May 2, 2001
Reading: Psalm 113: ff
“He raises the poor
out of the dust, and lifts the needy out of the ash heap” (7)
John Owen, the seventeenth century
Puritan, wrote: “There is more glory under the eye of God, in the sighs,
groans, and mournings of poor souls filled with the love of Christ, after the
enjoyment of Him according to His promises – in their fervent prayers for His
manifestation of Himself unto them – in the refreshments and unspeakable joys
which they have in His gracious visits and embraces of His love – than in the
thrones and diadems of all the monarchs on the earth.” In the extensive long
sentence structure, typical of his day, Owen expresses a truth found, not only
in the scriptures, but also in the economy of God today.
Throughout the centuries, kings and
queens have looked to the church, be it with a sincere belief that God was with
them or, as is mostly the case, to impress their citizens that they looked to a
higher power for their guidance. We are all familiar with seeing political a
leader, who is also a blatant adulterer, leaving church with his Bible neatly
tucked under his arm. St. Paul’s
Cathedral in London has hosted
royalty for centuries, although it seems to have had little effect on their
lives. Kings and Queens are crowned in Westminster Abbey
because tradition dictates it should be so. Is God impressed by this perpetual
façade of religious activity? How refreshing it is when a national leader is
not afraid to announce his love for and dependence on the King of Kings.
When I read the list of persons
Jesus chose to be His disciples, I do not find any Kings, Queens,
Presidents, Prime Ministers or religious leaders.
Rather, He chose blue-collar workers; fishermen, a tax collector, and the like.
These are the men who traveled with Jesus and learned from Him every day. It is
these same men who were later used to spread the good news of the Kingdom
of God. Many of them stood before
kings and magistrates and preached the gospel or defended accusations against
it. They did know wealth as the world defines it, but they defended their faith
to the death. As Owen puts it, their “souls were filled with
the love of Christ”.
David, the greatest of the kings of
Israel,
recognized his need of God, and laid himself at the feet of the King of Kings.
“But I am poor and needy; yet the LORD thinks upon me. You are my help and my
deliverer” (Ps 40:17). He was extremely
wealthy and had at his fingertips everything a person could need and want, but
more than that, he loved God and owned allegiance to Him. When David spoke to
the people he did not pick out the wealthy and high ranking, but included them
all together to hear his words: “Hear this, all peoples; Give ear, all
inhabitants of the world, both low and high, rich and
poor together. My mouth shall speak wisdom, and the meditation of my heart
shall give understanding” (Ps: 49:1-3).
David, as a type of Christ, speaks
the words of God. His message is to poor and rich alike; kings and paupers have
the same opportunity to hear and obey His words. It is, however, so difficult
for the rich to enter the Kingdom of God
(like a camel passing through the eye of a needle – Matt: 19:24) because they rely so much on their own importance.
Praise God for those who see beyond their wealth and human status, and bow in
humility before the throne of grace.
“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” (Ps 113:7-8).
