God’s Heart Revealed

One passage of scripture I really love is Psalm 113. It opens with a powerful call for us to praise the Lord, and then it reveals why He is worthy of praise: “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!”

There is so much goodness here, but what I love is that this passage reveals God’s heart for the poor and needy. He is worthy of praise precisely because he is high above us, yet He is compassionate and loving toward the most vulnerable and downtrodden among us. 

I love passages like this that reveal the character of God. There are so many other verses that illuminate His attitude, love, and kindness toward orphans and widows (James 1:27), those in prison (Hebrews 13:3), and the poor (Isaiah 58: 6-10).

This is the God we serve- One who has a special place in his heart for the poor and needy. How kind it is that He calls us to obey His command to reflect his heart by caring for those in need.