Scripture can reveal a new characteristic about God causing us to know Him in another facet. Scripture brings a truth that leaves us standing in awe of Him.
Psalm 113, a short, nine verse psalm that pulled the curtain back, bringing a powerful reminder. I will let Scripture speak for itself …Â
1Â Praise the Lord. Praise, O servants of the Lord, praise the name of the Lord.
2Â Let the name of the Lord be praised, both now and forevermore.
3Â From the rising of the sun to the place where it sets, the name of the Lord is to be praised.
4Â The Lord is exalted over all the nations, his glory above the heavens.
5Â Who is like the Lord our God, the One who sits enthroned on high,
6Â who stoops down to look on the heavens and the earth?
7Â He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap;
8Â he seats them with princes, with the princes of their people.
9Â He settles the barren woman in her home as a happy mother of children. Praise the Lord.
Did you catch it? While our God is great, worthy of our praise both now and forevermore, is exalted above the heavens and sits enthroned on high –
He stoops down to us!   Â
He sees us and draws near to us in our distress. Can you see the picture that Scripture is depicting for us? Like a loving parent that squats to speak face to face with a child, to hear a child, to comfort a child. This is the very action of our God towards us ”“ He stoops down to us.
“Stooping” according to dictionary.com means “to bend the head and shoulders, or the body generally, forward and downward from an erect position; to descend from one’s level of dignity.”
In other words, God is reaching down towards us to help us in our situations. He stoops towards:
- The poor, to raise them from the dust. What is making you “poor” today? Where is your deficit? Sure we may have a financial need but we can also be spiritually bankrupt.
- The needy, to raise them from the ash heap. What has left you feeling rejected? Sent to the rubbish heap? Devoid of hope.
He stoops in order to raise us up. In raising us, He seats us with those of position, of honor among Him. He settles the barren ”“ those who feel without significance and without joy or hopeless ”“ and causes them to bring forth fruit.
Our God stooping is cause for praise!
“From the rising of the sun to the place where it sets, the name of the Lord is to be praised.” (Psalm 113:3).
This is a revised version of an earlier post.
Today I am joining … Inspire Me Monday and #SmallWonder and #LifeGiving and Monday’s Musings .
Let the name of the Lord be praised! Amen. What a blessing to serve a God who stoops. Thanks, Joanne.
Just today I heard again the song by Casting Crowns (This Is Now) with this line … “when you couldn’t come to Me, My love came down…”. I am so grateful He stoops!
Joanne- wow! He is so great and leaves us marveling at Him every time!
Thanks for giving hope and encouragement today!
Stopping by from #InspireMeMonday
Julie
Julie, that is so it. “He leaves us marveling at Him every time.”
I wrote a post once about how God “stoops and stretches out among us” it was a reflection on the incarnation. Such an important thing to remember. Thanks for sharing, Joanne!
Kelly, it is something we (I) need to think on more often. Today in the car, one line from the song “This Is Now” by Casting Crowns struck deeply >> ““When you couldn’t come to Me, My love came down…”. It is always a delight to join you!
Love this, Joanne! We were just taught in a VBS meeting that we should stoop down to the child’s level and talk to him. What a blessing that He does the same for us!
Yes, Jerralea, such a good point to add. It’s funny how often children perceive us as one of them when we do that and they are better able to receive from us. He stoops so that we will receive all that He is wanting to give us. Just beautiful and I am so glad you shared!
What an example of the love and compassion of the father! Thank you for slowing us down to pause and savor the truth of his love for us!
I am so grateful you paused along with me!
What a beautiful post! Love knowing that God stoops down for us – appreciate your sharing Psalm 113 (I am a Psalm-aholic, if there could be such a thing). Blessings! I’m joining you from LifeGivingLinkUp.
Love the term – a Psalm-aholic :)) So glad you stopped here today!