From a Distance,” the 1991 Grammy Song of the Year popularized by Bette Midler, describes what the world looks like from a distance: “From a distance the world looks blue and green . . . there is harmony . . . And no one is in need. And there are no guns, no bombs, and no disease . . . We are instruments . . . playing songs of hope, playing songs of peace.” The song ends with the lingering refrain: “God is watching us from a distance.”
A song in the Bible seems to be saying the same thing: “The LORD looks down from heaven and sees the whole human race. From his throne he observes all who live on the earth” (Psalm 33:13-14).
Psalm 33 is a song of praise (Psalm 33:1-3). The writer calls God’s people to praise Him for His Word and His works (Psalm 33:3-9), for He’s the trustworthy, just, good, faithful, and loving God (Psalm 33:4-5). We worship a God who powerfully creates, sovereignly controls, and providentially cares for His creation (Psalm 33:6-22). The all-powerful Creator of the cosmic world is also the supreme Author of human history! (Psalm 33:9-11).
From heaven, God “sees the whole human race. From his throne He observes all who live on the earth” (Psalm 33:13-14), but that doesn’t make Him distant. Rather, our God is intimately involved with us. “He made [our] hearts, so he understands everything [we] do” (Psalm 33:15). God isn’t merely watching us from a distance. He’s Immanuel—God with us (Matthew 1:23).
We don’t worship a God on a distant throne. We worship Jesus who entered our world (Hebrews 2:17-18); sympathizes with our weaknesses and humanness (Hebrews 4:15-16); rescues us from death; and is our hope, help, and shield (Psalm 33:19-20).
NLT 365-day reading plan passage for today: Genesis 19:15-29
More:
Read Psalm 139:1-10 and consider how God is intimately involved with us.
Next:
Do you sometimes feel that God is far away from you? How can you draw nearer to Him?
Gary Shultz on January 11, 2015 at 7:22 am
Yes, I think many people think God is watching from a distance. I think many people like that thought because they think they can hide secret portions of their life and no one will ever know. They seem to forget that the God Head is made up of different parts and God’s Spirit is very close as recorded in Psalms 139 and it’s rather close if God knows the number of hairs on our head. That’s close observation! All things our open, all thing are before him and His knowledge see all even the sparrow. Is not God’s presence Awesome?
Dami21 on January 11, 2015 at 10:11 pm
God’s presence is awesome and spell-bounding. His word always seem to know exactly how I feel or want and need to express myself. And that goes to show that God indeed knows me because He created me.
Earlier today I asked a friend of mine to cover me in prayer in regards to a pending case and I learnt of my friend’s situation also. I became tearful but in the that moment I knew with certainty and fervour that notwithstanding the situation we find ourselves, good or bad, God is always with us even though help might seem so far away. He will never leave us nor forsake us and that’s just because He is the Almighty, the all Powerful, the merciful and faithful God.
Psalms 33:20-22 speaks about me talking to God about me, my friend and even others that are waiting on Him. He is my only hope, my only God.
Tom Felten on January 12, 2015 at 11:29 am
Dami21, thanks so much for sharing what’s happening in your life and how God is meeting you there. You have inspired me and so many others today with your heart and words! Also, so appreciate the verses you shared—what great truths about God and our need to go to Him with our every need or fear!