“Whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted” (Luke 14:11). And again, “He that is greatest among you shall be your servant. And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted” (Matthew 23:11–12).
O mighty trees of Lebanon, how you have stretched forth your branches toward heaven, and all men have looked upon you with admiration. “The trees of the Lord are full of sap; the cedars of Lebanon, which he hath planted; where the birds make their nests” (Psalm 104:16–17). Yet when the axe enters the forest, it is not laid to the weakest first, but to the highest. “Behold, the Lord, the Lord of hosts, shall lop the bough with terror: and the high ones of stature shall be hewn down, and the haughty shall be humbled” (Isaiah 10:33). And what of the tree that exalts itself above the rest? “Thus saith the Lord God; Because thou hast lifted up thyself in height… and his heart is lifted up in his height; I have therefore delivered him into the hand of the mighty one of the heathen… strangers, the terrible of the nations, have cut him off” (Ezekiel 31:10– 12).
Consider also Job, a man “perfect and upright, and one that feared God, and eschewed evil” (Job 1:1). The Lord Himself declared of him, “there is none like him in the earth” (Job 1:8). He was exalted—not by his own hand, but by God.
Yet when God exalts, He proves.
For Satan came “from going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it” (Job 1:7), seeking those who stand. And he set his eye upon Job—not because Job was proud, but because Job was lifted.
For the adversary climbs.
He seeks height—not to honor it, but to corrupt it.
Yet he found no pride in Job to take hold of. When all was shaken, Job bowed lower still: “The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord” (Job 1:21). And because humility remained, the enemy could not overthrow him.
Now behold the greater pattern in Christ.
When men sought to exalt Him—“to take him by force, to make him a king”—He departed into a mountain alone (John 6:15). He refused the elevation of men. He chose the low place.
And in that humility, He kept Satan beneath Him.
For Satan’s nature is to rise: “I will ascend… I will exalt… I will be like the most High” (Isaiah 14:13–14). He works through pride, and he gains ground wherever a heart lifts itself.
But where humility remains, he is crushed.
For it is not height alone that brings judgment, but pride within the height. When the day of falling comes, when the crash is heard and the earth trembles at its sound, shall not all who behold it stand astonished? “The lofty looks of man shall be humbled, and the haughtiness of men shall be bowed down, and the Lord alone shall be exalted in that day. For the day of the Lord of hosts shall be upon every one that is proud and lofty… and upon all the cedars of Lebanon, that are high and lifted up” (Isaiah 2:11–13).
The evil one seeks to exalt himself on the Strenths of others. Faith is As it is written, “It is like a grain of mustard seed… which indeed is the least of all seeds: but when it is grown… becometh a tree, so that the birds of the air come and lodge in the branches thereof” Matthew 13:31–32) even though faith can grow to a blessing, the institution which remain gives a yhe adversary a foothold to defile future generations. .Even the Increase of Faith can be corrupted by pride. “Thine heart was lifted up because of thy beauty, thou hast corrupted thy wisdom by reason of thy brightness” (Ezekiel 28:17)
And so the adversary seeks places of influence, of power, of elevation—taking what is seen as strong, and corrupting it from within. Yet the Word declares plainly: “Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall” (Proverbs 16:18).
Consider the kingdoms of men. From the beginning they have said, “Go to, let us build us a city and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven; and let us make us a name” (Genesis 11:4). And the spirit behind it echoes still: “For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God… I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High” (Isaiah 14:13–14).
Yet hear the end of that voice: “Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit” (Isaiah 14:15). “For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father” (1 John 2:16). Therefore the day comes when all things shall be overturned: “Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low… and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together” (Isaiah 40:4–5).
“He hath shewed strength with his arm; he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts. He hath put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of low degree” (Luke 1:51–52). And in that day, those who have humbled themselves shall behold the end of the deceiver. “And they that see thee shall narrowly look upon thee, and consider thee, saying, Is this the man that made the earth to tremble, that did shake kingdoms?” (Isaiah 14:16). For “that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world… was cast out” (Revelation 12:9).
But behold the contrast—the holy pattern of God.
There is One, the Shepherd, “the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep” (John 10:11). One who “was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times” (1 Peter 1:20). Though He had all authority, yet “being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: but made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant… and being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross” (Philippians 2:6–8).
And what followed? “Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow… and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Philippians 2:9–11).
He is not distant from His people. “Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people” (Revelation 21:3). For He Himself said, “Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls” (Matthew 11:29).
Therefore the call is clear: Humble yourselves. “Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time” (1 Peter 5:6). “For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity… I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit” (Isaiah 57:15).
Be not as the cedar that forgets its planting.
Be not as the tower that seeks heaven by its own strength.
Be not as the adversary who said, “I will ascend.”
But bow now. For the day is coming when every high thing shall be brought low, and only one Name shall be exalted.
“He that hath ears to hear, let him hear” (Matthew 11:15).
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