You Can't Make God What You Want
A lot of people want God to be...
- less judgmental.
- more loving.
- less concerned with sin and righteousness.
- more like a grandpa who loves and hugs.
Many Christians want God to be...
- more condemning to "others"
- harsher toward those who sin unlike us.
- faster in delivering justice.
The reality is you can't make God want you want Him to be. The moment you do, God has become subject to your imaginations. This is a problem. It makes you God. And no matter what you think, you're not fit to be Him.
Psalm 113 is a chiastic Psalm. That means it centers on a particular verse. Find the center and you find the point of the Psalm. This is a common technique in Hebrew poetry. In this case, the 5th verse:
Psalm 113:5 (ESV) Who is like the LORD our God, who is seated on high,
That's the point of this beautiful Psalm. Miss that and you don't catch what's being said. There is no one who is like God.
He is eternal and timeless.
Psalm 113:3 (ESV) From the rising of the sun to its setting, the name of the Lord is to be praised!
He is above all:
Psalm 113:4 (ESV) The Lord is high above all nations, and his glory above the heavens!
He cares for those cast down.
Psalm 113:7–9 (ESV) 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!
No one is like God. That's why we see humans typically not recognizing Him when He shows up in the Bible.
Moses didn't get it at first though he was intrigued (Exodus 3).
Joshua wondered who's side He was on (Joshua 5).
Isaiah realized He was way more holy than himself (Isaiah 6).
And when Jesus arrived, those most religious didn't recognize Him and hated Him.
We do a bad job with God's job description. Because He is like NONE of us. So stop trying to expect Him to be something you want. Instead, come to know Who He is. It's far different from what you may expect, and far far better!
- less judgmental.
- more loving.
- less concerned with sin and righteousness.
- more like a grandpa who loves and hugs.
Many Christians want God to be...
- more condemning to "others"
- harsher toward those who sin unlike us.
- faster in delivering justice.
The reality is you can't make God want you want Him to be. The moment you do, God has become subject to your imaginations. This is a problem. It makes you God. And no matter what you think, you're not fit to be Him.
Psalm 113 is a chiastic Psalm. That means it centers on a particular verse. Find the center and you find the point of the Psalm. This is a common technique in Hebrew poetry. In this case, the 5th verse:
Psalm 113:5 (ESV) Who is like the LORD our God, who is seated on high,
That's the point of this beautiful Psalm. Miss that and you don't catch what's being said. There is no one who is like God.
He is eternal and timeless.
Psalm 113:3 (ESV) From the rising of the sun to its setting, the name of the Lord is to be praised!
He is above all:
Psalm 113:4 (ESV) The Lord is high above all nations, and his glory above the heavens!
He cares for those cast down.
Psalm 113:7–9 (ESV) 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!
No one is like God. That's why we see humans typically not recognizing Him when He shows up in the Bible.
Moses didn't get it at first though he was intrigued (Exodus 3).
Joshua wondered who's side He was on (Joshua 5).
Isaiah realized He was way more holy than himself (Isaiah 6).
And when Jesus arrived, those most religious didn't recognize Him and hated Him.
We do a bad job with God's job description. Because He is like NONE of us. So stop trying to expect Him to be something you want. Instead, come to know Who He is. It's far different from what you may expect, and far far better!
Comments
Post a Comment