Heart of a Psalmist - Worshipping Christ Through The Psalms

Three times in these opening verses we are called upon to “bless” the “name” of the Lord. Again the triune name of God that includes Father, Son and Holy Spirit is being foreshadowed here. To “bless” is to praise with deep affection. In these verses we learn that the praises of God are to fill up both time; “forever and ever” and space “from east to west” . When God created the visible universe and the meas- urement of ‘time’ they were to be vessels to contain his praises and honor. His natural creation (stars, mountains, seas, trees, fields) bring him praise by their majesty, their motion and their sound remind- ing us to give glory to God. The purpose of the creation of mankind was that they would respond to him with ‘deep affection’ and the universe would resound with praise forever. Each individual believer be- comes responsible to fill the days and location of their lives with the praises of God’s name. These verses deal with the lofty subject of God’s transcendence, he is above and apart from every- thing we know in the created universe. Not only is he greater than all the nations combined, he is even above the spiritual realm of heaven; he ‘transcends’ all that there is and cannot be compared with any- ing. ‘Heaven is lower to Him than it is high to us 2 .’ Spurgeon writes; ‘ In the height of his abode none can be like him. His throne, his whole character, his person, his being, everything about him, is lofty and infinitely majestic, so that none can be likened unto him. His serene mind abides in the most elevated condition, he is never dishonored, nor does he stoop from the pure holiness and absolute perfection of his character.’ In this regard we praise God from the position of wonder and amazement; his divine char- acteristics of holiness and power are ‘incommunicable’, they cannot be shared with anyone. If he were not infinitely ‘above us’ transcendent, we could eventually exhaust every reason to worship and praise him and the entire purpose for existence would end. The greatest miracle is that this amazing God has chosen to lower himself and condescend to the level of fallen humanity that he might raise us up in honor and blessing. ‘He is the incomparable one who has set up his throne in the height, but at the same time directs his gaze deep downward 3 …’ “The high and lofty one who inhabits eternity, the Holy One, says this: ‘I live in that high and holy place with those whose spirits are contrite and humble. I refresh the humble and give new courage to those with repentant hearts.’”(Isa. 57:15) Jesus is the full representation of God’s ‘stoop of love’, coming from an indescribable place of glory and honor to an indescribable place of pain and suffering to lift up those who had fallen into the ash heap: “Though he was God, he did not demand and cling to his rights as God. He made himself nothing; he took the humble position of a slave and ap- peared in human form. And in human form he obediently humbled himself even further by dying a crim- inal’s death on a cross. Because of this, God raised him up to the heights of heaven and gave him a name that is above every other name…” (Phil. 2:6-9) In the light of this condescending love it is logical to respond to the summons to give him praise. He deserves our praise first because of who he is, secondly by the humble act of salvation he performed on our behalf. The first section addressed God’s transcendence, his exaltation above us. Now the psalmist cele- brates his imminence, his being among us. Through the miracle of rebirth God himself lifts the poor and needy person from the humiliation of sin. Each believer in Christ becomes a prince or princess, part of the royal lineage of heaven. The writer was possibly thinking of Joseph being exalted from the lowest prison to the high position of Prime Minister of Egypt; “And pharaoh said to Joseph, ‘I hereby put you in charge of the entire land of Egypt.’” (Gen. 41:41) The Hebrew word ‘mezbele’ means dunghill or heap of ashes describing the garbage dumps of middle-eastern towns and villages. God promised us through the prophecy of Isaiah: “To all who mourn in Zion, he will give beauty for ashes, joy instead of mourn- ing, praise instead of despair.” (Isa. 61:3) Through Christ we arise from the garbage dumps of this world to inherit beauty, joy and a life of praise. “For the Lord is high above the nations; his glory is far greater than the heavens. Who can be com- pared with the Lord our God, who is enthroned on high?”(4, 5) II HE STOOPS TO LOOK - 6-9 His Mercy “Far below him are the heavens and the earth. He stoops to look,…” (6) “…and he lifts the poor from the dirt and the needy from the garbage dump. He sets them among princes, even the princes of his own people!” (7,8)

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