“I will sing to the Lord, for He is exalted” (Exodus 15:1) – that is what is written: “Adorn yourself now with majesty and excellence” (Job 40:10). All things exalt themselves over others. Darkness exalts itself over the depths, as it is above it. The wind exalts itself over the water, as it is above it.
The fire exalts itself over the wind, as it is above it. The heavens exalt themselves over the fire, as it is above it. The Holy One blessed be He exalts Himself over everything, as it is stated: “For He is exalted [ga’o ga’a].”17The double term gao gaa implies that God is exalted above all else. Rabbi Avin said: Four types of exalted ones were created in the world: The most exalted of living creatures is man; the most exalted of birds is the eagle; the most exalted of domesticated animals is the ox; the most exalted of beasts is the lion.
All of them received kingship, they were granted prominence, and they are fixed beneath the chariot of the Holy One blessed be He, as it is stated: “The likeness of their faces…the face of a man…the face of a lion…the face of an ox…the face of an eagle” (Ezekiel 1:10). Why was it so? It was so they would not exalt themselves in the world and they would know that the kingdom of Heaven is above them.
In that regard it is stated: “For One higher than high watches, and there are higher than they” (Ecclesiastes 5:7); that is, “for He is exalted.”