In the ancient world, the gods were the gods of the powerful. Kings were invited into the council of the gods and their rule was verified by the gods. Pharaoh of Egypt was considered a god who held power over the Nile and the sun, for example.
But the God of the Old Testament (and the New) is not only the God of the rich and powerful but also (especially) the poor and needy. This psalm is a reversal of the surrounding and competing views. Whereas Pharaoh was encouraged and the poor were instructed to obey, this psalm instructs the kings and encourages the lowly.
It is this backward view that Jesus encourages in Luke when He says, "Blessed are the poor." Perhaps this psalm is instructive to us today to make sure that we are looking at the world through God's eyes.
No comments:
Post a Comment