omnipotence which cannot be stayed, and it would be madness to oppose it; and which is able to cast down the proud, and dash them to pieces, as well as to exalt the humble. His hand, upon men, in a way of chastisement, presses sore, and, in a way of punishment, presses down, and crushes to pieces; but to be under it in an humble manner is safe and profitable; such are hid as in the hollow of his hand, and are safe as in a pavilion, and comfortable under the shadow of his wings; and such humiliation and submission to him, and putting themselves under his mighty hand and care, is the way to exaltation:
that he may exalt you in due time: the Arabic version reads, "in the time of exaltation": when his time to exalt is come, either in this world, or more especially at the appearance of Christ and his kingdom. The Vulgate Latin version, and two copies of Beza's, one of Stephens's, and the Alexandrian, read, "in the time of visitation"; and so the Ethiopic version, "when he shall have visited you"; which seems to be taken out of 1Pe 2:12 sooner or later such who are humbled shall be exalted; it is the usual way and method which God takes to abase the proud, and exalt the humble; for humble souls honour him, and therefore such as honour him he will honour; and this he does in his own time, in a time that makes most for his glory, and their good; oftentimes he does it in this life, and always in that which is to come.
Sermon Outline
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I
- Understanding Humility
- The Importance of Submission to God's Will
- The Role of Affliction in Humbling Us
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II
- God's Mighty Hand and Its Power
- The Safety of Being Under God's Care
- The Consequences of Pride vs. Humility
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III
- The Promise of Exaltation
- God's Timing in Our Exaltation
- The Connection Between Humility and Honor
Key Quotes
“Humble yourselves therefore,.... Or be ye humbled before God, and in his sight;” — John Gill
“to be under it in an humble manner is safe and profitable;” — John Gill
“for humble souls honour him, and therefore such as honour him he will honour.” — John Gill
Application Points
- Practice humility in your daily life by acknowledging your limitations and seeking God's guidance.
- Embrace afflictions as opportunities for growth and deeper reliance on God.
- Trust in God's timing for your exaltation, knowing that He honors those who honor Him.