January 25th
THE PSALMS
Theme: The Majesty and Humility of God.
Background: The first of the six Passover psalms or Hallel psalms.
The psalmist portrays two aspects of God’s nature that seem opposite, yet are beautifully combined in Him. On one side is God’s lofty grandeur. He humbly comes down merely to look down at things in heaven, including angels, much more mankind on earth. On the other side is God’s tender compassion for the poor and the needy. He raises them from the ash heap – from paupers to princes. (Isa 57:15)
Jehovah sees the plight of a down-and-out sitting on the smelly garbage tip and willingly stoops down, inserting His hand into their smouldering stinking situation, and then gently supporting him, eases the man up until He raises him to sit on a throne! God raised up barren Elisabeth, Sarah, Rachel, Hannah, and the wife of Manoah. He is a God of the “lost, last, and least.” His Son left his heavenly glory to come to earth, stooping down to wash sinner’s feet, stooping under the weight of the cross and finally stooping under the burden of our sins, to raise us up even now to sit with him in “heavenly places” (Php 2:5-11; Eph 2:6).
______________________________
THE PSALMS
Psalm 108-113
Psalm 113
Psalm 113
Who is like Yahweh our God?
His throne is set on high, but he stoops to look down on heaven and earth.
Psalm 113:5-6, New Jerusalem Bible
His throne is set on high, but he stoops to look down on heaven and earth.
Psalm 113:5-6, New Jerusalem Bible
Theme: The Majesty and Humility of God.
Background: The first of the six Passover psalms or Hallel psalms.
113:5-6 “Who is like the LORD our God, who is seated on high, who looks far down on the heavens and the earth?”
The psalmist portrays two aspects of God’s nature that seem opposite, yet are beautifully combined in Him. On one side is God’s lofty grandeur. He humbly comes down merely to look down at things in heaven, including angels, much more mankind on earth. On the other side is God’s tender compassion for the poor and the needy. He raises them from the ash heap – from paupers to princes. (Isa 57:15)
113:7-9 “He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap. He gives the barren woman a home … the joyous mother of children.”
Jehovah sees the plight of a down-and-out sitting on the smelly garbage tip and willingly stoops down, inserting His hand into their smouldering stinking situation, and then gently supporting him, eases the man up until He raises him to sit on a throne! God raised up barren Elisabeth, Sarah, Rachel, Hannah, and the wife of Manoah. He is a God of the “lost, last, and least.” His Son left his heavenly glory to come to earth, stooping down to wash sinner’s feet, stooping under the weight of the cross and finally stooping under the burden of our sins, to raise us up even now to sit with him in “heavenly places” (Php 2:5-11; Eph 2:6).
______________________________
God of the “lost, last, and least.”
God of the “lost, last, and least.”