The Humble Exalted and the Proud Humbled

Devotional

Day 1: God Exalts the Humble and Humbles the Proud

Hannah’s song in 1 Samuel 2 sets the tone for the entire story of Samuel, Saul, and David, declaring that God’s ways are not like ours—He lifts up the lowly and brings down the proud. Again and again, the narrative shows that God delights in using those who seem insignificant or overlooked by the world, while those who trust in their own strength or status are brought low. This upside-down kingdom is a reminder that God’s favor rests not on outward appearance or human achievement, but on a heart that is humble before Him. [32:10]

1 Samuel 2:1-8 (ESV)
And Hannah prayed and said,
“My heart exults in the Lord;
my horn is exalted in the Lord.
My mouth derides my enemies,
because I rejoice in your salvation.
There is none holy like the Lord:
for there is none besides you;
there is no rock like our God.
Talk no more so very proudly,
let not arrogance come from your mouth;
for the Lord is a God of knowledge,
and by him actions are weighed.
The bows of the mighty are broken,
but the feeble bind on strength.
Those who were full have hired themselves out for bread,
but those who were hungry have ceased to hunger.
The barren has borne seven,
but she who has many children is forlorn.
The Lord kills and brings to life;
he brings down to Sheol and raises up.
The Lord makes poor and makes rich;
he brings low and he exalts.
He raises up the poor from the dust;
he lifts the needy from the ash heap
to make them sit with princes
and inherit a seat of honor.
For the pillars of the earth are the Lord’s,
and on them he has set the world.”

Reflection: Where in your life do you sense God inviting you to let go of pride and embrace humility, trusting Him to lift you up in His way and time?

Day 2: God Looks at the Heart, Not Outward Appearance

When Samuel is sent to anoint the next king, he is drawn to Eliab’s impressive stature, but God reminds him that He does not judge as humans do; He looks at the heart. This truth is a powerful corrective to our tendency to value what is visible and impressive, and it calls us to cultivate a heart that seeks after God above all else. God’s choice of David, the youngest and least likely, is a reminder that He sees and values what is often hidden from human eyes. [38:12]

1 Samuel 16:7 (ESV)
But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.”

Reflection: What is one area where you are tempted to focus on outward appearance or achievement? How can you shift your attention to cultivating a heart that pleases God?

Day 3: True Humility Is Confidence in God’s Strength

David’s confrontation with Goliath is not an act of self-confidence, but of deep humility—he knows the battle belongs to the Lord. Humility is not weakness or shyness; it is a bold confidence that comes from knowing God is the source of all strength. David runs toward the giant, not because he trusts in himself, but because he trusts in God’s power and faithfulness. This kind of humility emboldens us to step forward in faith, knowing that victory is God’s, not ours. [40:42]

1 Samuel 17:45-47 (ESV)
Then David said to the Philistine, “You come to me with a sword and with a spear and with a javelin, but I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. This day the Lord will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you down and cut off your head. And I will give the dead bodies of the host of the Philistines this day to the birds of the air and to the wild beasts of the earth, that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel, and that all this assembly may know that the Lord saves not with sword and spear. For the battle is the Lord’s, and he will give you into our hand.”

Reflection: What “giant” are you facing right now that feels overwhelming? How can you step forward today in humble confidence, trusting God to fight the battle for you?

Day 4: A High View of God Leads to a Life of Surrender

David’s humility is rooted in his awe of God’s greatness—he is continually aware that everything he has is from the Lord, and his deepest desire is to honor God’s name above his own. Even at the height of his success, David’s heart is not set on his own comfort or legacy, but on what God desires. This kind of humility leads to a life of surrender, where our plans and ambitions are laid down so that God’s will can be done through us. [53:17]

2 Samuel 7:18-22 (ESV)
Then King David went in and sat before the Lord and said, “Who am I, O Lord God, and what is my house, that you have brought me thus far? And yet this was a small thing in your eyes, O Lord God. You have spoken also of your servant’s house for a great while to come, and this is instruction for mankind, O Lord God! And what more can David say to you? For you know your servant, O Lord God! Because of your promise, and according to your own heart, you have brought about all this greatness, to make your servant know it. Therefore you are great, O Lord God. For there is none like you, and there is no God besides you, according to all that we have heard with our ears.”

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you need to surrender your plans or desires to God’s greater purpose? What would it look like to pray, “Not my will, but yours be done” in that area today?

Day 5: God’s Grace Meets Us in Our Pride and Failure

Even David, a man after God’s own heart, falls into pride and sin, but God’s response is not to abandon him—He invites David to repentance and offers forgiveness. When we bring our pride, brokenness, and failures to God in humility, He meets us with grace and restoration. Jesus, the true King, humbled Himself to take the fall for us, offering forgiveness and a new start. No matter how far we have fallen, God’s mercy is greater, and He longs to lift us up when we come to Him with a contrite heart. [59:20]

Psalm 51:16-17 (ESV)
For you will not delight in sacrifice, or I would give it;
you will not be pleased with a burnt offering.
The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit;
a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.

Reflection: Is there an area of pride, sin, or brokenness you need to bring honestly before God today? How can you receive His forgiveness and let Him lift you up in His grace?

Sermon Summary

First and Second Samuel together tell a sweeping, detailed story of God’s work through the lives of His people, especially King David. These books open with Hannah, a woman in deep grief over her barrenness, who pours out her heart to God and is given a son, Samuel. Her song in chapter 2 sets the tone for everything that follows: God opposes the proud but exalts the humble. This theme is woven through every chapter, every rise and fall, every victory and defeat.

Israel’s first king, Saul, is chosen for his impressive outward qualities—tall, handsome, seemingly the perfect leader. Yet, Saul’s heart drifts from God. He becomes more concerned with people’s approval than God’s, and his pride leads to his downfall. As Saul is humbled, God raises up David, the youngest and least likely of Jesse’s sons, a shepherd boy overlooked by everyone but God. God’s choice is not based on appearance or status, but on the heart.

David’s story is marked by humility and dependence on God. When he faces Goliath, David’s confidence is not in himself but in the Lord. True humility, as seen in David, is not weakness or shyness, but a deep confidence in God’s strength and a willingness to step forward in faith. David’s humility is further displayed in his refusal to take Saul’s life, even when he has the chance. He waits for God’s timing, seeking God’s will above his own desires.

Even as king, David’s heart remains focused on God’s honor. He is unsettled by the fact that he lives in a palace while the ark of God dwells in a tent. His prayers reveal a man who is continually amazed by God’s goodness and greatness, never losing sight of who the true main character is—God Himself. Yet, David is not immune to pride. In a moment of weakness, he falls into sin with Bathsheba, and the consequences ripple through his family and nation. Still, David’s story teaches that God never despises a broken and contrite heart. When we bring our pride, failures, and brokenness to Him, He meets us with forgiveness and grace.

The call is clear: to live with a high view of God and a right view of ourselves, seeking His will above our own, and allowing Him to be the main character in our lives.

Key Takeaways

1. God Exalts the Humble, Humbles the Proud God’s pattern throughout history is to lift up those who are humble and bring down those who are prideful. This is not just a moral lesson, but a revelation of God’s heart and His way of working in the world. When we seek to make ourselves great, we miss the greatness of God; but when we lower ourselves, He is pleased to lift us up in His timing. [32:10]
2. True Humility Is Confidence in God Humility is not self-deprecation or shyness, but a deep-rooted confidence that God is the source of all strength and victory. David ran toward Goliath not because he trusted in his own ability, but because he trusted in God’s power. Real humility allows us to act boldly, knowing that the outcome belongs to the Lord, not to us. [43:58]
3. Make God the Main Character of Your Life David’s life was marked by a continual desire to honor God above himself. Even in success, he was more concerned with God’s reputation than his own comfort. Our lives find their true purpose when we stop using God to accomplish our plans and instead allow ourselves to be used by God for His purposes. [55:46]
4. Repentance Opens the Door to Restoration Even the most humble can fall into pride, as David did. Yet, God never despises a broken and contrite heart. When we bring our failures and pride to Him in honest repentance, He meets us with forgiveness and restores us, reminding us that His grace is greater than our sin. [59:20]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:45] - Introduction to 1 & 2 Samuel
[02:30] - Hannah’s Story and Song
[05:10] - The Theme: God Exalts the Humble
[08:00] - Israel Demands a King
[10:30] - Saul: Outward Appearance vs. Heart
[13:00] - Saul’s Pride and Downfall
[16:00] - God Chooses David
[18:30] - David and Goliath: Humility as Strength
[22:00] - David’s Confidence in the Lord
[25:00] - David’s Refusal to Harm Saul
[28:00] - David’s Ongoing Humility and Prayer
[31:00] - David’s Heart for God’s Honor
[34:00] - David’s Sin and Repentance
[37:00] - The Call to Humility and Surrender
[40:00] - Closing Prayer

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

1 Samuel 2:1-8 (Hannah’s Song) — > And Hannah prayed and said,
> “My heart exults in the Lord;
> my horn is exalted in the Lord.
> My mouth derides my enemies,
> because I rejoice in your salvation.
> There is none holy like the Lord:
> for there is none besides you;
> there is no rock like our God.
> Talk no more so very proudly,
> let not arrogance come from your mouth;
> for the Lord is a God of knowledge,
> and by him actions are weighed.
> The bows of the mighty are broken,
> but the feeble bind on strength.
> Those who were full have hired themselves out for bread,
> but those who were hungry have ceased to hunger.
> The barren has borne seven,
> but she who has many children is forlorn.
> The Lord kills and brings to life;
> he brings down to Sheol and raises up.
> The Lord makes poor and makes rich;
> he brings low and he exalts.
> He raises up the poor from the dust;
> he lifts the needy from the ash heap
> to make them sit with princes
> and inherit a seat of honor.
> For the pillars of the earth are the Lord’s,
> and on them he has set the world.”

2. 1 Samuel 16:7
> But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.”

3. 2 Samuel 7:18-22
> Then King David went in and sat before the Lord and said, “Who am I, O Lord God, and what is my house, that you have brought me thus far? And yet this was a small thing in your eyes, O Lord God. You have spoken also of your servant’s house for a great while to come, and this is instruction for mankind, O Lord God! And what more can David say to you? For you know your servant, O Lord God! Because of your promise, and according to your own heart, you have brought about all this greatness, to make your servant know it. Therefore you are great, O Lord God. For there is none like you, and there is no God besides you, according to all that we have heard with our ears.”

Observation Questions

In Hannah’s song (1 Samuel 2:1-8), what are some of the ways she describes God’s actions toward the proud and the humble?
According to 1 Samuel 16:7, what does God look for when choosing a leader, and how is this different from what people usually look for?
When David faces Goliath, what is the source of his confidence, and how does he express it? ([40:42])
In 2 Samuel 7:18-22, how does David respond to God’s blessings and promises? What does this reveal about his heart?

Interpretation Questions

Why is Hannah’s song at the beginning of 1 Samuel so important for understanding the rest of the story? How does it set the tone for what happens with Saul and David? ([32:10])
What does Saul’s downfall teach us about the dangers of seeking people’s approval over God’s approval? ([36:06])
How does David’s refusal to harm Saul, even when he has the chance, show a different kind of humility than just being “nice” or “weak”? ([43:58])
When David sins with Bathsheba and is confronted, what does his response show us about true repentance and God’s willingness to forgive? ([59:20])

Application Questions

The sermon said that “God opposes the proud but exalts the humble.” Where do you see pride or humility showing up in your own life right now? Are there areas where you are seeking to make yourself great instead of letting God lift you up? ([32:10])
David’s confidence came from trusting God, not himself. Is there a situation in your life where you need to step forward in faith, trusting God’s strength instead of your own abilities? What would that look like this week? ([40:42])
The sermon challenged us to make God the main character of our lives, not ourselves. In what ways do you tend to put yourself at the center of your story? How could you shift your focus to God’s purposes instead? ([55:46])
David was unsettled by living in a palace while the ark of God was in a tent. Is there anything in your life that you feel “unsettled” about because you want to honor God more? What practical step could you take to put God’s honor above your own comfort? ([51:22])
When David sinned, he brought his brokenness to God and found forgiveness. Is there an area of failure or pride in your life that you need to bring honestly to God? What’s holding you back from doing that? ([59:20])
The sermon mentioned that humility is not shyness or self-deprecation, but confidence in God. How can you practice this kind of humility in your relationships, work, or family this week? ([43:58])
The story of Saul warns us about caring too much about what others think. Are there decisions you’re making right now that are more about pleasing people than pleasing God? How can you realign your priorities? ([36:06])

Sermon Clips

What I love about one of the things I love about this story is David is humble, and he's like, it's not me. It's the fact that you've defied God, and God's going to win this battle. You come with sword and a spear. I just come with the Lord. It's all going to be the Lord. And when that huge giant man comes out to the battle line, it says that David, this young little man, runs out to meet him at the battle line. [00:43:12] (30 seconds) #FaithOverFear

And it gets to the point where people are amazed with David, and Saul, the king, is jealous. He tries to kill him. David has to go live in the wilderness. He's on the run. While he's on the run, he has opportunity after opportunity that he could have easily killed Saul and taken the throne. But David doesn't want to exalt himself. He's like, God will be the one who does the exalting. I don't want to have my hand in this. [00:44:48] (28 seconds) #DavidMournsSaul

It's such a great example of not my will, not what my emotions want me to do right now. What do you want, Lord? I'm angry. The town's on fire. The people have been taken. Boys, we're going and we're taking those people down. Instead, David pauses in his grief, in so much emotion. He says, Lord, shall we pursue them? What do you want from us right now? I trust you. God says, pursue them, and then he goes. [00:47:16] (28 seconds) #ArkNotLuckyCharm

It's actually about looking at God with such high esteem that his bigness makes you just be a little part of his plan. It's all about you and your story, Lord. And so then it puts you in an appropriate perspective that we don't get too big for our britches. It's like, God, you're so big, that makes me look pretty small. How could I possibly put attention on me when we could be putting attention on God? [00:48:33] (31 seconds) #BrokenHeartRepentance

David truly knows that God is great, and he understands that the only reason that he has ever had any success is because God is doing all the work in the background. And he truly wants God to get credit for it. It's not about David or David's will, but about God's will. Church, does this convict you at all? It convicts me. How much time do you spend thinking about yourself, how you look, how you sound? [00:49:04] (36 seconds) #ForgivenPride

David is passionate that God's name becomes great throughout his life. I mean, don't we have a problem when we start to compare that? Not only do we have too high a view of ourselves, we often do not have a high enough view of God. When's the last time you said, it's not what I want out of this life, it's about what you need out of my life, Lord? Did you know that God is the main character throughout David's life? Who's the main character in your life? [00:55:10] (36 seconds)

We've been crucified with Christ. We don't exist anymore. Our life has one purpose. It's to live on behalf of Christ, as ambassadors of Christ, to make his name great. I'm dead. God, your plans take precedent over my plans. And church, too often, we can try to use God, just kind of like as Christians, we just use God as like a, as you know, as a tool to accomplish our own stuff. God, I've got a bunch of plans, and I'll just keep you as a lucky rabbit's foot in my pocket so that I can complete my will. [00:56:25] (32 seconds)

``The Philistines actually capture the ark. They take it to the city. Then God does what he wants to do. The ark of the covenant is in the presence of the Philistines, and he defeats the army by himself. Doesn't need the army. We don't get to wield God. God wields us. And when we forget that, be ready, because that's pride, and pride comes before the fall. [00:57:53] (21 seconds)

This same David, the man that's after God's own heart, the humble one that God exalted, now pridefully starts to fall himself. The humble is exalted, and while he's up and exalted by God, he gets prideful. God opposes that, and he humbles the prideful. And that fall that David has is great, and it doesn't just affect David. It affects his whole family. Pride creates falls. Falls create messes. [00:58:38] (33 seconds)

To say these words to each one of you, O prideful servant, I forgive you. And I see your pride, and where there is a pride, there is going to be a fall. But Jesus says, let me fall for you. Let me take the fall for you, for I forgive you, and I wash over your pride, your lack of humility. Our God is so good. [01:00:18] (30 seconds)

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