What a Thought!
Friday (October 31)
What a Thought!
Psalm 40:17a
As for me, I am poor and needy, but the Lord takes thought of me.
A Christian philosopher of yesteryear once wrote that “a human being is at his highest only when before God he recognizes that he is nothing in himself,” and, at first glance, this sounds like an unhealthy sort of self-loathing. It isn’t as though God stands over us day after day with a scolding finger pointed down and a frustrated, furrowed brow, saying, “You’re nothing—you’re worthless—you have no power—you’re a worm!” It probably won’t be a fruitful exercise to start calling ourselves things like that when we look into the mirror every day. Yet, sometimes, we do. Sometimes, we think that in order to elevate God we must debase ourselves. And we mistake John the Baptizer’s words, “He must increase and I must decrease,” to mean that our entire vocation as sons and daughters of the King is to crawl around on our knees as low as we can so that we never impede on Christ’s glory. Oh, but we are part of Christ’s glory, friend! That’s the astonishing reality. The truth of Psalm 40:17 isn’t a negative point, but a positive one. See, when God becomes great in our estimation, when our eyes focus on Him and His worth, we’ll waste less time enamored with ourselves; yet, at the same time, as we look up to God with utmost reverence and awe, He’s looking down at us with genuine affection and love.
Think of it like this: if you compare your five-year-old’s little scribbles to Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel, how do they fare? Not well, I imagine. In terms of artistic and formal quality, that hand-drawn card from your son belongs in the trash, not a museum. But what would you rather have hanging on your refrigerator every day? Which piece of art do you treasure more? Obviously, the card. And that’s the idea David is conveying here in Psalm 40:17. He’s comparing what we are in relation to God to what we are in relationship with God, and the result astounds him. Because although we are nothing compared to God, although our righteousness is like filthy rags next to His, He cherishes us nonetheless.
Oh Christian, marvel today at the wondrous thought that God, as high as He, thinks of you, as low as you are, so highly!