Are You Lowly or Lofty?

This clip is part of the sermon “The Magnificat" delivered by Kevin DeYoung at Christ Covenant Church in Matthews, NC on December 14, 2025

Think about those four words I gave earlier: Savior, mighty, holy, merciful, or strong.

Well, if God is a savior, that means we need a deliverer.

If he’s mighty, it must be because we’re weak.

If he’s holy, it must be because we’re sinners.

If he’s merciful, it must be because we’ve done something wrong.

And notice what he does for the lowly.

Verse 48, he looks upon us. Verse 49, he works for us. Verse 50, he’s merciful toward us. Verse 52, he exalts us. 53, he fills us. 54, he helps us.

That’s what he does if you’re lowly. And what does he do to the lofty?

Verse 51, he scatters. 52, he brings down. Verse 53, he sends away empty.

So, what side of the equation do you want to be on?

Matthew Henry puts it like this: “God takes pleasure in disappointing their expectations who promise themselves great things in the world and in outdoing the expectations of those who promise themselves but a little.”

If you think yourself deserving of but little, God will blow away those expectations.