Today's Psalm uses a striking image to communicate this lesson.
In fact, the inspired writer actually turns this truth inside out, using the fact of God's infinite greatness to shed light on the fact of his constant closeness.
First, the Psalmist reminds us that God showered us with "benefits".
Then he makes a list of six of these benefits, using six different verbs to explain how attentive and involved God is in the lives of his chosen people:
- God pardons our iniquities.
- He heals all our ills.
- He redeems our life from destruction.
- He crowns us with kindness and compassion.
- He secures justice for the oppressed.
- He makes known his ways and his deeds.
- The list concludes with a statement describing God himself, the one who does all these things, as merciful and gracious.
Then comes the high point. The Psalmist writes:
"For as the heavens are high above the earth, so surpassing is his kindness towards those who fear him."
- In other words, the vastness of the sky, of the universe that stretches out beyond our sight and even beyond our comprehension... That vastness that can seem so intimidating, that can make us feel so small and insignificant in relation to God - that very vastness itself is an image not of how far away God is, but of how greatly he desires to be close to us.
- His love for us is as wide, as present, and as close as the atmosphere, which always surrounds and supports us.
Yes, at times God may seem far away, because, after all, he's God, but in fact, he is much closer than we realize, because he cares much more than we realize.