It’s strange how my diverse reading plans come together at times. I was reading Psalm 18 yesterday, and by chance came across 2 Samuel 22 today. They’re two different passages, but the same psalm are in them.
Something struck me today that didn’t strike me yesterday. David is talking here towards the end of his life about how God had delivered him throughout his life. And one theme we see time and again is that God came down to help David.
David talks about how in his despair when he thought he was about to die, God “bent the heavens and came down.” (Psalm 18:9)
And again,
He reached down from on high
and took hold of me;
he pulled me out of deep water. (Psalm 18:16)
And again,
You have given me the shield of your salvation;
your right hand upholds me,
and your humility exalts me. (35)
That word “humility” is translated multiple ways. “Gentleness” (ESV), “help” (NIV), you stoop down (old NIV), and “condescending gentleness” (Darby translation).
At any rate, it all has the same idea. God lowered himself to order help David when he was in trouble.
And in Jesus, he did the same for us. For Jesus,
who, existing in the form of God,
did not consider equality with God
as something to be exploited.Instead he emptied himself
by assuming the form of a servant,
taking on the likeness of humanity.And when he had come as a man,
he humbled himself by becoming obedient
to the point of death—
even to death on a cross. (Philippians 4:6-8)
The eternal God becoming man was an incredible display of humility.
Jesus bent the heavens, coming down as a tiny, helpless baby, dependent on a human mother and father, subject to sickness, weariness, hunger, and thirst.
Nor did he come as a king to rule, but as a servant. And after 33 years of life here, he died on an ugly death on a cross.
Why? To save us. We deserved nothing from him except judgment for our sins. But he loved us enough to die for us.
So let us meditate on his love for us, and sing as David did,
The Lord lives—blessed be my rock!
The God of my salvation is exalted. (46)
Moment to Moment (Bible blog) 