“Now I will lift Myself up; now I will be exalted.” – Isaiah 33:10b 

Scripture reading: Acts 17:22-34

The kingdom of man has exalted itself and spread itself over the world since the Fall. God bides His time; these “times of ignorance God overlooked, but now He commands all people everywhere to repent, because He has fixed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by a Man whom He has appointed; and of this He has given assurance to all by raising Him from the dead” (Acts 17:30-31).

He tells Judah that He is ready to act, to encourage and comfort them. God’s actions are not haphazard, but determined and then carried out according to His holy will. God’s people see that all other helpers are no help at all, but we must wait patiently for the Lord to deliver.

God is no greater exalted than through Jesus Christ. Isaiah will later proclaim the exaltation of the Servant of the Lord in 52:13. Jesus Christ is exalted because of His “wisdom”, but also because “He was despised and rejected by men; a Man of Sorrows, and acquainted with grief…” (v. 3a). Would you bow humbly to Jesus Christ, exalted at God’s right hand? Would you repent of your pride and confess your need for His mercy? When the kingdom of man gets proud with God, He declares, “Be still and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations…” (Psalm 46:10a). Let us not be proud and foolish like the nations, but with humble faith bow to Christ.

Suggestions for prayer

Give thanks to God for delivering you from the foolishness of unbelief and giving you saving faith in Jesus Christ. Exalt the Lord of glory for His glorious works.

Rev. Todd De Rooy currently serves in Redeemer URC, in Orange City, Iowa. He has served there since being ordained in 2008. Get this devotional delivered directly to your phone each day via our RP App. It is also available in print, for purchase, at NTGDevotional.com.