READ Psalm 113. 1 Praise the LORD. Praise the LORD, you his servants, praise the name of the LORD. 2 Let the name of the LORD be praised, both now and forevermore. 3 From the rising of the sun to the place where it sets, the name of the LORD is to be praised. 4 The LORD is exalted over all the nations, his glory above the heavens. 5 Who is like the LORD our God, the One who sits enthroned on high, 6 who stoops down to look on the heavens and the earth? 7 He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap; 8 he seats them with princes, with the princes of his people. 9 He settles the childless woman in her home as a happy mother of children. Praise the LORD.
GREATNESS AND SMALLNESS. Praise God because there is nothing too great for him. He is over all time (verse 2), all places (verse 3), and all human power and authority (verse 4). But also praise him because there is no one too small for God (verses 7–9). He enthrones the poor (verse 7). The situation of the poor often is used to open them spiritually to the need for grace and the riches of salvation (Luke 6:20; Revelation 1:6). Materially God works for justice in history for the oppressed (Psalm 103:6, 140:12, 146:7). He loves working through the barren (think of Sarah, Hannah, and Elizabeth) and puts the lonely in community (verse 9). God’s greatness is seen in his regard for the ungreat. In Jesus he proved to be great enough to become small himself.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, I praise you that one infinitely greater than the universe with all its galaxies would become a tiny infant who needed to be fed and carried and changed. And you did it for me. That humbles my heart and yet lifts it to the stars as well. Thank you, Lord. Amen.