But I am a worm, and no man; a reproach of men, and despised by the people. All those who see Me ridicule Me; they shoot out the lip, they shake the head, saying, “He trusted in the Lord, let Him rescue Him; let Him deliver Him, since He delights in Him!” (Psalm 22:6-8)
On one hand, to regard himself as a worm and the reproach of men doesn’t sound like the words of a king — it’s sounds more like the sentiments of a pauper. However, we must remember that David is also speaking prophetically — some say of Israel; some say Messiah and some say both — and so we must consider this in light of Israel’s mandate to the nations and how the nations respond to Israel. From its’ beginning, Israel has always been looked down upon and degraded by the nations, particularly when they were in exile. Let’s not forget that Hitler and the Nazis regarded Jews as being subhuman, in other words, on the same level as a worm.
As weak and vulnerable as a worm is, it nevertheless possesses one tool (we might even say weapon) with which things greater than the worm can be weakened and even destroyed — its’ mouth. The soft and flexible worm can chew, slowly and surely, causing hard and mighty trees to crumble into dust. Likewise, God’s people can cause the great and mighty nations to topple with nothing more than the prayers and praises of their mouth. In this contrast we see the difference between the humble and the mighty and what that means in the end when presented before Almighty God.
In other words, when God exalts nations, they tend to grow increasingly arrogant and defiant. When God bestows greatness upon men like Abraham and David, they consider themselves to be nothing more than “dust and ash” or “a worm and the reproach of men.” The world looks upon those who are lowly and who trust in the LORD with scorn, however, in time the pride of the nations will be brought low. As God’s people humble themselves before Him, open their mouths in praise and petitions for deliverance, bite by bite the strength of the nations is being compromised.
In a day that only He knows, His Spirit will go out into the world in such strength that, like a strong wind that breaks the weakened tree, the power and arrogance of the nations will be broken. In that day, all will see that those who place their trust in Him will not be put to shame, but will be exalted.
Blessings and Shalom,
Bill
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