May 17, 2022 - Psalms 114-118

One of my favorite psalms, which begins: “Not to us, O Lord, not to us, but to your name give glory, for the sake of your steadfast love and your faithfulness! Why should the nations say, ‘Where is their God?’ Our God is in the heavens; he does all that he pleases” (115:1-3). The idols are nothing like our God. They have eyes and ears, mouths and noses, hands and feet. But they are worthless, and those who go to them are disappointed time and time again because those idols are not able to answer or to provide help.

Our God, on the other hand, does all that he pleases. And it greatly pleases him to come to the aid of his people. It greatly pleases him to hear our prayers and to respond to them. It greatly pleases him to forgive the repentant sinner. It greatly pleases him to deliver his people and walk with them even through the valley of the shadow of death. Rightly does the psalmist instruct, “You who fear the Lord, trust in the Lord! He is their help and their shield” (115:11). And rightly do we sing:

Let Isr’el trust in God alone,

the Lord whose grace and pow’r are known.

To him your full allegiance yield,

and he will be your help and shield.

All those who fear him God will bless;

his saints have proved his faithfulness. –Presbyterian 1912 Psalter