178. Lord Kills and Makes Alive
1 Samuel 2:6 The Lord killeth and maketh alive: he bringeth down to the grave, and bringeth up. The Lord maketh poor, and maketh rich: he bringeth low, and lifteth up.
These words are from the Song of Hannah, who is giving thanks to the Lord for giving this barren woman a son, Samuel. It is similar in tone to the Magnificat of the Virgin Mary in Luke 1. Both Hannah and Mary sing the same theme: the Lord brings down the proud and mighty and raises up the humble and lowly. They were the lowly ones whom God has favored with grace and lifted up. This Great Reversal theme runs throughout Scripture. “God opposes the proud but give grace to the humble [1 Peter 5:5]”
The inherent promise is: The Lord makes alive, brings up, makes rich, and lifts up. This promise is given to those who know they are spiritually dead before God, and they admit their spiritual poverty and lowliness. Jesus has good news for the poor, the meek, the hungry, etc., for they will be “Blessed,” as Jesus promises in the Beatitudes of the Sermon on the Mount.
The further promise, that doesn’t seem like a promise, is that the Lord also kills, brings down, makes poor, and brings low. This is a promise, for such a belief is necessary before a sinful human being will believe and receive the grace of God. The hammer of the Law convicts of sin and induces repentance and humility. Then the sweetness of the Gospel forgives sin and produces faith and life. Both words are absolutely necessary, so God does them both through His Word: He kills and He makes alive. Killing and bringing down is necessary in order to break pride and kill selfish sin. The Law does that. Then the heart is soft and broken, ready and able to receive forgiveness, grace, mercy, salvation and new life. The Gospel does that. Both Law and Gospel are vital: Revelation 3:17, 18: “For you say, ‘I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked….Buy from me….” Therefore, God kills sin and death, and makes alive with righteousness and life.