June 20, 2017

BEST REFERENCE LETTER OF ALL TIME

Psalm 113

Mickey Barton
Tuesday's Devo

June 20, 2017

Tuesday's Devo

June 20, 2017

Central Truth

God cannot be compared to anything we know on earth. His vastness is unfathomable. We could spend a lifetime studying Him and still not understand Him fully. Yet, He allows us to know Him enough to realize the greatness of His name—that He is worthy to be praised.

Key Verse | Psalm 113:5–6

Who is like the Lord our God,
who is seated on high,
who looks far down
on the heavens and the earth?
(Psalm 113:5-6)

Psalm 113

Who Is like the LORD Our God?

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

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

The LORD is high above all nations,
    and his glory above the heavens!
Who is like the LORD our God,
    who is seated on high,
who looks far down
    on the heavens and the earth?
He raises the poor from the dust
    and lifts the needy from the ash heap,
to make them sit with princes,
    with the princes of his people.
He gives the barren woman a home,
    making her the joyous mother of children.
Praise the LORD!

Dive Deeper | Psalm 113

Think of the most impressive human being you know and fill in the blanks below as if you were describing that person:

“Who is even like ______? You should tell everyone how awesome ______ is. ______ has done great things now and in the future. ______ deserves your respect and love! ______ is way better than anyone else you will ever meet. Probably better than anyone of all time! Who is even comparable to ______? ______ walks into the place, and all eyes are on ______! ______ is just on another level. ______ is always there when you need support or encouragement. ______ even helps out with things I can’t do myself. Man, ______ is just unreal!

First, the paragraph above would be an incredible reference letter for any job! Yet this description doesn’t even scratch the surface when describing our Savior. In fact, the title of the passage begs the question, "Who is like the Lord our God?" No one we have ever met or have ever heard of begins to relate to His character. Any comparison would fall short! In Psalm 113, it’s as if even the author is at a loss for words.

Today, we need to remember the simple yet awe-inspiring truth that the vastness of our God cannot be measured; and yet, everything in our world is measurable by Him. Even what might be vast to us, He can measure—the gallons of salt water in the ocean, the hairs on our head, even the number of times we have smiled.

At the end of the day, we are called to reflect this limitless God. He is constantly in the process of transforming us into people who look more like Him in our every action. Let us allow Psalm 113 to be true of our God, and in knowing His character, humbly model His grace to those who don’t know Him.

We all desire a stellar reference letter. Even with all our competencies and education, we will never match God's reference letter: Psalm 113. But God, in His grace, wrote us the best reference letter of all time. And for that I am thankful.

Discussion Questions

1. How have you attempted to measure/limit God?

2. How should these limitless attributes of God change the way you live?

3. Are you letting any measurable sin from your past not be exceeded by the Lord's immeasurable grace? If so, what is it? Ask the Lord to set you free from that bondage of sin today.