Though the LORDbe high, yet hath he respect unto the lowly: but the proud he knoweth afar off.
Though the Lord is high and exalted, He gives favor and close regard to lowly and humble people, while He keeps proud people at a distance and does not regard them closely. He draws near to those who are humble, contrite, brokenhearted and repentant, does not despise their broken heart, and dwells with them to revive their spirit and heart and to perfect that which concerns them. It is the prayer that comes from such a humble and contrite heart that is heard in heaven, while outward displays of piety joined to pride and vanity are abhorrent to Him and win no approval. With Him rank and caste and worldly honor and riches have no value, while character and devotedness of purpose have high value, so the humble are precious in His sight even when the world scorns them. Because He so respects and honors the lowly, His followers are to place His estimate upon men, value every soul, show tender sympathy and allow no trampling upon the poor and needy and oppressed, humbling themselves before Him in trial and sorrow rather than complaining or rebelling.
God Respects the Lowly
Though the Lord is high and exalted, He gives favor, attention and close regard to lowly and humble people, while He keeps proud people at a distance and does not regard them closely. Although He is exalted He regards the lowly, and the proud remain far from Him, crowded out from His presence by pride and self-importance. He draws near to people who are humble, contrite, brokenhearted and repentant, and a broken and repentant heart is not despised by Him. He dwells with the humble to revive their spirit and heart, and to them He draws near to perfect that which concerns them.
Humility expressed in a broken spirit and contrite heart is part of the condition for reconciliation, and when those conditions are met reconciliation of God to man and man to God is sure. The lowly person described is daily converted as a vessel unto honor who keeps the Lord's will ever before him with the constant aim and object to serve God, and the Lord marks that sincere desire to serve Him. The lowly cry from unfeigned lips for God to search the heart and reins and lead in the way everlasting, and this cause for gratitude should be cherished all the days of life. The verse means God does not side with the strong and earthly favored, for rank and caste and worldly honor and riches have no value with Him, while character and devotedness of purpose have high value and angels weigh moral worth by development of character.
The humble are precious and valuable in His sight even when the world scorns them. His greatness does not keep Him from regarding the lowly with care, and those who show a meek and humble spirit are precious to Him. Standing, wisdom, and restless activity are not the measure of their worth.
Humility in Prayer and Life
Though the Lord is high and exalted, He regards the lowly and keeps the proud at a distance. The humble and contrite are the ones whose prayers are heard in heaven, while outward displays of piety do not win His approval when joined to pride. Pride and vanity are abhorrent to Him, and the proud Pharisees with their outward displays are rejected while He keeps them at a distance. Prayer that reaches God comes from a humble, contrite heart, exemplified when Ezra grieved over sin and approached God in contrition and confession. The verse upholds the contrast between humble servants who praise God and those whose pride and self-importance crowd Jesus out of the heart.
Those who crave Christ's presence and make doing God's will their highest ambition and aim will enter the heavenly courts. Because God respects and honors the lowly, His followers are to place His estimate upon men and to respect and honor those whom He respects and honors. They are to value every soul for whom Christ died, to be men and women of tender sympathy and pitying tenderness, and to allow no trampling upon the poor and needy and oppressed. Character is proved and tested by care for the poor, the unfortunate, the sick and the suffering in the world, and love of Jesus in the soul with daily communion with God leads to this valuing of men.
In trial and sorrow people should humble themselves before Him rather than complain or rebel, for His ways are merciful and lead to salvation.
Though the Lord is high and exalted, He gives favor and close regard to lowly and humble people, while He keeps proud people at a distance and does not regard them closely. He draws near to those who are humble, contrite, brokenhearted and repentant, does not despise their broken heart, and dwells with them to revive their spirit and heart and to perfect that which concerns them. It is the prayer that comes from such a humble and contrite heart that is heard in heaven, while outward displays of piety joined to pride and vanity are abhorrent to Him and win no approval. With Him rank and caste and worldly honor and riches have no value, while character and devotedness of purpose have high value, so the humble are precious in His sight even when the world scorns them. Because He so respects and honors the lowly, His followers are to place His estimate upon men, value every soul, show tender sympathy and allow no trampling upon the poor and needy and oppressed, humbling themselves before Him in trial and sorrow rather than complaining or rebelling.
God Respects the Lowly
Though the Lord is high and exalted, He gives favor, attention and close regard to lowly and humble people, while He keeps proud people at a distance and does not regard them closely. Although He is exalted He regards the lowly, and the proud remain far from Him, crowded out from His presence by pride and self-importance. He draws near to people who are humble, contrite, brokenhearted and repentant, and a broken and repentant heart is not despised by Him. He dwells with the humble to revive their spirit and heart, and to them He draws near to perfect that which concerns them.
Humility expressed in a broken spirit and contrite heart is part of the condition for reconciliation, and when those conditions are met reconciliation of God to man and man to God is sure. The lowly person described is daily converted as a vessel unto honor who keeps the Lord's will ever before him with the constant aim and object to serve God, and the Lord marks that sincere desire to serve Him. The lowly cry from unfeigned lips for God to search the heart and reins and lead in the way everlasting, and this cause for gratitude should be cherished all the days of life. The verse means God does not side with the strong and earthly favored, for rank and caste and worldly honor and riches have no value with Him, while character and devotedness of purpose have high value and angels weigh moral worth by development of character.
The humble are precious and valuable in His sight even when the world scorns them. His greatness does not keep Him from regarding the lowly with care, and those who show a meek and humble spirit are precious to Him. Standing, wisdom, and restless activity are not the measure of their worth.
Humility in Prayer and Life
Though the Lord is high and exalted, He regards the lowly and keeps the proud at a distance. The humble and contrite are the ones whose prayers are heard in heaven, while outward displays of piety do not win His approval when joined to pride. Pride and vanity are abhorrent to Him, and the proud Pharisees with their outward displays are rejected while He keeps them at a distance. Prayer that reaches God comes from a humble, contrite heart, exemplified when Ezra grieved over sin and approached God in contrition and confession. The verse upholds the contrast between humble servants who praise God and those whose pride and self-importance crowd Jesus out of the heart.
Those who crave Christ's presence and make doing God's will their highest ambition and aim will enter the heavenly courts. Because God respects and honors the lowly, His followers are to place His estimate upon men and to respect and honor those whom He respects and honors. They are to value every soul for whom Christ died, to be men and women of tender sympathy and pitying tenderness, and to allow no trampling upon the poor and needy and oppressed. Character is proved and tested by care for the poor, the unfortunate, the sick and the suffering in the world, and love of Jesus in the soul with daily communion with God leads to this valuing of men.
In trial and sorrow people should humble themselves before Him rather than complain or rebel, for His ways are merciful and lead to salvation.