ODJ: from a distance?

January 11, 2015 

READ: Psalm 33:1-22 

The LORD looks down from heaven and sees the whole human race (v.13).

From a Distance,” the 1991 Grammy Song of the Year popularised by Bette Midler, describes what the world looks like from a distance: “From a distance the world looks blue and green . . . there is harmony . . . And no one is in need. And there are no guns, no bombs and no disease . . . We are instruments . . . playing songs of hope, playing songs of peace.” The song ends with the lingering refrain: “God is watching us from a distance.”

A song in the Bible seems to be saying the same thing: “The LORD looks down from heaven and sees the whole human race. From his throne he observes all who live on the earth” (Psalm 33:13-14).

Psalm 33 is a song of praise (vv.1-3). The writer calls God’s people to praise Him for His Word and His works (vv.3-9), for He’s the trustworthy, just, good, faithful and loving God (vv.4-5). We worship a God who powerfully creates, sovereignly controls and providentially cares for His creation (vv.6-22). The all-powerful Creator of the cosmic world is also the supreme Author of human history! (vv.9-11).

From heaven, God “sees the whole human race. From his throne He observes all who live on the earth” (vv.13-14), but that doesn’t make Him distant. Rather, our God is intimately involved with us. “He made [our] hearts, so he understands everything [we] do” (v.15). God isn’t merely watching us from a distance. He’s Immanuel—God with us (Matthew 1:23).

We don’t worship a God on a distant throne. We worship Jesus who entered our world (Hebrews 2:17-18); sympathises with our weaknesses and humanness (4:15-16); rescues us from death; and is our hope, help and shield (Psalm 33:19-20).

—K.T. Sim

365-day plan› Genesis 19:15-29

MORE
Read Psalm 139:1-10 and consider how God is intimately involved with us. 
NEXT
Do you sometimes feel that God is far away from you? How can you draw nearer to Him?