Psalm 115
Notes
Transcript
Psalm 115
Opening Illustration: “I designed this t-shirt I’m wearing.”
Truth – I didn’t design it, but it’s fun to take credit. You’d be impressed with me if I did and that would make me feel good about myself.
Truth is, I like to feel good about myself, so I might do things motivated towards making myself feel good –
· sometimes even things that aren’t entirely true…
· things that I shouldn’t get credit for.
· Things that shouldn’t make me feel good about myself
·
…and that’s usually the result: the very opposite thing that I set out to do.
The ”self” likes to see its name in lights. The self won’t stop until it’s the best. The star. The king. The god.
It’s a farce, though.
In speaking on the nature of temptation, James 1: 13-15:
13 No one undergoing a trial should say, “I am being tempted by God,” since God is not tempted by evil, and he himself doesn’t tempt anyone. 14 But each person is tempted when he is drawn away and enticed by his own evil desire. 15 Then after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin, and when sin is fully grown, it gives birth to death.
There is only one thing you and I can really take credit for: our evil nature; sinful nature.
But then James says something amazing right after that in (James 1:17-18 ):
17 Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. 18 By his own choice, he gave us birth by the word of truth so that we would be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.
That verse provides us a perspective.
· clears up the issue of who actually gets credit for all the good things in our lives
· provides hope for our sinful self - “birth[ed] by the word of truth.” 2 Cor. 5:17 (“If anyone is in Christ…)
· Gives us identity – “firstfruits of his creatures. Not just “creatures” but children.
By grace, through faith (Eph. 2:8-9), we have been redeemed from the penalty of our sin, so our response to God is gratitude and humility for delivering us from what we could not escape. It’s all God.
We contribute nothing – so HE gets full glory all the time.
With these truths as the backdrop, our declaration should be that of the psalmist:
(Psalm 115:1 ) Not to us, Lord, not to us,
but to your name give glory
because of your faithful love, because of your truth.
1 Not to us, Lord, not to us,
but to your name give glory
because of your faithful love, because of your truth.
(Psalm 115: 2 ) Why should the nations say, “Where is their God”
2 Why should the nations say,
“Where is their God?”
2 possibilities:
1. Because they’re taunting Him in rebellion.
(Psalm 115: 3 ) Our God is in the heavens and does whatever He pleases.
3 Our God is in heaven
and does whatever he pleases.
How does that statement make you feel? It should elicit a healthy amount of fear/reverence. He is good and He is loving, but He is not to be taken lightly.
Our God is not mocked and our God’s plans are never thwarted. 3 of his characteristics implied by this passage:
· He is the only living God (Isaiah 43:10-13)
· He is the “doing” God (ie “He DOES whatever…”; He acts) – He intervenes
· He is the Sovereign God – He does whatever he pleases (3)
In Romans 9, Paul said, “who are you, a human, to talk back to God?” Will the one formed question the One who formed it?
Phil. 2 – every knee will be and tongue confess Jesus as Lord.
2. [even more troubling]: Because they’re not seeing Him in us.
If we really understand that God alone is worthy of our worship, it’s going to make a difference in how we’re living our lives. We’re going to be concerned with what we’re showing to the world around us?
They shouldn’t have to say, “where is their God?” because they’re going to know it by what we say and what we do that will show them.
Question: What do your words and your priorities say about your god?
Are you pointing them the living God in the heavens or are you claiming to follow one God with your mouth but everything else about you is pointing to something else you’re really serving. Do you leave people wondering where your God is since you only seem to serve or worship Him when it is convenient?
(Psalm 115: 4-8 ) Talk about “their” gods.
4 Their idols are silver and gold,
made by human hands.
5 They have mouths but cannot speak,
eyes, but cannot see.
6 They have ears but cannot hear,
noses, but cannot smell.
7 They have hands but cannot feel,
feet, but cannot walk.
They cannot make a sound with their throats.
8 Those who make them are just like them,
as are all who trust in them.
Obvious frauds. They’re just statues, right? It seems ridiculous that anyone would bow down to something obviously man-made. They are useless!
What about the ones we don’t recognize? We might all agree that God is the only living God who lives in the heavens and does whatever He pleases. If pressed, we wouldn’t all agree that He alone is worshipped.
Most of us know deep down if we’re serving idols, but naming them means we have to deal with them, and we really don’t want to do that.
Tim Keller provided a little test that helps us identify if we have an idol or two:
“When anything in life is an absolute requirement for your happiness and self-worth, it is essentially an 'idol,' something you are actually worshiping.”
This could be a person, a possession, a hobby, an activity…anything. The absolute test of whether it’s an idol is what you do if confronted about it. Keller goes on…
“When such a thing is threatened, your anger is absolute. Your anger is actually the way the idol keeps you in its service, in its chains.”
It was idolatry that kept the rich, young ruler from following Jesus. It was idolatry that caused Judas to betray Jesus and then hang himself. It was idolatry that killed Ananias and Saphira. It was idolatry that threatened the church of Thyatira in Genesis 2.
Idolatry is a big deal that will rob us of our relationship with God. If we remain in it, God will eventually give us over to it, and it always has consequences. Sooner or later.
III. 2 truths driven home through repetition in 9-15 that can help us in our idolatry:
1. (Psalm 115: 9-11 ) - Trust the Lord because He is the help and shield of everyone who fears the Lord.
9 Israel, trust in the Lord!
He is their help and shield.
10 House of Aaron, trust in the Lord!
He is their help and shield.
11 You who fear the Lord, trust in the Lord!
He is their help and shield.
To fear the Lord is to understand His power and His right as God to “do whatever He pleases” and stand in holy awe under Him. It means we don’t take Him or His rightful worship for granted.
When we understand His unrivaled power, God being our “help and shield” makes a difference!
· I no longer need to rely on my own power and tactics to face the overwhelming problems in my life because He is my inner help. He gives me resources as I cease self-reliance and turn to His resources and tactics.
· I no longer need to defend my “self” because He is my shield. The Devil wants you to fight for your rights, your dignity, your respect. God speaks our identify over us and He will take care of our defense.
When the Egyptians were pursuing the Israelites and the people doubted God and began to argue with Moses and how he had brought them to the wilderness to die, Moses responded:
(Exodus 14: 13-14 ) - “Don’t be afraid. Stand firm and see the Lord’s salvation that he will accomplish for you today; for the Egyptians you see today, you will never see again. 14 The Lord will fight for you, and you must be quiet.”
13 But Moses said to the people, “Don’t be afraid. Stand firm and see the Lord’s salvation that he will accomplish for you today; for the Egyptians you see today, you will never see again. 14 The Lord will fight for you, and you must be quiet.”
It’s quiet trust that honors God. Jesus showed us how He trusted the Father with everything when He willingly gave himself over to the Jews, saying very little, knowing that God would not abandon Him or leave Him in the grave.
It is the troubles we go through that helps us realize that no false god (person, hobby, etc.) will ever hold me safely, but God alone is my help and so He should be my priority.
2. (Psalm 115: 12-15 ) – The Lord remembers you and will bless the small and great in your quiet trust of Him.
12 The Lord remembers us and will bless us.
He will bless the house of Israel;
he will bless the house of Aaron;
13 he will bless those who fear the Lord—
small and great alike.
14 May the Lord add to your numbers,
both yours and your children’s.
15 May you be blessed by the Lord,
the Maker of heaven and earth.
There is great blessing that comes to our entire family when God is given His rightful place.
It is our responsibility and privilege to bring Him glory in the earth.
Why would His blessing or enrichment be on those who do not fear Him, who do not honor Him – on those who serve other gods/idols?
A couple of things you can do for your family:
· Be aware of idolatry within your family.
What are you teaching your children about the centrality of Christ in your life? Is He optional? Lip-service? He’s our priority until something or someone else is better and that thing, event, or person gets our full attention?
We have to be careful we are not raising little idolators with our priorities so that eventually they go and serve those gods and abandon their love of the Lord completely. It happens so subtly, but it happens all the time.
· Lead by example: in your own family and within the church family, set the tone of absolute trust and obedience to Christ. Honor Him with everything you have and all that you do.
(Psalm 115: 16-17 ) It is OUR time to carry on the worship of the Lord.
16 The heavens are the Lord’s,
but the earth he has given to the human race.
17 It is not the dead who praise the Lord,
nor any of those descending into the silence of death.
We have a certain number of “living years” here on earth. That means that with each passing generation, a new generation of Believers haver the responsibility to live out God’s praise among the living.
The time and responsibility of those who have died is over. Someday ours will, as well. But while we are here, God has given us the earth both to care for and enjoy, but also to provide voice to the praise of God.
Are you taking advantage of the time you have and fulfilling your privileged responsibility to praise Him out loud, or are you waiting for the rocks to do the job for you?
If we’re not, it probably means we’re too busy serving other gods and singing their praises constantly, or it means we haven’t realized that every good and perfect gift comes down from the Father of lights…and so we’re too busy serving the God of self.
(Psalm 115: 18 ) The god of self can never save you and will only provide you a path to Hell. But God promises those who trust in the only living God, the Lord, the maker of Heaven and earth they will bless the Lord both now and forever!
18 But we will bless the Lord,
both now and forever.
Hallelujah!
It is a promise of eternal life and blessing!