Worshipping God

The Psalms can be an amazing book to read. It was their song book and was written somewhat poetically and so there is some artistic license to what is recorded. I wanted to glance at Psalm 115 today. It starts, “Not to us, O Lord, not to us but to your name be the glory, because of your love and faithfulness.” The Psalmist is clearly identifying worth to God and to us. He is making it clear that there is a glory and awe that we owe to our God, the Creator of Heaven and earth. Too often the world searches after that glory, which is not rightfully ours to take. As a matter of fact, we must never seek that glory for ourselves. The Psalm continues, “Why do the nations say, "Where is their God?" Our God is in heaven; he does whatever pleases him.” The Psalmist is very bold to declare who God is, but we know that God will never be bound by our rules and desires. Then the Psalmist makes a comparison between the living God and statues. “But their idols are silver and gold, made by the hands of men. They have mouths, but cannot speak, eyes, but they cannot see; they have ears, but cannot hear, noses, but they cannot smell; they have hands, but cannot feel, feet, but they cannot walk; nor can they utter a sound with their throats. Those who make them will be like them, and so will all who trust in them.” The idol is nothing. How can man think that He can create something that he must then bow down to? Clearly, the idol is nothing. “O house of Israel, trust in the Lord — he is their help and shield. O house of Aaron, trust in the Lord — he is their help and shield. You who fear him, trust in the Lord — he is their help and shield.” We see the Psalmist shift again, pleading with God’s people, not to get deceived by false gods but to trust in God. “The Lord remembers us and will bless us: He will bless the house of Israel, he will bless the house of Aaron, he will bless those who fear the Lord — small and great alike.” We see that there is hope again. “May the Lord make you increase, both you and your children. May you be blessed by the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. The highest heavens belong to the Lord, but the earth he has given to man. It is not the dead who praise the Lord, those who go down to silence; it is we who extol the Lord, both now and forevermore. Praise the Lord.” Father, You are an awesome God, above all gods. Amen