Again God orchestrates the coming together of two passages. Isaiah 2 and Psalm 49. Did you read them together? I kept flipping back and forth. Amazing
As often as we find the message of these two chapters in the Bible, society has the opposite one —
Stand up for yourself,
take pride in your accomplishments,
live life for all its worth,
find role models in athletes and celebrities,
power is everything,
stay young and beautiful,
You are worth it.
This past week my pastor talked a bit about feeling small. Not embarrassed small, but rightfully small. Small compared to our gigantic universe created by an uncontainable God. Grain of sand small in the scheme of history. Humbled. Reminded. Small.
This theme came back around in these chapters today.
from Isaiah 2:
9 So people will be brought low
and everyone humbled—
do not forgive them.
11 The eyes of the arrogant will be humbled
the LORD alone will be exalted in that day.
12 The LORD Almighty has a day in store
for all the proud and lofty,
for all that is exalted
(and they will be humbled),
19 People will flee to caves in the rocks
and to holes in the ground
from the fearful presence of the LORD
and the splendor of his majesty,
when he rises to shake the earth.
22 Stop trusting in mere humans,
who have but a breath in their nostrils.
Why hold them in esteem?
Psalm 49:
5 Why should I fear when evil days come,
when wicked deceivers surround me—
6 those who trust in their wealth
and boast of their great riches?
10 For all can see that the wise die,
that the foolish and the senseless also perish,
leaving their wealth to others.
12 People, despite their wealth, do not endure;
13 This is the fate of those who trust in themselves,
16 Do not be overawed when others grow rich,
when the splendor of their houses increases;
17 for they will take nothing with them when they die,
their splendor will not descend with them.
18 Though while they live they count themselves blessed—
and people praise you when you prosper—
19 they will join those who have gone before them,
who will never again see the light of life.
God’s ways, not mine. God’s thoughts, not mine. Not self-preservation or self-image or self-promotion. I should hide under a rock at His majesty if pride tempts me to respond as the world to any of his blessings in my life.
Lord God, the enormity of who you are should continually call me to my knees. Help me to keep my perspective in how awesome you are, and how simple I am. Keep me in my place and humble me that you may continue to be lifted up. May your name be lifted higher! ~Amen
Sixty-six books in a year 