What does it mean to humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God (1 Peter 5:6)?

Answer

In 1 Peter 5:5–6, Peter addresses younger Christians who are not leaders in the church and, likely, less mature in their walk of faith. He urges them to practice humility in all of their relationships—with elders, other believers, and with God: “Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for ‘God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.’ Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you” (ESV).

“Humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God” is an expression that entails submitting in a spirit of humility to God’s sovereign dealings in your life. It means trusting God and accepting His will, no matter what hardships He allows. In the next breath, Peter says, “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you” «casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you. », (1 Peter 5:7). We are to humbly trust God even in times of adversities, giving all our worries and concerns to Him.

In 1 Peter 5:5, Peter quotes Proverbs 3:34: “Surely He [God] scorns the scornful, but gives grace to the humble” (NKJV). The sin of pride is linked with rebellion against God (Ezekiel 28:13-17). A proud person sets himself against God, causing God, in turn, to set Himself against the proud. A humble person agrees with God and receives His favor and care.

In a strikingly similar teaching, James references the same proverb: “But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, ‘God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.’ Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.”Hearts, you double-minded. Be wretched and mourn and weep. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you” (James 4:6-10;ESV).

Both Peter and James emphasize the contrast between God’s interactions with the proud and the humble. The Lord opposes the proud but lifts up the humble individual who relies completely on God’s grace. Peter’s declaration echoes that of the psalmist: “Cast your cares on the LORD and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous be shaken” «Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: He shall never suffer the righteous to be moved. », (Psalm 55:22).

The term “mighty hand of God” is a figurative expression denoting the Lord’s supreme power. When Peter urges, “Humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God,” he is reminding Jewish Christians of the Lord’s unmatched strength. God’s “mighty hand” and “outstretched arm” have brought humility to Israel and led His people to repentance repeatedly in the past (Ezekiel 20:33-44;Jeremiah 15:6;Isaiah 5:25).

Perhaps more than most, Peter understood that it is preferable for followers of Christ to humble themselves under God’s mighty hand than to reach a point where God needs to humble them. As a young, immature believer, Peter had boasted that he would always remain faithful to Christ, willing to die rather than deny Him: “Even if all fall away on account of you, I never will” (Matthew 26:33;see also Mark 14:29,31). Yet from that prideful stance, Peter descended into the depths of denial (Luke 22:54-61). When tHe rooster crowed, and Jesus turned to look into Peter’s eyes; the apostle was profoundly humbled under the mighty hand of the Lord. Yet it wasn’t long before Peter was restored by the Lord (John 21:15-25). His pride had hurled him down, but God lifted him up.

Although our human tendency may be to react with pride, the Lord calls us to respond with humility to all people and every adversity we face. After receiving “surpassingly great revelations,” the apostle Paul was given a “thorn in the flesh” to keep him from becoming conceited and boastful, “And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.” (2 Corinthians 12:7). Peter acknowledged the same principle—that God often allows trouble and adversity to keep us humble and dependent on Him.

To humble ourselves under the mighty hand of God means to trust in the Lord’s power, recognizing that our strength comes from Him and not ourselves (Psalm 121:2; 2 Corinthians 12:9). It involves accepting His sovereign dealings in our lives, submitting to our elders, and acting humbly toward our brothers and sisters in the body of Christ.

We get to choose how we will respond to adversity. We can fret and chafe under the Lord’s mighty hand, or we can accept the tests that God sends. We can trust in His faithfulness, knowing His hand is strong to deliver us. We can offer our worries to Him, knowing He will take care of us. God will give us the grace we need to endure so that His power is made perfect in our weakness, “And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore.”Here will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” (2 Corinthians 12:9). And He will lift us up at the proper time.