Passage Read: Psalm 75-78
Meditation Verses: 75:4-7
Thought
How easy it is to think we are something when we are in fact nothing. It's easy to be impressed by ourselves or others when we only look among men. That one seems great. Another one seems wise. This one is mighty. That one is clever. When we compare man with man, it is easy to become prideful and boast in this one or that one or even in ourselves. And so men exalt one man over another, and a crowd follows and the one exalted lets it go to his head and loses touch with reality. God defines reality. God is the real judge. He is the one who really decides who is lifted up and who is cast down. Even if men all gather around one leader, that one cannot stand against God. That day is coming, and that man will be overthrown. That day comes every day, when the rabble raise up their choice, then God casts him aside. The pride of man, the recognition of men is meaningless. The only praise that matters is God's.
Application
I need to be careful not to be too impressed with people and their fans and their credentials. What matters among men is not so important to God. What matters to God--and what should matter most to me--is that someone actually understands and knows God, who delights in and exercises kindness, justice and righteousness throughout His Creation. Someone may have high position, and I need to honor that man if that position carries authority over me, but I don't need to be impressed by that person, if they know nothing of God though considered an expert in their field. Whom men exalt matters little; whom God praises, this one I can honor, whether they hold formal position and title or not. And this is the praise I need to seek, not that hoards of people praise me, but that God praises me. He exalts and He brings low. If I want Him to exalt me, I need to honor and praise Him.