He Hath Scattered the Proud

Advent Day #7

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.
He hath filled the hungry with good things;
and the rich he hath sent empty away. Luke 1:51-53

            Luke’s well-researched account of the birth of Christ is the only Gospel that contains Mary’s song. What a treasure to have a record of Mary’s thoughts as she prepared for the birth of her Savior. Her Magnificat, as it is known, resembles the songs of Moses in Exodus 15 and Hannah in 1 Samuel 2. Both songs reference God’s humbling of the proud. In Moses’ song, a wicked king’s army had drowned in the Red Sea. In Hannah’s case, a barren woman had been given a child who would replace the evil religious leaders of her day. Mary’s song prophetically described how God would humble the proud king of Israel and the religious leaders in her time.

            Jesus could have descended from Heaven immediately causing every knee to bow before Him in worship. At the very least, He should have been born in the palace of an earthly king, deserving of every comfort available. Why did He choose a poor peasant family for His earthly home? Why did He choose to be born in a stable and to be wrapped in the rags of a baby lamb?

            When God had a conversation with Job in Job 40-41, God explained that part of His work was to “Look on every one that is proud, and bring him low…” Job 40:12. From the very beginning, Satan has attempted to exalt himself above God. It was pride that made man want to be like God in the garden. Pride has infected humanity ever since man’s fall, and pride’s end is destruction.

            The thoughts of God are so much higher than man’s thoughts. (Isaiah 55:8) With such a lowly birth the pride of men’s hearts would be revealed. The arrogance of the religious leaders would be unveiled showing trust in their works and the praise of men more than in the mercy of God. King Herod’s murderous heart would expose itself as soon as he heard of another King at the wise men’s arrival. Jesus’s lowly birth exemplified the humility God desires in men’s hearts. It is the mind He commands His people to have now.

Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, 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 was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. 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, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Philippians 2:5-11

Christmas is the perfect time to humble ourselves in worship and seek to exemplify our humble Savior. There is no better opportunity to become more like Him!