The God of Big and Small
Psalm 147:1-6 ESV
1 Praise the Lord!
For it is good to sing praises to our God;
for it is pleasant, and a song of praise is fitting.
2 The Lord builds up Jerusalem;
he gathers the outcasts of Israel.
3 He heals the brokenhearted
and binds up their wounds.
4 He determines the number of the stars;
he gives to all of them their names.
5 Great is our Lord, and abundant in power;
his understanding is beyond measure.
6 The Lord lifts up the humble;
he casts the wicked to the ground.
Ever notice how many of the psalms start with praise? In our passage for today, the psalmist starts with praise and notes that praise is good and that a song of praise is fitting. I don't know that we use the word fitting as much today. The word carries the meaning of being suitable, proper, or appropriate. A sign seen in some restaurants is 'Proper Attire Required'. I can remember some establishments would not allow a man to enter without a tie. I am not longing for those days, just making an observation. But one thing is always proper and appropriate when it comes to the Lord, and that is praise. We are never spiritually underdressed when we come with praise.
Then the psalmist describes some situations. He builds up Jerusalem and gathers the outcasts of Israel. That is citywide and individual, big and small. We see God go small to heal the broken-hearted and binding up their wounds. And that is juxtaposed with the next verse, which states that our God determines the number of stars and calls them all by name. Our God is willing to heal a broken heart and bandage the wounds of the individual who has been hurt. And big enough to make the stars and name them all. Astronomers have estimated that there are more stars in the universe than there are grains of sand on all the beaches and deserts of the world.
Our God is great and abundant in power, with an insight and understanding that is beyond our ability to comprehend. That's big. And yet He lifts up the humble and casts the wicked to the ground. The fact that God notices those with a humble heart and is opposed to the wicked is, again, another example of God not just doing big things but also reaching out to the small.
This helps us recognize that we are not too insignificant for our God. I have heard people say that God was so busy "running the universe" that they didn't want to "bother Him" with their prayer request. I am not doubting the sincerity of someone who says that, but it sounds more like an excuse not to pray. Can we really bother the One who creates the stars and calls them all by name? We won't interrupt Him with our prayer request. He can run the universe and help us and heal us without any stress or strain. He is a big God who can go small with His children.
Prayer
Thank You, Father, You are worthy of all my praise. Big enough to create me and the world I live in, and willing to help me on the small level as well. Praise Your name forever!