"I will sing to the LORD, for He is highly exalted" (Exodus 15:1). Rabbi Abin the Levite said: There are four exalted ones in the world. The most exalted among the wild beasts is the lion; the most exalted among the cattle is the ox; the most exalted among the birds is the eagle; and the human being is exalted above all of them. The Holy One, blessed be He, took them and fixed them in the Throne of Glory, for He exalts Himself over the exalted ones. Thus, "I will sing to the LORD, for He is highly exalted" (Exodus 15:1).
The Four Exalted Creatures Fixed in the Throne of Glory
Midrash Tanchuma Buber, Beshalach 14:1
אשירה לה' כי גאה, (שמות טו א). אמר ר' אבין הלוי ד' גאים יש בעולם, הגאה שבחיות אריה, וגאה שבבהמות שור, וגאה שבעופות נשר, ואדם גאה על כולן, נטלן הקב"ה וקבען בכסא הכבוד, שמתגאה על גאים, הוי אשירה לה' כי גאה גאה.