“‘The Lord kills and makes alive; He brings down to the grave and brings up. The Lord makes poor and makes rich; He brings low and lifts up.’” (1 Samuel 2:6, 7)

Here we have a marvelous theological and homiletical demonstration. After Hannah in her prayer describes the weakness of the mighty, and the poverty of the rich, says: “The Lord kills and makes alive; He brings down to the grave and brings up. The Lord makes poor and makes rich; He brings low and lifts up.” If you ever saw a verse that taught the sovereignty of God, here is one. Let us consider it.

• “The Lord kills and makes alive.”

Do you think that the wicked shall always prevail? Do you think that the Lord shall always be repudiated, trampled beneath their feet, and cast out of the city to die? Never, for the Lord shall arise. His arrows will be hot in the hearts of the king’s enemies, whereby the people fall under Him.

• “He brings down to the grave and brings up.”

Sin brings us all down to the grave, but Christ can break the power of sin, and the power of the grave. He can turn the wicked into hell and destroy them. He can also carry the righteous into Heaven, and enthrone them.

• “The Lord makes poor and makes rich.”

The Lord can send famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, and a sword. All that we have, He has given us. However, if we refuse to recognize Him and honor Him, with the breath of His lips He can bring us down.

Read the book of Job and see how easy it is for God to make a rich man poor; read also the last chapter of Job and see how easy it is for God to make a poor man many times richer than he was in the days of his wealth. He who takes away can also give back.

• “He brings low and lifts up.”

The same Christ who throws down the proud can lift up the humble. Somehow or other we are perfectly willing that He should bring us low, for we have learned the truth of the statement that “He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow . . . and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord” (Philippians 2:8-11).

What is true of our Lord, however, is true of us. If we are willing to go with Him in His degradation, desolation, and death, we also may be permitted to come up with Him, in His exaltation and glorification. Have we not read that we, “through His poverty might become rich” (2 Corinthians 8:9)?

Guard your heart. Teach your children. Watch and pray.