Psalm 113 ~ He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap

The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law

Psalm 113 

Praise the Lord!
Praise, O servants of the Lord,
praise the name of the Lord!

2 Blessed be the name of the Lord
from this time forth and forevermore!
3 From the rising of the sun to its setting,
the name of the Lord is to be praised!

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.
9 He gives the barren woman a home,
making her the joyous mother of children.
Praise the Lord!

Perhaps you have read or seen "In the Name of the Rose"  it provides a look at some of the dour phases of Christianity.  And I am certain in growing ourselves, as eternal spirits in the promises of Jesus Christ, we actually should be able to look back at Christian growth in our very lives and be able to see ourselves. To be mature enough to say, yes, the Church has done such and I have forgiveness myself.


"The Pillars of the Earth" by Ken Follett was a best seller in the 1980s and a mini-series, and was recently brought to my attention by the sequel. I didn't enjoy the sequel it was just too much political correctness of our era placed in the middle ages. Pillars stirred me in the strivings of Prior Phillip, working to build up the Body of Christ. Perhaps it was the constant play of blessing and struggle.

It is constant theme of God's. 

+ Genesis 12 has Abraham lying to Pharoah and protecting his own hide by the half-truth and truth of Sarah being his sister.

+ The midwives lied to Pharaoh about the birth of the Hebrew boys.

+ Rahab lied to the servants of the King of Jericho to protect the men of God.  David's great-grandmother.

 + Jesus told the mourners of the Synagogue's Ruler - his daughter was sleeping. Jesus was doing two things - encouraging the father of the girl and moving the mourners and scoffers out of His way. 

Paul also wrote of the Freedom of being in the Holy Spirit.

1 Corinthians 9:19-23

Though I am free and belong to no one, I have made myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. 

²⁰ To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law. ²¹ To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God’s law but am under Christ’s law), so as to win those not having the law. ²² To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some. ²³ I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings.

1 Corinthians 3:2

I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it. Indeed, you are still not ready.

It would be HIGHLY doubtful God would have enjoyed seeing Abram lie to Pharaoh - who turned out to act more godly than Abram (who heard the Lord).  The midwives helped create a Nation chosen by the LORD.

Exodus 1:20

So God dealt well with the midwives. And the people multiplied and grew very strong.

Micah 6:8
He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?

Romans 2:29
But a Jew is one inwardly, and circumcision is a matter of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter. His praise is not from man but from God.

Jesus refused to adhere to the Law when He healed on the Sabbath. Each day Jesus proclaimed mercy and sacrifice over Law. He was teaching the appropriate Spirit of the Law versus hiding behind appearance to sometimes inflict unkindness and the evils of having a heart merely for show.

Who is like the Lord our God,
who is seated on high,
who looks far down
on the heavens and the earth?

It is GOD, who sees us with Mercy. Giving us His Son. Asking us to sit with HIM. Eternally. That is quite something.

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