Going From Rags To Royalty

Psalm 113

Today’s psalm is a short one, and another of the many praise psalms that proclaim praise and glory to our God and King.  There are two verses in this psalm that I would like to focus on, verses 7 and 8. Let’s take a look at them today.

In verse 7, we read how God raises the poor out of the dust, and lifts the needy out of the ash heap.  The picture that comes immediately to my mind is that of the children’s folk tale of Cinderella.  Many of you will remember how Cinderella was made to work as a lowly servant in her household by her stepmother and stepsisters.  She had to dress in rags and would get dusty and dirty with ashes. By the end of the tale, the prince has rescued her from the life of servitude, lifting her from the ash pile and changing her rags into royal dresses.

When God created Adam and Eve, they were the pinnacle of His creation.  They were created as noble beings, made to rule for God in the Garden of Eden. However, after Adam and Eve gave in to Satan’s temptations and fell into sin, that favored position was lost.  In its place was one of servitude to sin, the royal robes replaced with rags, glory replaced by dust and ashes.  God does not want to leave us in that condition. He sent His only begotten Son to pay our sin-debt and rescue us from the power of Satan.  God promises to raise up out of the dust and ashes whoever accepts Jesus as their Savior.

The world frequently looks down on the poor and needy.  If one is not dressed in the latest fashion and designer clothes, drive the latest model car, and have a nice bank account and financial portfolio, we may as well be Cinderella toiling in the coal pile!  We may be scorned by the world, but not by God. He comes to raise and lift us up from that condition.

Verse 8 continues on and tells us where God lifts us to.  At the end of the folk tale Cinderella, the prince seeks her out, lifts her from the ashes, and brings her back to the palace.  God does the same for us. He takes us from the ashes and sets us with princes, with royalty. What is it like to be seated with princes, with royalty? Being with princes is a place of select society.  Not everyone gets such an honor. However those who have called upon Jesus have this position. Princes also have direct and immediate access to the King.  They don’t have to wait like common folk, or stand far off. Through Jesus we have direct access to the God of all creation. Princes have abundant wealth, and they have special honor.  Through our relationship with Jesus, God has promised to meet every one of our needs, and we have the honor of being called His children.

In God’s eyes a person’s value has no relationship to their wealth or position on the social ladder.  Many of God’s chosen saints have come from poverty or humble backgrounds. God often chooses His workers from those society would consider outcasts.  Do we treat certain people as though they have no value? Everyone is valuable and useful in God’s eyes. As Jesus clearly taught, God exalts the humble and humbles the proud (Matthew 20:16).

Are you tired of being in the ash pit of life?  Are you tired of being like Cinderella? You do have a better place just waiting for you. Let’s turn to God, calling upon His Son, Jesus, as our Savior, and allow Him to lift us up from the dust and ashes Satan has keep us in for too long.  For those who already are believers, don’t continue to reside in the ashes. Wouldn’t it have been ridiculous if Cinderella had returned to her rags and servitude in the dust? Let’s allow Jesus to take us and place us with the princes and live a life of victory through Him!