LIVING WATERS
For the proclamation of the Gospel and the edification of the Body of Christ
Humbling Ourselves Under the Hand That Defends Us
"Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you" (1 Peter 5:6-7).
Normally these verses are applied to Christians who are suffering because of God's discipline. It is understood that they have sinned before God, and that is why the disciplinary hand has come. Then the need is seen to humble themselves under the mighty hand of God as long as necessary, until the day of exaltation.
However, to understand the true meaning of these words we must look at the context - the whole of Peter's first epistle. In doing so, we see that here it is not about that affliction, but about the suffering that Christians undergo for the sake of their faith.
"Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial which has come upon you, as though some strange thing happened to you, but rejoice inasmuch as you are partakers of Christ's sufferings", says the apostle in one of the most characteristic verses of this epistle. It is the sufferings of Christ that Christians are given to suffer. It is an honorable suffering, not a shameful one.
Now, in this situation, those who suffer have two options: to rebel before circumstances and before men, or to humble themselves. In the first case, they may well take up the weapons of the flesh, call upon their resources, their defenses, and avoid the pain. But what does the Spirit say here? That it is necessary to humble ourselves under the mighty hand of God, and wait until God, in his love, decides to end our trial.
This is not to say that there are no sufferings for the sake of God's discipline, in which God's hand certainly becomes heavy. Hebrews 12, for example, deals extensively with that. But that is not what we are dealing with here.
When God's hand comes in discipline, it scourges us. It is the Father's hand that chastises everyone He receives as a son. But when we suffer for the Lord's sake, as in this case, the mighty hand of God shelters and comforts us. It is powerful because it keeps us subject to suffering, and we cannot escape from it, but it is also powerful because it powerfully consoles and encourages us. It heals us and heals our wounds.
Thus, God's mighty hand not only afflicts or disciplines us, but also shelters us when we suffer. In this case, God's strong hand is a shield and defense to help us. If, perchance, we take justice into our own hand, or seek some illicit relief from our sorrows, he will not defend us; his hand will not move in our direction.
Let us humble ourselves under the mighty hand of God, that he may shelter us.