God Hears the Humble

IT IS A BLESSING TO BEGIN this series of 2025 International Bible Studies by taking all of the Key Verses for January from the Psalms. They are a rich repository of wisdom, solace, comfort, encouragement, devotion, and heartfelt praise for our God and Creator, Jehovah. Today’s theme, “God Hears the Humble” derives from our Key Verse. It acknowledges the fact that the Lord hears the desires of the humble and therefore prepares their hearts to receive them. We may ask, “What is the Lord going to give them?” “Justice,” verse 18 answers. God will do justice for them and for the fatherless and the oppressed. The “man of the earth,” identified in this verse, will no longer be permitted to oppress them.

Verse 13 of our lesson informs us that although these oppressors mock God, saying that he will not require an accounting of their evil deeds, he most certainly will. “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life.”—Gal. 6:7,8, NKJV

“The fool has said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, and have done abominable iniquity.” (Ps. 53:1, NKJV) Evildoers deny that they will ever have to account for their crimes, but a Day of Judgment is coming. God “now commands all men everywhere to repent, because He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained. He has given assurance of this to all by raising Him from the dead.”—Ps. 10:12-16; Acts 17:30,31, NKJV

The expression, “man of the earth” in verse 18 of our lesson, stands in sharp contrast to those whose hopes are anchored in heaven. Earthly-minded persons have limited vision when it comes to the things that God values. They may instead esteem the advantages of cheating, stealing, lying, and intimidating to achieve their goals. Christians, on the other hand, fight these earthly instincts and seek heavenly mindedness. Following the admonition of Jesus, they know where true treasure may be found. “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”—Matt. 6:19-21, NKJV

James taught us: “God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble. Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. … Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.” (James 4:6-10, NKJV) Peter augments the end of James’ statement, “Humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.” (I Pet. 5:6,7, NKJV) In caring for you, God will hear your humble cries.