How does Psalm 113:5 connect with Isaiah 40:18 about God's incomparable nature? Setting the Stage: Two Voices, One Question • Psalm 113:5 and Isaiah 40:18 were written centuries apart, yet each asks essentially the same, thunderous question: Who can be compared to the LORD? • Both verses stand in the middle of passages designed to elevate God above every earthly power, idol, or concept. • By framing the statement as a rhetorical question, each writer insists that the honest answer is “No one, nothing.” Psalm 113:5—Majesty That Stoops “Who is like the LORD our God, the One enthroned on high?” (Psalm 113:5) • The psalm sets God “enthroned on high,” yet the following verses reveal Him stooping to “look down on heaven and earth” (v. 6) and lifting the poor from the dust (vv. 7–9). • His transcendence and His condescension are held together: He reigns above the nations, yet He moves toward the lowly. • The question “Who is like the LORD?” highlights that no other being combines infinite authority with intimate compassion. Isaiah 40:18—Majesty That Stands Alone “To whom will you liken God? To what image will you compare Him?” (Isaiah 40:18) • Isaiah speaks into a culture steeped in idolatry, challenging hearers to find any idol that can rival the Creator. • The surrounding verses portray God measuring the waters in His hand (v. 12) and calling the stars by name (v. 26). • The prophet exposes the futility of carving, plating, and propping up idols (vv. 19–20) in contrast to the self-existent LORD. Points of Connection • Same rhetorical device—“Who/To whom?”—underscores absolute incomparability. • Both highlight God’s throne: Psalm 113 shows Him enthroned “on high”; Isaiah depicts Him seated “above the circle of the earth” (Isaiah 40:22). • Each passage contrasts God with created things: nations (Psalm 113:4), idols and the cosmos (Isaiah 40). • Together they reveal a balanced portrait—transcendent sovereignty (He is above all) and imminent care (He stoops to save). Implications for Faith and Worship • Confidence: Because no power rivals God, believers rest secure (Romans 8:31). • Humility: The high King’s willingness to stoop calls us to serve the lowly (Philippians 2:5–8). • Purity of worship: All substitutes pale beside Him; idolatry is exposed as empty (1 John 5:21). • Awe-filled praise: Our songs echo the psalmist—“Great is the LORD and greatly to be praised” (Psalm 145:3). Supporting Scripture Echoes • “Who among the gods is like You, O LORD?” (Exodus 15:11) • “There is no one holy like the LORD; there is no one besides You” (1 Samuel 2:2) • “Who is a God like You, who pardons iniquity?” (Micah 7:18) • “Who will not fear You, O Lord, and glorify Your name? For You alone are holy” (Revelation 15:4) These united voices affirm the same eternal truth: the LORD is matchless—supreme in majesty, unrivaled in power, and unequaled in mercy. |
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