John Calvin Commentary Luke 1:52

"He hath put down princes from [their] thrones, And hath exalted them of low degree." — Luke 1:52 (ASV)

He hath cast down the nobles. This translation has been adopted for the sake of avoiding ambiguity, for though the Greek word δυνάσται is derived from δύναμις, power, it denotes governors and eminent rulers.⁵⁸ Many people think that δυνάστας is a participle.

They are said by Mary to be cast down from their thrones, so that obscure and unknown persons may be elevated in their place; and so she ascribes to the providence and judgments of God what ungodly men call the game of Fortune.⁵⁹

Let us understand that she does not ascribe to God a despotic power—as if people were tossed and thrown up and down like balls by a tyrannical authority—but a just government, founded on the best reasons, though these reasons frequently escape our notice.

God does not delight in changes, nor does He elevate in mockery to a lofty station those whom He has determined to immediately throw down.⁶⁰ Rather, it is the depravity of humanity that overturns the state of things, because no one acknowledges that the ordering of each person's life is placed in His will and power.

Those who occupy a higher station than others are not only guilty of disdainfully and cruelly insulting their neighbors, but also act daringly towards Him to whom they owe their elevation. To teach us through events that whatever is lofty and elevated in the world is subject to God, and that the whole world is governed by His dominion, some are exalted to high honor, while others either come down gradually or else fall headlong from their thrones.

Such is the cause and purpose of the changes ascribed by David, He poureth contempt upon princes (Psalms 107:39); and by Daniel:

He changeth the times and the seasons:
he removeth kings, and setteth up kings (Daniel 2:21).

We see, indeed, how the princes of the world grow extravagantly insolent, indulge in luxury, swell with pride, and are intoxicated with the sweets of prosperity. If the Lord cannot tolerate such ingratitude, we need not be surprised.

The usual consequence is that those whom God has raised to a high position do not occupy it long. Again, the dazzling luster of kings and princes so overpowers the people that there are few who consider that there is a God above. But if princes brought a scepter with them from the womb, and if the stability of their thrones were perpetual, all acknowledgment of God and of His providence would immediately disappear.

When the Lord raises persons of low standing to exalted rank, He triumphs over the pride of the world and at the same time encourages simplicity and modesty in His own people.

Thus, when Mary says that it is God who casteth down nobles from their thrones and exalteth persons of low standing, she teaches us that the world does not move and revolve by a blind impulse of Fortune. Instead, all the revolutions observed in it are brought about by the Providence of God, and those judgments, which appear to us to disturb and overthrow the entire framework of society, are regulated by God with unerring justice.

This is confirmed by the following verse: He hath filled the hungry with good things, and hath sent the rich away empty. From this we infer that God takes pleasure in these changes not arbitrarily, but for a good reason.

It is because the great, rich, and powerful, lifted up by their abundance, ascribe all the praise to themselves and leave nothing to God.

Therefore, we ought to be scrupulously on our guard against being carried away by prosperity and against a vain satisfaction of the flesh, lest God suddenly deprive us of what we enjoy. For godly persons who feel poverty and almost famine, and lift up their cry to God, no small consolation is afforded by this doctrine, that He filleth the hungry with good things.

⁵⁸ “Le mot Grec (δυνάσται) (δυνάσται) vient de Puissance, comme si on disoit, Les puissans: mais il signifie les gouverneurs et gras seigneurs.” — “The Greek word comes from power, as if she had said, ‘The Mighty:' but it means governors and great lords.”.” — “The Greek word comes from power, as if she had said, ‘The Mighty:' but it means governors and great lords.”

⁵⁹ “Ludam Fortunae;” — “;” — “le jeu ou la roue de la Fortune;” — “the game or wheel of Fortune.”;” — “the game or wheel of Fortune.”

⁶⁰ “Il ne faut pas penser que pour se jouer des hommes il les esleve amsi haut, et puis les abaisse.” — “We must not imagine that, to amuse himself with men, he raises them so high, and then sinks them low.”.” — “We must not imagine that, to amuse himself with men, he raises them so high, and then sinks them low.”