THE PSALMS – A JOURNEY IN WORSHIP AND FAITH - December 7, 2014 - Psalm 115 - Day 115

In our world today we hear a lot about a lack of self-esteem. But I don’t see that, instead I see a wealth of self-esteem. It is all about me. On Facebook people have picture after picture of themselves. We even call them selfies. Americans spend millions on beauty supplies and fancy clothing so we can look good. Even in ministry we pat ourselves on the back way too much. God is very clear in the Bible; the glory for all good things belongs to Him. Psalm 115 reminds us of that.

Psalm 115:1
Not to us, O LORD, not to us, but to your name give glory, for the sake of your steadfast love and your faithfulness!

God’s love is perfect. It is steadfast and unlike people, we can trust in His faithfulness.

Psalm 115:2
Why should the nations say, "Where is their God?"

The non-believers in our life will ask that question. Where was your God when my child died? Where was God when I lost my job? Sadly many Christians will ask similar questions when life gets hard. How many will perish in eternal damnation because they rejected God simply because they don’t understand the problem of suffering. First of all God does not owe us an answer but He provides it in His Word.

Psalm 115:3
Our God is in the heavens; he does all that he pleases.

So people reject God because they don’t understand Him or the things He does and allows. Instead man makes His own gods. He makes his gods to be the kind of god he wants.

Psalm 115:4-8
Their idols are silver and gold, the work of human hands. They have mouths, but do not speak; eyes, but do not see. They have ears, but do not hear; noses, but do not smell. They have hands, but do not feel; feet, but do not walk; and they do not make a sound in their throat. Those who make them become like them; so do all who trust in them.

Israel’s greatest problem was idolatry and it is ours as well. But to those who by faith trust in Christ comes an inner peace that transcends understanding.

Psalm 115:9-15
O Israel, trust in the LORD! He is their help and their shield. O house of Aaron, trust in the LORD! He is their help and their shield. You who fear the LORD, trust in the LORD! He is their help and their shield. The LORD has remembered us; he 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, both the small and the great. May the LORD give you increase, you and your children! May you be blessed by the LORD, who made heaven and earth!

Everything is God’s but for now He has given dominion over this earth to man. But man chose to give it to Satan when man rebelled against God in the Garden of Eden. Now we have a mess.

Psalm 115:16-17
The heavens are the LORD's heavens, but the earth he has given to the children of man. The dead do not praise the LORD, nor do any who go down into silence.

Something happens to those who give up on trusting in themselves and trusting in man. When we turn to Jesus and surrender our own life to Him the chaotic world we live in no longer scares us. Instead we find peace and we learn patience. We wait on the return of Christ and while we wait we do His work in His power and give Him the glory. We praise God in the good times and the bad.

Psalm 115:18
But we will bless the LORD from this time forth and forevermore. Praise the LORD!

Stop looking in the mirror and wondering if you look ok. Stop looking at TV and wishing you had his physique or her bikini body. Stop trying to convince anyone especially yourself that you are ok. Without Christ I don’t care how good you look, how powerful you sound, how much money you have in the bank or how many degrees from college you have, in reality you are simply a sinner in need of a savior. Find your esteem not in self but in who you are in Christ. Then give Him the glory.