1 Peter 5:6-11 - Humbled Doxology
- Chad Werkhoven
- Jan 1
- 4 min read
As you begin 2026, cast all of your anxiety upon Him, because He cares for you!
1 Peter 5:6-11 (NIV)
CONTEXT: For this final week in our year long study of the Canons of Dordt, we will be reading some of the Bible's greatest doxologies - words of praise & glory given to our Sovereign God.
Today's passage is both a doxology and a benediction - words of blessing.
6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. 7 Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.
8 Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 9 Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.
10 And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. 11 To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen.
Canons of Dordt
Point 5 - Perseverance of the Saints
Article 15: Contrasting Reactions to the Teaching of Perseverance
This teaching
about the perseverance of true believers and saints,
and about their assurance of it—
a teaching which God has very richly revealed in his Word
for the glory of his name
and for the comfort of the godly
and which he impresses on the hearts of believers—
is something which
the flesh does not understand,
Satan hates,
the world ridicules,
the ignorant and the hypocrites abuse,
and the spirits of error attack.
The bride of Christ, on the other hand, has always
loved this teaching very tenderly
and defended it steadfastly as a priceless treasure;
and God,
against whom no plan can avail and no strength can prevail,
will ensure that she will continue to do this.
To this God alone,
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,
be honor and glory forever. Amen.
Summary
Peter begins this benediction with an imperative; actually, a command. In order to fully experience God's blessing in your life, you must first humble yourself under God's mighty hand. Literally translated, you need to lower yourself so that God may lift you up. But God's exaltation of you (as every other major translation puts it) isn't instantaneous, as we often expect it to be. It comes only in time. Translators all felt the need to supply an adjective there: in due time (NIV / NET); at the proper time (ESV / LSB); at the right time (LEB). Unsurprisingly, none of them rendered it that God will lift you up according to your time.
What's perhaps the most surprising about Peter's benediction is not just that blessing begins with humiliation, but how it is that you're commanded to lower yourself: It's not by thinking less of yourself or some other sort of self oblation. Rather, it's by realizing the sovereign power of God. The NET Bible captures this nuance well: you must humble yourself by casting (literally: throwing or loading) all your cares on Him! (1984 NIV).
From this perspective, the act of humbling yourself is a blessing in and of itself as you cast all of your cares on Him! The NET translators explain, "Humbling oneself is not a negative act of self-denial per se, but a positive one of active dependence on God for help." It's humbling in that rather than trying to solve all of your issues in your own strength, you instead let go of your own limited ability and fully rely upon your Father's strength.
Indeed, this has been the primary lesson we've learned this year as we've studied the Canons of Dordt: Since God's grace is stronger than you, you can cast all of your care and anxiety upon Him, because He cares for you.
Dig Deeper
Peter's benediction takes on a more doxological feel in the final two verses. Working our way through them clause by clause is a good way to end our year, being reminded of what we've learned in 2025:
The God of all grace... Not only is God's grace unconditional (not dependent upon anything we have done to earn it), it's unlimited (there's no amount of sin it can't overcome).
...who called you... Our immutable, unchanging God called you to belong to Him before the dawn of time, so nothing can ever separate you from Him.
...to His eternal glory in Christ... Your identity has been completely transformed. You were conceived and born in Adam, and therefore deserving of God's wrath. But the God of all grace has placed you fully in Christ, so now you share in His eternal doxology!
...after you have suffered for a little while... John Stott writes, "We are not to be surprised by painful trials, as if something strange were happening, but rather to rejoice that suffering gives us the privilege of sharing in the sufferings of Christ and so of participating in his glory."
...will Himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. This is exactly what we've learned in this wonderful doctrine we call the Perseverance of the Saints.
Peter began this passage in full benediction mode, then began to mix in some doxology, and then ends it in full doxology:
To this God of all grace be the power, dominion and might for ever and ever. Amen.
ACKNOWLEDGE WHO GOD IS: Our Father, the God of all grace;
ALIGN YOUR LIFE WITH GOD'S WILL: As you end 2025 and begin 2026, cast all of your anxiety upon Him, because He cares for you;
ASK GOD FOR WHAT YOU NEED:
