"The LORD lifteth up the meek: He casteth the wicked down to the ground."
Psalm 147:6
Psalm 147 has been “specially designed to celebrate the rebuilding of Jerusalem.”[1] In it, we can see God’s gracious care for His creatures, specifically His children. This calls for praise to the LORD. In our verse for today, we can see how God rights the wrongs between the wicked and the humble.
“The LORD lifteth up the meek.”
The “meek” are the poor and needy, the weak and afflicted, and the low and humble. The Cambridge Bible says these are “Those who have learnt humility in the school of suffering.”[2] These lowly folks are easily mistreated, and they are the kinds of people who the wicked go after. Proud bullies always go after those who are weaker and unable to defend themselves. The good news for the meek is God takes notice, and He knows and cares about what you are going through.
“The Lord loves those who are reverent to himself, humble in their own eyes, and gentle to their fellow-men, these he lifts up to hope, to peace, to power, to eternal honour. When God lifts a man, it is a lift indeed”[3] (Spurgeon).
“The LORD opens the eyes of the blind. The LORD lifts up those who are bowed down; the LORD loves the righteous. The LORD watches over the sojourners; He upholds the widow and the fatherless, but the way of the wicked he brings to ruin” (Psalm 146:8-9).
“He casteth the wicked down to the ground.”
The “wicked” are lawless criminals. They are wicked in that they are “hostile to God,” and are guilty of sin “against God or man.”[4] The wicked care nothing for God or His Law.
“The wicked in his pride doth persecute the poor: let them be taken in the devices that they have imagined” (Psalm 10:2).
God does not forget the wicked or what they do.
“God judgeth the righteous, and God is angry with the wicked every day” (Psalm 7:11).
But God cares for His humble child every day.
“Many sorrows shall be to the wicked: but he that trusteth in the LORD, mercy shall compass him about” (Psalm 32:10).
Believers, let’s remember to share Jesus Christ’s good news with the wicked at every opportunity.
Quote: “Did you hear about the minister who said he had a wonderful sermon on humility but was waiting for a large crowd before preaching it?”[5]
[1] Jamison, Fausset, and Brown. Jamison-Fausset-Brown’s Commentary, the electronic version in eSword. See Nehemiah 6:16; and 12:27, and compare these with this psalm.
[2] Cambridge Bible, the electronic version in eSword.
[3] C.H. Spurgeon, Treasury of David, the electronic version in eSword.
[4] Brown, Driver, Briggs. Brown-Driver-Briggs’ Hebrew Definitions, the electronic version in eSword.
[5] Source is unknown. Downloaded: Tuesday, June 23, 2020. From: https://bible.org/illustration/humble-minister.