Friday, March 6, 2009

He hath put down the mighty from their seats



“He ruleth by his power for ever.”


He has not deceased, nor abdicated, nor suffered defeat. The prowess displayed at the Red Sea is undiminished: the divine dominion endures throughout eternity.

“His eyes behold the nations.”

Even as he looked out of the cloud upon the Egyptians and discomfited them, so does he spy out his enemies, and mark their conspiracies. His hand rules and his eye observes, his hand has not waxed weak, nor his eye dim. As so many grasshoppers he sees the people and tribes, at one glance he takes in all their ways. He oversees all and overlooks none.

“Let not the rebellious exalt themselves.”

The proudest have no cause to be proud. Could they see themselves as God sees them they would shrivel into nothing. Where rebellion reaches to a great head, and hopes most confidently for success, it is a sufficient reason for abating our fears, that the Omnipotent ruler is also an Omniscient observer. O proud rebels, remember that the Lord aims his arrows at the high-soaring eagles, and brings them down from their nests among the stars.

“He hath put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of low degree.”

After a survey of the Red Sea and Jordan, rebels, if they were in their senses, would have no more stomach for the fight, but would humble themselves at the Conqueror's feet.

“Selah.”

Pause again, and take time to bow low before the throne of the Eternal.

From "The Treasury of David," exposition of Psalm 66:7. Image by skyseeker under Creative Commons License.

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