“Lift not up your horn on high: speak not with a stiff neck. For promotion cometh neither from the east, nor from the west, nor from the south. But God is the judge: He putteth down one, and setteth up another” (Psalm 75:5–7).

National politics, city politics, office politics, all are alike in two respects. One who seeks promotion to higher office manages somehow to “lift up his horn on high” and also to persuade some kind of constituency (often geographical, but possibly professional or some other) to back him as its representative. But this isn’t the way it should work in God’s service. Promotion does not come from a geographical election, and God is not pleased with those who “toot their own horn” or speak arrogantly concerning their own qualifications. “And seekest thou great things for thyself? seek them not” (Jeremiah 45:5).

Jesus said: “He that is greatest among you shall be your servant. And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted” (Matthew 23:11,12). “Before destruction the heart of man is haughty, and before honor is humility” (Proverbs 18:12).

As far as governmental offices are concerned, it is well to remember that—whether in a democracy or monarchy or dictatorship—“the powers that be are ordained of God” (Romans 13:1), and sometimes, for His own good reasons, “the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever He will, and setteth up over it the basest of men” (Daniel 4:17).

God is the ultimate Judge, and it is His will that we pray “for kings, and for all that are in authority” (I Timothy 2:2) and submit ourselves “to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake” (I Peter 2:13). “Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time” (I Peter 5:6). HMM