A Closer Walk
Ever wondered why the Lord God Almighty, the creator of the universe and all it contains, pays any attention to us? Why would a being such as our Heavenly Father give us any notice at all? Isn't He kinda busy? Doesn't He have a lot to do and look after? Ancient Israelite king David also wondered how God could give us any attention or notice. "O LORD, what is man, that Thou doest take knowledge of him? Or the son of man, that Thou doest think of him? Man is like a mere breath; His days are like a passing shadow," Psalm 144:3-4 NASB.
What are we to make of this? Seems God perplexed David. Does He perplex us as well? Our Lord is All-Powerful. He is All-Knowing. He is Ever-Present. Omnipotent. Omniscient. Omnipresent. What does all that mean? Omnipotent: in the case of a person Merriam-Webster defines omnipotent as having virtually unlimited authority or influence. This creates a paradox. If the person has almost or virtually unlimited power or influence rather than total power and influence then they can't be omnipotent. Second definition: one who has unlimited power or authority; God. While a local king or potentate might have the power of life and death over those in his kingdom, he does not have unlimited power or influence. Why? Because he doesn't have unlimited resources. When the money runs out he must retreat. Right? But our God's resources are unlimited.
Omniscient in the case of God is defined as possessed of universal or complete knowledge. In other words, our Lord knows everything there is to be known about everything, everyone, every place, and every time period. If a being only knew certain things, or about certain people, places, things, or times how could that being be omniscient? And therefore, how could that being be God? Omnipresent: in the case of God omnipresent is being present in all places at all times. How could a person do that? Short answer, he couldn't. But God can and is.
Does that perplex you? It appears to have perplexed David. Realizing that life is fragile and short, David wondered aloud why God pays any attention at all to people or persons. Why indeed. Possible answer: He created us. “Let us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness...And God created man in His own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female He created them,” Genesis 1:26 and 27 NASB. The Lord God Almighty created every human being who ever lived or ever will live.
Another possible answer: “Know that the Lord Himself is God; It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves; We are His people and the sheep of His pasture,” Psalm 100:3 NASB. We may need to remind ourselves occasionally that God is God, and that we are not God. We are told in this passage that the Lord made us, and not we ourselves. That could be referring to our creation but it could also be telling us that our loving Heavenly Father has brought things into our lives or across our paths that have molded and shaped us into what or who we are now. And since He is not done with us (we know that because we are still here) that process will likely continue.
But the last part of this verse informs us that we are His people and the sheep of His pasture. We each look after our own people. We are able, from time to time, to help someone else take care of their people. And doing so brings us joy and is helpful to them. We are also the sheep of His pasture. The shepherd watches over their flock. They see to it that the sheep have food and water and so provide for the sheep in their flock. The Great Shepherd watches over us and provides for our needs; and sometimes even for some of our wants.
So our God pays attention to us and takes notice of us because He created us. And because we are His people, and the sheep of His pasture. And what wonderful knowledge to possess. Agreed?
“Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus, and to take Him at His word; just to rest upon His promise, and to know, 'Thus saith the Lord.'” Jesus, Jesus, how I trust Him! How I've proved Him o'er and o'er! Jesus, Jesus, precious Jesus! O for grace to trust Him more!” Words by Louisa M. R. Stead, music by William J. Kirkpatrick. In 1880 Mrs. Stead's husband drowned. Two years later this hymn was published. “It is widely believed that she wrote this hymn in response to the peace she found in trusting Jesus despite her sorrow. Mrs. Stead went on to serve for many years as a missionary in Africa.” Sourced Hymnary.org, and Wikipedia.