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“Let us look at what the Word of God says.”
The central theme of this song is simple and powerful: God satisfies humble, hungry hearts. Exaltation, strength, guidance, and satisfaction belong not to the proud, but to those who bow low before the Lord, hunger for His Word, and return to Him with all their hearts.
The main scripture is:
> “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 cares for you.”
> — 1 Peter 5:6–7
This theme is echoed in the other passages:
The song brings all these truths together into one spiritual reality:
These are the pathways by which God exalts, strengthens, guides, and satisfies His people.
### 1 Peter 5:6–7 – Humble Under the Mighty Hand
Peter is writing to believers who are suffering, scattered, and tested (1 Peter 1:1, 1:6–7). They face hostility, misunderstanding, and fiery trials. In that context, he does not offer them self-help techniques. He points them to the mighty hand of God.
In the Old Testament, “the mighty hand” of God is the hand that brought Israel out of Egypt (Deuteronomy 4:34; 5:15). It is the hand of deliverance, discipline, and direction. Peter says: place yourselves willingly under that hand. Do not resist it. Do not argue with it. Submit to it. Under that hand, there is a promise: “that He may exalt you in due time.”
Then Peter adds a very practical instruction:
“casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.”
The grammar in Greek shows that “casting” explains how we are to humble ourselves. Humility expresses itself in handing our cares over to God.
The believers were under pressure. Their cares were real. Yet Peter says:
### Psalm 34:18 – God’s Nearness to the Brokenhearted
Psalm 34 is David’s psalm of deliverance after a season of humiliation and fear before Abimelech (1 Samuel 21). David had to act like a madman to escape. It was a season of disgrace, not triumph. Out of that situation, he discovered:
> “The Lord is near to the brokenhearted
> and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” (Psalm 34:18)
In his humiliation, David discovered a secret: God is nearest when we are most broken. His presence is attracted not to our self-confidence, but to our contrition.
### Matthew 5:6 – Hunger and Thirst
Jesus, in the Sermon on the Mount, is describing the character of true kingdom citizens. Among the beatitudes, He says:
> “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
> for they shall be filled.” (Matthew 5:6)
He is not talking about casual religious interest. Hunger and thirst are matters of survival. They picture an intense, desperate longing for God’s righteousness—His ways, His will, His character.
### Luke 1:53 – Mary’s Song
Mary’s Magnificat in Luke 1 is a prophetic song. She sees how God acts in history:
> “He has filled the hungry with good things,
> and the rich He has sent away empty.” (Luke 1:53)
Notice the contrast: the hungry versus the rich. The issue is not economic status, but spiritual posture. Those who feel spiritually “rich,” self-sufficient, and independent are sent away empty. Those who are hungry are filled.
### Joel 2:12–13 – Return with All Your Heart
In Joel, God’s people face calamity and judgment. God’s call is not to outward religiosity, but to inner reality:
> “Now, therefore,” says the Lord,
> “Turn to Me with all your heart,
> with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning.”
> “So rend your heart, and not your garments;
> Return to the Lord your God,
> for He is gracious and merciful…” (Joel 2:12–13)
In times of crisis, the way forward is not clever strategy, but heart-return to God, expressed in fasting, brokenness, and genuine repentance.
### Isaiah 40:31 & 58:11 – Waiting, Strength, and Satisfaction
Isaiah 40 addresses a discouraged people, weary from exile and affliction. The promise is:
> “Those who wait on the Lord
> shall renew their strength;
> they shall mount up with wings like eagles,
> they shall run and not be weary,
> they shall walk and not faint.” (Isaiah 40:31)
Isaiah 58 unmasks false fasting and describes true fasting that pleases God. The outcome of such fasting is:
> “The Lord will guide you continually,
> and satisfy your soul in drought,
> and strengthen your bones;
> you shall be like a watered garden,
> and like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail.” (Isaiah 58:11)
The song gathers these contexts: pressure, exile, brokenness, judgment, and desperation—and shows God’s way of response: humility, hunger, fasting, waiting, and returning.
Let us focus on two key expressions:
### 1. “Humble yourselves” (1 Peter 5:6; James 4:10)
The Greek verb in 1 Peter 5:6 is ταπεινώσατε (*tapeinōsate*), from *tapeinoō* — “to make low, to bring down, to make oneself of low rank.” It is a command in the aorist tense, indicating a decisive act: “Humble yourselves once and for all under the mighty hand of God.”
In James 4:10 the same verb is used:
“Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.”
Humility in the New Testament is not weakness in personality. It is a deliberate choice to:
In simple terms: humility is agreeing with God’s verdict about us and about Himself.
This clarifies the song’s repeated emphasis:
“He lifts the lowly by His grace.”
God does not merely appreciate humility; He responds to it with lifting, exalting, and grace.
### 2. “Cares” (1 Peter 5:7) and “Brokenhearted” (Psalm 34:18)
In 1 Peter 5:7, the word translated “care” or “anxiety” is μέριμνα (*merimna*). It comes from a root meaning “to divide, to be pulled apart.” Anxiety is a state in which the heart and mind are divided, distracted, fragmented.
To cast our “merimna” on Him is to take all those pulling, fragmenting concerns and place them on God, recognizing His care is greater than our anxiety.
In Psalm 34:18, “brokenhearted” is from the Hebrew נִשְׁבְּרֵי־לֵב (*nishbrei-lev*) — literally, “those whose heart is shattered, broken, crushed.” The verb *shabar* means “to break in pieces.” God comes near to the ones whose inner life is shattered, not defended, not covered by pride.
When you combine these ideas:
You see why the lyrics speak of “the brokenhearted,” “those crushed in spirit,” and “hungry” souls. Such hearts are precisely the hearts God chooses to draw near to, heal, and satisfy.
### Verse 1
> Humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God,
> That He may exalt you in due time.
> Cast all your cares upon Him,
> For He cares for you.
This verse is almost a direct quotation of 1 Peter 5:6–7.
1. God’s hand is mighty.
That means He is able both to bring down and to raise up. The same hand that disciplines is the hand that delivers. To be “under His hand” may mean we are in a season of pressure, pruning, or testing. Our response must not be resistance but submission.
2. Exaltation is God’s prerogative, not ours.
“He may exalt you.” We do not lift ourselves. The world says: promote yourself, project yourself, defend yourself. The kingdom says: place yourself under God’s hand, and He will lift you up “in due time” — at the right time, not ours.
3. Humility expresses itself in casting cares.
Many believers think they are humble because they speak lowly of themselves, yet they carry worry, anxiety, and fear. According to Peter, that is not humility. True humility hands over its burdens. It acknowledges: “Lord, You can carry this better than I can. I am not able, but You are.”
The spiritual reality:
### Chorus
> When you fast, the Lord will hear.
> When you bow low, He draws near.
> He fills the hungry with good things,
> And lifts the lowly by His grace.
This chorus gathers themes from Joel 2, Isaiah 58, and Luke 1:53.
1. “When you fast, the Lord will hear.”
Fasting is not a religious work to manipulate God. When it is done in sincerity, it is a voluntary affliction of the soul (Leviticus 16:29, Isaiah 58:3). It is a way of saying: “God, I desire You more than food.” We withdraw from natural satisfaction in order to seek spiritual satisfaction.
God connects fasting with answered prayer and restored fellowship (Joel 2:12–14; Acts 13:2–3). When done in humility, fasting opens our hearts to God’s voice and aligns us with His will.
2. “When you bow low, He draws near.”
This echoes James 4:8–10 and Psalm 34:18. Drawing near to God is not a casual act. It involves cleansing, repentance, and humility. Bowing low — inwardly and outwardly — invites the nearness of God’s presence.
3. “He fills the hungry with good things.”
From Luke 1:53. Spiritual hunger is a condition for receiving. The good things are not always what our flesh desires, but what our spirit truly needs: His righteousness, His Word, His presence, His Spirit.
4. “And lifts the lowly by His grace.”
This is the repeated principle of Scripture:
God’s lifting is always by grace — unearned, undeserved favor. Our part is to humble ourselves; His part is to lift.
### Verse 2
> Man shall not live by bread alone,
> But by every word from the mouth of God.
> Blessed are those who hunger and thirst,
> For they shall be satisfied.
This verse blends Deuteronomy 8:3 (quoted by Jesus in Matthew 4:4) with Matthew 5:6.
1. True life depends on God’s Word.
Bread sustains the body; the Word sustains the whole person. The source is not merely the written page, but “every word proceeding” (a present participle in Greek) from the mouth of God (Matthew 4:4). God’s Word is living, active, and proceeding. To live spiritually, we must continually receive His speaking.
2. Hunger and thirst are conditions for blessing.
“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness.” The modern church often seeks comfort more than righteousness. But the promise of satisfaction is given to those whose primary appetite is for God’s righteousness — His rule in their hearts, His standards in their lives.
This stanza confronts the illusion that natural provision is enough. We may have bread, success, security, yet remain spiritually empty. Spiritual survival and satisfaction require:
### Verse 3
> The one who exalts himself will be humbled,
> But the one who humbles himself will be exalted.
> The Lord is near to the brokenhearted,
> And saves those crushed in spirit.
This verse unites Jesus’ principle of the kingdom with David’s testimony.
1. A fixed law of the kingdom.
“The one who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.” This is stated repeatedly by Jesus (Matthew 23:12; Luke 14:11; 18:14). It functions like a spiritual law:
We do not decide whether this law operates. We only decide which side of it we will stand on.
2. Nearness to the brokenhearted.
“The Lord is near to the brokenhearted, and saves those crushed in spirit.” When we admit our brokenness, our need, our failure, God draws near. The “crushed in spirit” are those who no longer trust in themselves. They have reached the end of self-confidence.
God’s salvation — in every dimension (forgiveness, healing, deliverance, restoration) — comes to those who have ceased to trust in their own resources.
### Bridge
> Return to the Lord with all your heart,
> With fasting, weeping, and mourning.
> Rend your hearts and not your garments,
> For He is gracious and full of mercy.
This is a direct echo of Joel 2:12–13.
1. “Return… with all your heart.”
The greatest danger for God’s people is not open rebellion, but divided hearts. We try to share our heart between God and the world, God and self, God and idols. God says: I want all your heart.
2. Fasting, weeping, mourning.
These are the marks of genuine repentance. Not superficial sorrow, but a deep, God-centered grief over sin and estrangement. Paul calls this “godly sorrow” that produces repentance (2 Corinthians 7:9–10).
3. “Rend your hearts and not your garments.”
In Israel, tearing garments was a sign of mourning. God says: I am not impressed by outward display. I look for inward tearing — hearts broken before Me.
4. The character of God.
“For He is gracious and full of mercy.” We return not to a harsh taskmaster, but to a gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in kindness. This is crucial: genuine repentance is sustained not by fear alone, but by a revelation of God’s mercy.
### Final Chorus & Outro
> When you fast, the Lord will hear.
> When you bow low, He draws near.
> He fills the hungry with good things,
> And lifts the lowly by His grace.
>
> Those who wait upon the Lord
> Shall renew their strength.
> He will guide you continually,
> And satisfy your soul in dry places.
The final chorus and outro unite Isaiah 40:31 and 58:11.
1. Waiting on the Lord.
To “wait upon the Lord” is not passive idleness. The Hebrew word *qavah* (Isaiah 40:31) carries the idea of “binding together by twisting,” like strands of a rope. Waiting on God means:
The result: renewed strength. Weariness is not solved by mere rest but by renewed connection to God.
2. Guidance and satisfaction in dry places.
Isaiah 58:11 promises:
Dry places will come — spiritually, emotionally, circumstantially. But those who fast rightly, humble themselves, and wait upon the Lord will know:
This is the promise: humble hearts, satisfied souls.
Let us make this very practical. How do we respond to these truths?
### 1. Deliberately Humble Yourself Before God
Humility does not happen by accident. Scripture commands: “Humble yourselves.” Choose specific actions that express humility:
Proclamation:
“Lord, I choose to humble myself under Your mighty hand. I renounce self-reliance, self-promotion, and self-justification. I trust You to exalt me in due time.”
### 2. Cast Your Cares — Transfer Them, Do Not Carry Them
Make this a concrete spiritual exercise:
This is not imagination; it is obedience to 1 Peter 5:7.
### 3. Cultivate Real Spiritual Hunger
If you are not hungry, ask God to make you hungry for Him. Practical steps:
Proclamation:
“Lord, create in me a hunger and thirst for Your righteousness. I choose to seek satisfaction in Your Word, Your presence, and Your will.”
### 4. Practice Biblical Fasting and Heart-Return
Fasting is not for a spiritual elite; it is a normal part of New Testament discipleship (Matthew 6:16–18; Acts 13:2–3).
In seasons of crisis, confusion, or major decisions, set apart time specifically for fasting and waiting upon the Lord for guidance and renewal of strength.
### Proclamation of Faith
Say this aloud, deliberately, before God:
> “I humble myself under the mighty hand of God,
> that He may exalt me in due time.
> I cast all my cares upon Him,
> for He cares for me.
> I bow low, and the Lord draws near.
> I am hungry and thirsty for His righteousness,
> and He fills me with good things.
> I am lowly in my own eyes,
> and He lifts me by His grace.
> I return to the Lord with all my heart,
> with fasting and genuine repentance.
> My heart is rendered, not my garments.
> The Lord is gracious and full of mercy toward me.
> I wait upon the Lord, and He renews my strength.
> He guides me continually
> and satisfies my soul in dry places.
> By His Word and by His Spirit,
> I have a humble heart and a satisfied soul,
> in Jesus’ name. Amen.”
### Prayer
“Lord God,
We come to You under Your mighty hand. We acknowledge that without You we can do nothing. We renounce pride, self-reliance, and self-exaltation. We choose to humble ourselves before You.
We bring to You our anxieties, our fears, our divided hearts. We cast our cares upon You, because You care for us. Draw near to us as we bow low. Make us truly hungry and thirsty for Your righteousness. Deliver us from satisfaction with empty things.
Teach us the discipline of fasting and waiting on You. Rend our hearts where they have grown hard, divided, or indifferent. Restore to us the joy of Your salvation. Renew our strength where we are weary. Guide us continually and satisfy our souls in every dry place.
Let Your Word become our bread. Let Your presence become our greatest delight. Lift us up in Your time, by Your grace, for Your glory alone.
We ask this in the name of Jesus, the One who humbled Himself and has been highly exalted.
Amen.”
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