I am small and despised, yet do not I forsake thy precepts (Psalm CXIX.141)

One might think that, if God's Son came to earth, he would be honoured and exalted - and, to be sure - that eventually did happen (and will happen). It, however, certainly did not happen right away. Ironically enough, as a matter of fact, he was hated, despised, and slain. Treating God's only begotten Son like that was the ultimate case in point of how depraved, wicked, and stupid we - his creatures - become when we go our own way.

The good news, however, is that he is ready and willing to forgive us and receive us as one of his own. Then we can go from persecutors to to persecuted. From Despising to despised. And, eventually, with him, we will be honoured and exalted. Lord, let us not lose heart when we are small and despised, even as Jesus Christ was not (and King David, who according to many wrote Psalm 119 (if not Daniel, as still others suppose)). In Jesus' name, amen.