Humiliation the Way to Exaltation
W. Gouge. Hebrews 2:7 You made him a little lower than the angels; you crowned him with glory and honor, and did set him over the works of your hands: — All the forementioned branches of Christ's advancement, which are here. and Isaiah 53:12; Ephesians 4:10; Philippians 2:10, audio sundry other places inferred upon His humiliation, afford unto us sundry considerable observations, as — 1. That working and suffering are the way to glory and honour. 2. That works of service and suffering were requisite for man's redemption and salvation (ver. 10). 3. That God was mindful of His Son in His meanest and lowest estate, according to that which is written of the Son in relation to His Father," Thou wilt not leave My soul in hell: neither wilt Thou suffer Thy Holy One to see corruption. Thou wilt show Me the path of life," &c. (Psalm 16:10, 11). 4. That all the members of Christ's body have good ground to be confident, that after they have done and endured what God shall call them unto, they shall be recompensed with a crown of glory (1 Peter 5:4). Christ therefore is to be looked on, as well advanced as debased; in His exaltation and in His humiliation; in heaven at His Father's right hand, as well as on the cross, or in the grave; crowned with glory, as well as with thorns (Hebrews 12:1). Thus will our faith be better settled and more strengthened, as Stephen's was, when he "saw the Son of Man standing on the right hand of God" (Acts 7:56). Thus shall we with much patience, contentedness and cheerfulness, do and endure what God by His providence calleth us unto, knowing that if we suffer with Christ, we shall also reign with Him (2 Timothy 2:12). (W. Gouge.) Parallel Verses KJV: Thou madest him a little lower than the angels; thou crownedst him with glory and honour, and didst set him over the works of thy hands: WEB: You made him a little lower than the angels. You crowned him with glory and honor.