PLEASE READ THIS FIRST: Psalm 146
What do you sense the Lord saying to you in this passage?
“Blessed are those whose help is the God of Jacob.” (Psalm 146:5)
In the story of Jacob, his name is changed to ‘Israel’, meaning ‘God-wrestler’.
The name ‘Jacob’ means ‘heal-puller’, since he was born right after his twin Esau.
That name implies being at the bottom, at or under the feet, and fighting against.
It can also imply ‘deceiver’, like in the phrase ‘pulling my leg’.
I’ve often wondered why God is sometimes described as ‘the God of Jacob’.
In a patriarchal society, the first born received the role as family head.
But Jacob tricks that birthright from Esau and deceives his father to be blessed.
The one at the bottom is blessed; God raises up the one that is “bowed down” (146:8).
In Psalm 146 God is praised for blessing the underdog, the ones at the bottom.
Even though they may be heal-pullers and deceivers, God sees their plight.
We see ‘the God of Jacob’ in Jesus, who joins with the ‘bottom dwellers’ (Luke 15:2).
The religious leaders mutter about this, but David praises the Lord because of it.
As Jesus followers, we are also blessed by grace, and called to do the same for others.
We serve the God of poor and weak and struggling sinners – PRAISE THE LORD!
PRAYER
Lord, I praise you for blessing the ones on the bottom. Help me not to be a heal-puller, but rather to join you in being a heal-blesser.
“He upholds the cause of the oppressed and gives food to the hungry.” I find this difficult because there are a lot of hungry people in our world. But if God upholds the cause of the oppressed and gives food to the hungry then I believe that is what He expects us to do as well – and if we don’t – if we hoard – then God will hold us accountable – because He upholds the cause of the oppressed and the hungry. People die of hunger in our world! We cannot and should not ignore it. In a sense I’m running away from the hunger and poverty that I used to see by living here – away from it all. Lord help me overcome my comfort and commit to do more to help the cause of the oppressed and feed the hungry!
Christ showed His love to all especially those who were down trodden – the poor, the meek, the oppressed, those of lowly positions, the lonely, the fatherless, the sick, etc. He is the Lord God of all and watches over all. He is Lord. But we all, I, need to praise Him and put my trust in Him. He is life and life everlasting. He is my Rock, my Redeemer, my daily joy for the joy of the Lord God is my strength as I love for Him.
He Is King, He Is King!
He Will Draw All Nations To Him, He Is King;
And The Time Shall Be When The World Shall Sing
That Jesus Christ Is King!
He Is Love, He Is Love!
He Has Shown Us By His Life That He Is Love;
All His People Sing With One Voice Of Joy
That Jesus Christ Is Love!
He Is Life, He Is Life!
He Has Died To Set Us Free And He Is Life;
And He Calls Us All To Live Evermore,
For Jesus Christ Is Life.