Psalm 97:9 KJV
For thou, LORD, art high above all the earth: thou art exalted far above all gods.
Daniel 11:36 NLT
“The king (Antichrist, who is Satan personified) will do as he pleases, exalting himself and claiming to be greater than every god, even blaspheming the God of gods…”
Babylon is a spirit besieging the world today. The siege has been going on for some time and will ultimately be led by this “king” mentioned in our scripture. The unifying spirit for all who have been enticed and taken captive by this spirit is, “I exalt me!”
Entitlement: this is the central spirit of Babylon. “I deserve to be exalted because of my age, beauty, body, intelligence, nationality, race, gender, sexual identity, politics, talent, education, position, power, wealth, or just because I’m awesome!” This self-exalting awakening ignited at new levels in the 1960s.
Another awakening began in the 1960s and 1970s as God touched young hippies with a longing to worship Him in more intimate, deeply personal ways.
Pete Sanchez, a young Christian musician in the 70s, sat at his piano in his apartment. Taken by Psalm 97, he began to look for a melody to express what he felt. He could only write a little chorus and felt it wasn’t a real song, but simply a private moment between him and God.
At a songwriters’ gathering, Sanchez was asked to play his two best songs. It was the end of the night, and he was the last of many to perform. After playing them, the host asked, “Do you have anything else before we close?” Hesitantly, Sanchez said, “I have this unfinished little chorus.” “Let’s hear it.” And he began… “For thou O Lord, art high above all the earth…thou are exalted far above all gods…” When
Sanchez came to the chorus, something extraordinary happened. “And I exalt Thee…I exalt Thee…I exalt Thee O Lord.” The entire gathering, hearing this for the first time, stood to their feet with hands lifted and began to worship. A power and presence came over that gathering that Sanchez described as an “out of body experience.” Later, he received a cassette of the song being sung in 10 different languages from around the world. An anthem of heaven was born that night.
God birthed and blessed that song as a worship weapon for every believer to proclaim the rightful recipient of exaltation. The spirit of “I exalt me” has to bow when we sing it. I exalt Thee, O Lord!
Prayer
For Thou, O Lord, art high above all the earth. Thou art exalted far above all gods. We worship and exalt You, O God! We empty ourselves of every remnant of self-exaltation and bow our hearts and attitudes before You. I exalt Thee! I exalt Thee! I exalt Thee, O Lord God! Hallelujah!