He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich he hath sent empty away.
God turns human standing upside down by filling the hungry with good things and sending the rich away empty. This belongs to the song's assurance that his mercy rests on those who fear him and that he judges righteously. He humbles the proud and mighty and exalts the lowly and contrite, showing mercy to the humble rather than favoring pride or status.
The hungry are those who are spiritually hungry and feel their need. They realize their guilt and helplessness and come just as they are to receive God's blessing and promise by faith. Jesus lives to intercede for them as they come. Set against the proud and self-exalting, they are the lowly whom God lifts up.
The rich are those who are rich in their own self-sufficiency and spiritual self-satisfaction. In their own eyes they are rich and honorable and righteous, considering themselves rich in spiritual understanding and needing nothing. They see as the world sees, calling evil good and good evil. Because they feel full and feel no need, they cannot ask and receive, and therefore they must go away empty without God's good gifts.
This was shown at the healing of the paralytic, where the Pharisees and teachers of the law felt no need of healing. They did not discern God's presence, so they did not receive the healing blessing present among them. That blessing was not for them. By contrast, the needy sufferer came to Jesus for help, and his longing and faith received the Saviour's life-giving mercy.
God turns human standing upside down by filling the hungry with good things and sending the rich away empty. This belongs to the song's assurance that his mercy rests on those who fear him and that he judges righteously. He humbles the proud and mighty and exalts the lowly and contrite, showing mercy to the humble rather than favoring pride or status.
The hungry are those who are spiritually hungry and feel their need. They realize their guilt and helplessness and come just as they are to receive God's blessing and promise by faith. Jesus lives to intercede for them as they come. Set against the proud and self-exalting, they are the lowly whom God lifts up.
The rich are those who are rich in their own self-sufficiency and spiritual self-satisfaction. In their own eyes they are rich and honorable and righteous, considering themselves rich in spiritual understanding and needing nothing. They see as the world sees, calling evil good and good evil. Because they feel full and feel no need, they cannot ask and receive, and therefore they must go away empty without God's good gifts.
This was shown at the healing of the paralytic, where the Pharisees and teachers of the law felt no need of healing. They did not discern God's presence, so they did not receive the healing blessing present among them. That blessing was not for them. By contrast, the needy sufferer came to Jesus for help, and his longing and faith received the Saviour's life-giving mercy.