He raises the poor out of the dust, and lifts the needy out of the ash heap, that He may seat him with princes -- with the princes of His people.
--Psalm 113:7-8 (NKJV)
From the daily Bible reading on June 25, 2013 of Psalm 113; Galatians 5:13-26; 2 Kings 13-14.
The psalmist opens the 113th Psalm singing praises to God. Three times in the first verse he instructs all those who follow the Lord to praise Him. This is only fitting since the 113th is one of six (Psalms 113 through 118) known as the "Egyptian Hallel" (or "Egyptian Praise") that celebrate God's deliverance of His people from Egypt. The 113th is generally sung before the meal of the Passover observance. Because of His goodness God is to be praised, His very name blessed now and forevermore, from the east to the west, and every minute of the day. God is to be praised because He sits on high where He rules over all creation.
But then the psalmist spots a remarkable aspect of God that too often escapes the notice of His followers because we are blinded by His awesome glory and infinite power. The psalmist sees that God humbles Himself, lowers His own stature in order to exalt the lowly among us. God shows His graciousness through His concern for the poor and for the childless who will have no one to see to their needs in old age or to carry on after they are gone. God elevates the poor and the needy, those that society casts off and treats almost like trash. He makes of them princes among His people. And the barren woman, who might carry a certain amount of sorrow and grief and guilt, is made to share the joyous emotional experience of a mother with her children. Praise the Lord.
God humbled Himself so much that He came to earth in the person of His Son as a vulnerable baby, to grow and live among us. To experience what we go through. To face the temptations of Satan that we face every day. He came not to rule but to serve. He exalted the poor and lowly while rebuking the high and haughty. He associated with sinners so that they might come to know Him and be saved. Jesus exemplified the true strength of meekness. He lived His life knowing exactly how it would end, yet not once did He waver from His mission. By His life and His words and His actions, the Lord instructs mankind in the way we need to be to gain righteousness and grow in our faith. He shows us the way we must walk. He gives us all we ever need to believe in. And if we believe, if we truly know the Son so we also know the Father, then He will lift us out of this ash heap of life and treat us like royalty in His kingdom. We will share in all the joy of even the most joyous. But for now we must do as Jesus wants us to do and live our lives in service to others and to love all just as He loves us. Praise the Lord indeed! Amen.
Lord Jesus, Master of our lives, thank You so much for humbling Yourself to come and live among us. Thank You for exalting us among the princes of heaven. Thank You for the promise of joy and honor to come, if not in this life then the next with You. Please help us live as You would have us do, in Your service for Your commission and Your commandment. In Your glorious name, Lord Jesus we pray. Amen.
But then the psalmist spots a remarkable aspect of God that too often escapes the notice of His followers because we are blinded by His awesome glory and infinite power. The psalmist sees that God humbles Himself, lowers His own stature in order to exalt the lowly among us. God shows His graciousness through His concern for the poor and for the childless who will have no one to see to their needs in old age or to carry on after they are gone. God elevates the poor and the needy, those that society casts off and treats almost like trash. He makes of them princes among His people. And the barren woman, who might carry a certain amount of sorrow and grief and guilt, is made to share the joyous emotional experience of a mother with her children. Praise the Lord.
God humbled Himself so much that He came to earth in the person of His Son as a vulnerable baby, to grow and live among us. To experience what we go through. To face the temptations of Satan that we face every day. He came not to rule but to serve. He exalted the poor and lowly while rebuking the high and haughty. He associated with sinners so that they might come to know Him and be saved. Jesus exemplified the true strength of meekness. He lived His life knowing exactly how it would end, yet not once did He waver from His mission. By His life and His words and His actions, the Lord instructs mankind in the way we need to be to gain righteousness and grow in our faith. He shows us the way we must walk. He gives us all we ever need to believe in. And if we believe, if we truly know the Son so we also know the Father, then He will lift us out of this ash heap of life and treat us like royalty in His kingdom. We will share in all the joy of even the most joyous. But for now we must do as Jesus wants us to do and live our lives in service to others and to love all just as He loves us. Praise the Lord indeed! Amen.
Lord Jesus, Master of our lives, thank You so much for humbling Yourself to come and live among us. Thank You for exalting us among the princes of heaven. Thank You for the promise of joy and honor to come, if not in this life then the next with You. Please help us live as You would have us do, in Your service for Your commission and Your commandment. In Your glorious name, Lord Jesus we pray. Amen.
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