Truth for Life - Apr. 9, 2012
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God's Gentleness
These words are capable of being translated, "Your goodness made me great." David gratefully ascribed all his greatness not to his own goodness, but to the goodness of God.
"Your providence" is another reading; and providence is nothing more than goodness in action. Goodness is the bud of which providence is the flower, or goodness is the seed of which providence is the harvest. Some render it, "Your help," which is just another word for providence, providence being the firm ally of the saints, aiding them in the service of their Lord.
Or again, "Your humility made me great." "Your condescension" may perhaps serve as a comprehensive reading, combining all these ideas, including humility. God's making Himself little is the cause of our being made great. We are so little that if God should display His greatness without condescension, we would be trampled under His feet; but God, who must stoop to view the skies and bow to see what angels do, turns His eye yet lower and looks to the lowly and contrite and makes them great.
There are still other translations. For example, the Septuagint reads, "Your discipline. "Your fatherly correction—"made me great," while another paraphrase reads, "Your word increased me."
Still the idea is the same. David ascribes all his own greatness to the condescending goodness of his Father in heaven. May this attitude be echoed in our hearts this evening while we cast our crowns at Jesus' feet and cry, "Your gentleness made me great."
How marvelous is our experience of God's gentleness! How gentle His corrections! How gentle His patience! How gentle His teachings! How gentle His invitations! Meditate upon this theme, believer. Let gratitude be awakened; let humility be deepened; let love be quickened before you fall asleep tonight.
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From Morning & Evening revised and edited by Alistair Begg copyright © 2003. Used by permission of Crossway Books, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers, Wheaton, IL 60187, www.crossway.org.
