For promotion cometh neither from the east, nor from the west, nor from the south. - Psalm 75:6

    It is peculiar to mankind (especially religious mankind) to promote themselves. A little notoriety, a little recognition, a little attention, and the flesh is launched like a rocket. They love to see their name displayed with flashing lights and to be identified with those who are highly esteemed. They want all to know of their acceptance and success. They want the world to know how much they are in demand. While they put on an air of humility their heart is bursting with pride. They have learned how to position themselves in the eyes of men to receive praise.

    Promotion of this sort issues not from God. In our text verse the NORTH is conspicuously left out. In Psalm 48:2 we see why. Beautiful for situation, the joy of the whole earth, is mount Zion, on the sides of the north, the city of the Great King. The Holy Spirit reveals to us that promotion for God’s people and God’s preachers comes from God. It is few that are able to wait on the Lord and to be content with God’s promotion.

    Our Lord made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant (Phil 2:7). The apostle Paul wrote by the inspiration of God, I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle (1 Cor 15:9). It is heart breaking to see some, who once seemed humbled by the Gospel, sell their soul for a mess of glorified pottage. The Gospel of Christ, made effectual by God the Spirit, does not send the soul into arrogant orbit above and beyond others, he brings his captives beneath their brethren, and to union with their brethren. May God in grace and mercy teach us who we are, who he is, and thereby may we experience our insignificance in comparison to others in God’s great design.

For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself (Gal 6:3).