God Reaches The Poor, Needy, And Barren

INTRO

Most people say David wrote this psalm even though Scripture doesn’t specifically identify him as the writer. Psalms 113 and 114 are part of the “hallel” psalms and are typically read—or sung—during Passover.

TEACHING

Psalm 113:1-2: The psalm begins by calling the servants of the Lord to praise the name of the Lord. The psalmist’s word brings to mind a worship song by Chris Tomlin, “Blessed Be Your Name.” David urged the people to bless the Lord “forevermore” (v. 2)!

Psalm 113:3–6: David continues to praise God for who He is, recognizing He is above all nations and His glory is above the heavens (v. 4). In verse 6 (NKJV), David asked, “Who humbles Himself to behold the things that are in the heavens and in the earth? The English Standard Version (ESV) translates this verse, “Who looks far down on the heavens and the earth?” In either translation, David praises God’s greatness because He is high above heaven and earth, looking down on His creation.

Psalm 113:7–9: David next described what God saw as He looked down on the earth. God makes the poor and needy to sit with the princes of His people (vv. 7–8). God grants to barren women both a home and children (v. 9). David’s words in verses 7–8 closely resemble Hannah’s words found in 1 Samuel 2:8. Hannah actually sang these words in her song of praise after she gave birth to her son Samuel. With these words, Hannah talked about what God does.

One thing the Bible says about Jesus is that He came to set people free, and God has a heart for the downtrodden. If God looks down on earth and has the heart to raise poor people from the dust, the needy from the ash heap (v. 7), and to speak to barren women (v. 9); then what does that say about how He reaches out to us? Sometimes we miss out on God’s heart. God has been on a mission since Genesis when Adam and Eve sinned in the Garden of Eden to reconcile mankind back to Himself. That is not just people of wealth or people of poverty—He wishes all people would come to Him, that none would perish.

What does Scripture say about the needy and poor? What does Scripture say about our role? If we are going to praise God for who He is and talk about how He helps people, then we need to know where we fit into that situation. One example to consider is Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan and grandson of King Saul. He was five years old when his nurse fled with him after hearing of the deaths of King Saul and Jonathan. As she fled, she dropped Mephibosheth, who was injured and whose feet were crippled (2 Samuel 4:4).

When David became king, he remembered he had made a covenant with Jonathan. In 2 Samuel 9, David sought anyone from Jonathan’s house to whom he could show kindness. He was told about Mephibosheth, so David had him brought from the city Lo-debar, which means “no word.” David showed kindness to Mephibosheth by restoring to him all the land that had belonged to his grandfather, Saul. Mephibosheth then lived in Jerusalem and ate from the king’s table for the rest of his life. Here was a guy who had lost his inheritance, was crippled in an accident, his family had been killed, and he lived in a place of “no word.” But David found him and delivered him by bringing him to the king’s table. At that time, it was unheard of for the lame to eat from the king’s table. But when Mephibosheth sat at the king’s table, you couldn’t tell he was lame because you couldn’t see his feet. God wants us to find the “Mephibosheths” in our lives, speak truth into them, and help them get to where God wants them to be.

God’s heart is for the needy and the oppressed; the church should be at the front of the line to help them. We need to see the story behind each person and then be ready to give to them the love of Jesus that we have received. In Isaiah 58, God told Isaiah to declare to His people their transgressions and sins (Isaiah 58:1). However, the people were asking God why He wasn’t listening to them as they fasted and humbled themselves to seek Him (Isaiah 58:2–3). God rebuked them saying that even in their fasting, they continued to please themselves and oppress their workers (Isaiah 58:4-5). God pointed out the kind of fasting to which He called them: “to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the straps of

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the yoke, to let the oppressed go free” (Isaiah 58:6). Jesus came to set the captives free and heal the brokenhearted (Luke 4:18). The only way people can be set free is to be free from sin in Jesus. Isaiah continued God’s message calling them to share food with the hungry, bring the homeless into their homes, and cover the naked (Isaiah 58:7). Then, their light would break forth like the dawn, healing would spring up, righteousness would go before them, and God’s glory would be their rear guard (Isaiah 58:8). God promised to hear and answer their prayers (Isaiah 58:9). When they poured out themselves for the hungry and afflicted, God promised to guide them, satisfy them, and make them strong (Isaiah 58:10–11).

What are the breaches and divides we see? Where are the holes in our unity? Where are the holes in the body of Christ? God has called us to be repairers of the breaches and restorers of the streets (Isaiah 58:12). Just like Jesus stepped into our lives and repaired and restored us, we can reach out to restore and repair others.

Go back to Psalm 113:7 again. Who comes to mind as the poor and needy in your life? Who is God putting on your heart? What would it be like if we started looking in the ash heap for the needy? What would it be like if we looked for barrenness? Yes, it could be barren wombs, but there are other kinds of barrenness.

CLOSING

Sometimes we can be caught up in the mission of God and miss the people of God. Be the demonstration of Christs' love (Romans 5:8). Start with just one. Next time you see someone in need, think about whether or not they could be your Mephibosheth. Could God be asking you to take them to the King’s table?