Meditate upon Psalm 113:3-6 today:
From the rising of the sun to its going down
The LORD’s name is to be praised.
The LORD is high above all nations,
His glory above the heavens.
Who is like the LORD our God,
Who dwells on high,
Who humbles Himself to behold
The things that are in the heavens and in the earth?
Verses 5-6 have really impacted me this Christmas season. Who is like the LORD our God? He is highly exalted…far above the creation and all mankind. He holds the whole universe in the span of His hand. Yet He humbles himself. Consider that thought. God humbles Himself. He lowers Himself. He does what is necessary to take an interest in our lives, to enter our world, to know our names, to see our hearts, to count the number of hairs on our head. God cannot enter our world without lowering Himself.
I am reminded of playing games with my 3 year old, Joshua. To play a game with Joshua I have to “lower myself” to his level. I can’t expect him to play canasta or chess with me. I have to humble myself and interact with him on his level. I sacrifice my interests and desires and limit my knowledge and skill level in order to enter his world and convey value upon him.
The gap between God and us is infinitely greater than the gap between me and my son yet God humbles Himself to enter our world. How far is He willing to go? The psalmist couldn’t even imagine. God was willing to take on human flesh, take the form of a servant, be born as a helpless baby in a dung-filled stable in order to love us, convey value upon us, save us. Whoa. Who is like our God? He doesn’t expect us to reach His level (which we could never do) instead He reaches down to us. He humbles Himself…for us.
And He didn’t stop at the stable…He humbled himself further and died on the cross for us. The innocent for the guilty. The great God giving His life for the condemned sinner. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross (Philippians 2:8). We serve a great God. We serve a humble God. Who is like Him?
What is also amazing to me is the fact that Psalm 113 is the first psalm in the Hallel, a collection of six psalms sang every Passover. That means on the night before Jesus died He probably sang this psalm with His disciples. I am sure His disciples had no idea what they were witnessing when they sang this with Jesus. Who is like the Lord our God, who dwells on high, who humbles Himself in order to behold the things in the heavens and in the earth? Jesus Christ is the fulfillment of these words. Immanuel. God with us.
Thank You, Lord, for humbling Yourself in order to love me!