Our Condescending God

“Who is like unto the LORD our God, who dwelleth on high, Who humbleth himself to behold the things that are in heaven, and in the earth!” (Ps 113:5-6 AV)

 Our language has changed a bit since the LORD provided a perfect translation in the King James.  We would see the phrase above in a different light than it was intended.  The pure truth of this statement is God’s greatness compared with the nature of His creation.  He must condescend in order to interact with that which He has created.  That which He has created is not equal to Himself.  He must come down to it rather than we come up to Him.  In a sense, the understanding here is the LORD must interact with the limited so they can have a relationship with the Limitless.  This act of humiliation is not patronizing.  The word of God would use the word ‘pity’.  But again, it is not in the same sense we would use it today.  When we use these words this way, it has the meaning of condescending in a negative sort of way.  Absent of grace, it would be a subtle way of lording over a lesser person.  This is not what the truth above clearly teaches.  Rather, when the LORD humbles himself, it is with the attitude of grace and benevolence.

There are a couple of commercials that significantly touch my heart for a different reason for which they were aired.  There are the Shriner’s Children’s Hospital commercials and the Make A Wish Foundation commercials.  What strikes me more then the needs of the children pictured is the support staff who works with them.  The dedication it takes to work with cases such as these is remarkable.  But what impresses me even more than their dedication and work ethic is how they interact with those in deep need.  Being able to treat others with a deep need takes a gift. I’m not referring to the patience required.  I am no referring to the long hours that this calling requires.  I am not referring to the care which goes into this ministry.  What impresses me most is the way these healthcare workers can care for those in deep need while still respecting the patient’s dignity.  I see this in the nursing home all the time.  When I visit a patient there, most of the staff treat their clients with respect.  They do not talk down to them.  They do not converse as though they are a child.  They condescend to the needs of their patients and clients all the while still treating them with dignity, compassion, and respect.  It would be very easy to condescend to a child in need far below their maturity level.  But these health care workers do not.  The converse with them on their level.  They humble themselves for the purpose of ministry but do not do so in a patronizing way.

This is the understanding of the character of our God who condescends in compassion and mercy to interact with the souls whom He has created.  He doesn’t have to.  He is not obligated to.  He tells us to reason with Him.  Not that He might win and argument.  Rather, He desires the interaction that He might enjoy our companionship all the while being a blessing to the ones whom He has created.  Our God deserves all the praise and glory due His name.  He would be within His rights to patronize us.  He would be well within His nature to treat that which He has created any way he pleases.  All one has to notice is the majesty of the animal kingdom to realize we have a Creator with a heart towards that which He has created.  He did not create to manipulate, humiliate, torture, or destroy.  He created to glorify the greatness of who and what He is.  Who and what He is a merciful, kind, compassionate, and intellectual God who desires to humble Himself that He might know the souls whom He has created.