“To him that smote Egypt in their firstborn: For his mercy endureth for ever: And brought out Israel from among them: For his mercy endureth for ever: With a strong hand, and with a stretched out arm: For his mercy endureth for ever. To him which divided the Red sea into parts: For his mercy endureth for ever: And made Israel to pass through the midst of it: For his mercy endureth for ever: But overthrew Pharaoh and his host in the Red sea: For his mercy endureth for ever. To him which led his people through the wilderness: For his mercy endureth for ever.”
Psalm 136:10-16 KJV
https://bible.com/bible/1/psa.136.10-16.KJV
Hope for the Poor in Spirit
Jesus began His famous Sermon on the Mount with an upside-down perspective and eight counter-cultural blessings—commonly known as the beatitudes.
“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”
Matthew 5:3 ESV
To be physically poor is to lack resources or material possessions. The word "poor" might trigger a mental image of someone who can’t pay their bills, can’t break free from the cycle of poverty, or can’t afford food, clothing, or shelter.
So what does it mean to be spiritually poor, and why does Jesus think that’s a good thing?
Those who realize their own spiritual poverty know that, without God, they are spiritually bankrupt. Those who are poor in spirit understand the desperation of their situation—that they can have nothing, do nothing, and be nothing without Him. Those who are poor in spirit recognize that it’s humility, not pride or self-reliance, that’s a ...