Psalms 136:1

The degree to which I feel the intensity of God’s love grows the more I receive it for me in particular. The more general I view God’s love, the less intensely I feel it. No doubt God’s love is broad and general. In Psalms 136:25 it is expressed by His giving “food to all flesh.” This is one example of how the everlasting lovingkindness of God is very broad. I should always be thankful and praise God for the simple, daily expressions of His love that I undeservingly receive such as family and friends, food, warmth and all other common provisions of God’s blessings for my good.

However, it’s the particular love of God for me that goes so much deeper. The lovingkindness of God is not expressed in the same way, to the same degree, to all people, at all times. Psalms 136:18 says “…and slew mighty kings; for His lovingkindness is everlasting.” I don’t think Sihon or Og king of Bashan experienced the lovingkindness of God in the same way that I do!; nor did Pharaoh and the Egyptian army, whose having been drowned in the Red Sea is mentioned as an example of God’s lovingkindness.

The Israelites were chosen by God as a particular people to whom God’s everlasting lovingkindness was to be expressed differently, in particular, and much more deeply. God’s love for them is expressed through promises of deliverance, blessing and goodness. The same act of God that destroys a kingdom (something which a kingdom would not experience as lovingkindness) is a strong act of lovingkindness to those particular people for whom the destroying represents deliverance and blessing.

What about me? By the unimaginable grace of God, I have been chosen to be in Christ, and as such, I am one to whom all things, all acts of God, are intentionally designed for my good, “…and we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God to those who are called according to His purpose” Romans 8:28. Even when God leads me through a wilderness, He does it for my good, because He loves me in particular. I have done nothing to be singled out for His love. I am guilty of rebellion against God, worthy of being cast into the Red Sea like the Egyptians. Had I been cast away like that, it would still be called the lovingkindness of God toward those whom He loves in particular. Yet He has mercifully delivered me from the dominion of darkness and transferred me into the kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom I have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. Only due to God’s mercy and His undeserved grace, am I loved by God, in particular.

The God-centeredness of God, his self exalting purposes and works are clearly and constantly evident in Scripture. That God does all things for the praise of his glory is abundantly clear. Logically, it makes sense that God places infinite value on that which is infinitely valuable, that is Himself. So God is supremely and absolutely self exalting.


This does not usually sit well with us, for how can someone who is self exalting be loving? This question has already been answered thoroughly in Piper’s various books. What struck me in reading this familiar phrase, “Jesus is the one being for whom self exaltation is the most loving act,” was the notion of how intricately Jesus’ self exaltation is not just declared to be loving (because of who he is) but is actually, truly, fully, intimately, and profoundly loving. His self-exaltation manifests itself and bears the abundant fruit of its true character, infinite and beautiful love.

This connection, for me, is hard to grasp because I have no reference or model or example to see self-exaltation result in love. In me, self-exaltation is not love. It is sinful, evil and destructive. It is as far from the character of love, as I can comprehend. For man to be self-exalting is a horribly evil and unloving characteristic. The fruit of such self-exaltation in man is pride, boasting, selfishness, arrogance, oppression and vileness.

It is no wonder that we would stumble over the notion that self-exaltation (being so awful and distasteful in us) could somehow be the most wonderful, beautiful, sweet smelling, soul satisfying loving act in Jesus. Yet it is. It is in theological precept, it is in its representation in the Bible, and it is in the actual day-by-day expression and pouring forth of Christ’s love as we behold and delight in the glory of God in the face of Christ. As Jesus is exalted in my heart I receive the greatest, most joyful stirrings in my soul. There is a direct connection between Jesus opening my eyes to glimpse him in all his exalted glory and my feeling and being happy, blessed, and loved.

For me, self-exaltation would be like a sponge, absorbing and taking from others what I want, taking from them and storing it is up for myself. Jesus’ self-exaltation is like a fountain overflowing and pouring forth in waves of love. Jesus’ self-exaltation takes nothing, for it needs nothing, it only gives and gives, while I receive and receive.

O how unique is the character of Christ’s self-exaltation. How marvelous, that his self-centeredness results in perfect love. Only in Jesus (because He is perfect and without any distortion or corruption) does another’s self-exultation become our greatest pleasure and joy.

Thank you Jesus that your pleasure in being exalted, so perfectly express itself in love. Lord help me always to love your glory and savor all its manifestations of perfect love, especially when I see its ultimate expression on the cross.