The mighty hand of God is an anthropomorphous expression referring to the LordвЂ™s superior strength. PeterвЂ™s pronouncement echoes the psalmistвЂ™s: вЂњCast your cares on the LORD and he will sustain you he will never let the righteous be shakenвЂќ (Psalm 55:22). The Lord opposes the proud but raises up the humble person who casts himself entirely on GodвЂ™s grace. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt youвЂќ (James 4:6вЂ“10, ESV).Д«oth Peter and James highlight the difference between GodвЂ™s dealings with the proud versus the humble.

Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Therefore it says, вЂGod opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.вЂ™ Submit yourselves therefore to God. In a strikingly similar teaching, James references the same proverb: вЂњBut he gives more grace. A humble person agrees with God and receives His favor and care. A proud person sets himself against God, causing God, in turn, to set Himself against the proud. The sin of pride is linked with rebellion against God (Ezekiel 28:13вЂ“17). In 1 Peter 5:5, Peter quotes Proverbs 3:34: вЂњSurely He scorns the scornful, but gives grace to the humbleвЂќ (NKJV). We are to humbly trust God even in times of adversities, giving all our worries and concerns to Him. In the next breath, Peter says, вЂњCast all your anxiety on him because he cares for youвЂќ (1 Peter 5:7).

It means trusting God and accepting His will, no matter what hardships He allows. Humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God is an expression that entails submitting in a spirit of humility to GodвЂ™s sovereign dealings in your life. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for вЂGod opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.вЂ™ Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt youвЂќ (ESV). He urges them to practice humility in all of their relationships-with elders, other believers, and with God: вЂњLikewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. In 1 Peter 5:5вЂ“6, Peter addresses younger Christians who are not leaders in the church and, likely, less mature in their walk of faith.

Mighty means