The Lord Most High

⁴ The Lord is high above all nations,
    and his glory above the heavens!
⁵ Who is like the Lord our God,
    who is seated on high,
⁶ who looks far down
    on the heavens and the earth?
⁷ He raises the poor from the dust
    and lifts the needy from the ash heap,
⁸ to make them sit with princes,
    with the princes of his people.

Passage

Psalm 113 - 'Who Is Like the Lord Our God?'

Conditions

We were out of position again this evening due to being generously hosted for dinner by a family from church. After a pleasant walk home in the gentle snow and some quick showers the children were in bed, in very good spirits, and ready for a reading. 

Time

It was bedtime which means we didn’t have time for the original Hebrew. But this is good. Variety is good. A short, to the point Bible reading is good if it fits the occasion. 

Teaching

While the children were bathing I read Psalm 113 and noticed a possible interest point. The passage deals in ups and downs. The Lord is “seated on high.” He “looks far down on the heavens and the earth.” How high must someone be in order to look down on the heavens? 

At verse 5 I paused and asked, “How high do you have to be in order to look down on… the earth?” Eventually one of the children said, “Just right where you are.” Touché. “Well, how high do you have to be in order to look down upon… the heavens?” “So high!” Who is like the Lord our God? No one. No one is like Him. No one is as high as Him. And yet He stoops to raise the poor from the dust.

Reflection

I remember realising in year #1 of my Christian life that the only thing I had to say after reading a Bible passage was, "Wow! Isn't that amazing?" Over the next few of years (especially during theological studies) I felt foolish many times because others saw principles and doctrine in passages immediately, and I only saw "Wow." It took a little while, but I realised "Wow" is the most important thing to see when reading the Bible. Of course it is.

Today this enables me to read a passage like Psalm 113 to the children before bed and simple encourage them to say "Wow" about their God before they close their eyes.

Who is like the Lord our God? No one. Wow. Praise the Lord.