The Humble Ear
4/23 Reading Portions: Leviticus 27; Psalm 34; Ecclesiastes 10; Titus 2
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4/23 Reading Portions: Leviticus 27; Psalm 34; Ecclesiastes 10; Titus 2
Psalm 34:2
My soul makes its boast in the LORD; let the humble hear and be glad.
DUTIFULLY
Jesus, as perfect Man, always blessed the LORD, and God’s praise was continually in His mouth (Psa 34:1). Only He has truly done so. David could pen this verse of himself because, although David was a great sinner, God’s grace in Christ abounded to him. Because of God’s grace, we can say so as well, even though there are many times when our actions or attitudes are not a blessing or praiseworthy. Redeemed by Christ’s blood, the Father sees Christ when He looks upon us. This is the great grace of Christ’s imputed righteousness upon those who believe.
The redeemed soul makes its boast in the LORD whenever we are awakened to the reality of Christ’s presence. At times we act like He’s distant because of the remaining corruption of mortal flesh. But we are united with Christ and the Father because Jesus has prayed on our behalf (John 17:23). We must trust Him by faith, in what He has said, and in what He has done. When we submit to God’s truth, the soul boasts in Christ, and the world is then crucified to us while we are likewise crucified to the world (Gal 6:14).
Hearing belongs to the humble. At times we do not hear the boast of the LORD because we are not humble. Sadly, our flesh tends to make humility a work— through verses commanding us to be humble (Jas 4:10; 1 Pet 5:6). The command is a conundrum because Biblical humility is not a concerted effort of the flesh, but a submissive response to the revelation of a holy God. Humility contains awe. Humility contains godly fear. Humility empowers us to submit more tenderly. Humility helps us to hear more clearly and understand more thoroughly. Humility allows us to trust more certainly, believe more passionately, and obey more dutifully. Humility also brings gladness through hearing the soul’s boast in Christ, which we embrace amid reverence for and amazement in a holy and infinite God. Hallelujah! What a Savior!
God will I bless all times; His praise
My mouth shall still express.
My soul shall boast in God: the meek
Shall hear with joyfulness.
(Scottish Psalter, 1650)