Day 213, Year 1

Be the One the Lord Regards

“Though the LORD is on high, Yet He regards the lowly; But the proud He knows from afar.” (Psalm 138:6 NKJV)

The word “lowly” in today’s verse, shaphal, also means “low (in height or in station), humiliated, or humble (of condition or spirit).” The verse compares God’s highness with humans’ lowness. In addition, there are proud people on earth. At the beginning and end of the verse, God’s highness and humans’ pride create a stark contrast. Hence, the verse displays and compares God’s highness and humans’ lowness, with highness incompatible with humans in the verse. In other words, some proud people, who manipulate things that God should have decided, dare to compare themselves to God. 

The Lord, though exalted, still regards the lowly. The word “regard” is ra’ah, which also means “to look at, see, look after, see after, consider, give attention to, or gaze at.” The verse says that God is always paying attention to, watching over, and caring for the lowly. This lowliness encompasses humans’ awareness of our inferiority. Indeed, if someone believes they are invincible, they can travel to the countryside and feel the minuscule and fleeting nature of human lives. Perhaps, the proud ones could feel their lowliness from this.

The word “proud,” gaboah in Hebrew, also means “exalted, high (in position), haughty, or loftiness.” People often become proud as they possess numerous accomplishments, wealth, power, friends, etc. They feel superior and exalted by comparing what they have or own with others, thus likely embarking on the path of competing with God. But He sees the arrogant from afar, and they are the thorns in His side. Conversely, Jesus humbles Himself and dines with the lowly, which might provoke arrogance in certain people. Indeed, some people disagree with the Gospels’ description of Jesus Christ as the Most High God. They think that if Jesus is truly the Most High, He should have done more than just perform dozens of miracles. Since Jesus does not fit the “image of God” in their minds, they decide not to believe in Him. All of these problems might be caused by people’s ignorance of their lowliness as creations and their emphasis on their own biased opinions, accomplishments, and possessions, etc., leading them to neglect the true God as the center.

Reflection questions:

1) Do you feel like a lowly person before God? What are some ways you could humble yourself more before Him?

2) Do you think that the Most High God is always paying attention to and watching over you? If so, are there any recent examples of how you have been under His care?