Sunday, April 5, 2015 pm
STUDIES IN PSALMS
But Our God Is In Heaven
Psalm 115
a.
May we truly give God
glory in our lives – we are reminded here to give glory to God in all
that happens.
Far too many today take too much credit upon themselves and neglect to
acknowledge God in the process.
They are like the rich fool of Luke 12:13-21.
Notice why he was accountable in vs. 21, “So is he who lays up
treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.”
What sin caused Moses to not enter the Promised Land?
It was when he took credit for giving Israel water (Num. 17:10)
One reason our society is so ungodly is because of the selfishness that
is so prevalent – we worship and serve the creature rather than the
creator (Rom. 1:25). 2 Tim.
3:1-5 describes this selfish and amoral attitude.
Psa. 29:2 say, “Give unto the Lord the glory due to His name; Worship
the Lord in the beauty of holiness.”
God expects humility in our lives – as Paul noted in reaching the lost –
planting, watering and increase – 1 Cor. 3:6.
Luke 17:10 reminds us that when we have done all, still acknowledge Him!
Solomon said, “Let another man praise you, and not your own mouth; A
stranger, and not your own lips.” (Proverbs 27:2)
b.
His name, His mercy, His
truth –
these are qualities that He has defined and personifies.
These are qualities we strive to imitate as we strive to be like
Him. And as we imitate Him,
we are giving Him glory in such.
c.
Why should the Gentiles say, “Where is their God”?
In this expression I see 2 thoughts.
1) Often in punishing His people, He warned that the nations would ask
where Israel’s God had gone.
2) As we emphasize example, when we live for Him and give Him the glory
He so richly deserves – it causes others to glorify Him.
Matt. 5:16, 1 Peter 4:12-14, 3:16, etc.
Do we live so that our lives deny Him within us?
a.
Our God is in heaven –with certainty, the psalmist acknowledges that our God is
real! He has manifested
Himself so that there is no doubt!
b.
He is sovereign
– doing what He pleases. God
is all powerful. Whenever
this psalm was written, there was plenty of “evidence” for His
sovereignty over the world – and the times of this writing vary from
around the time of David to the rebuilding of the 2nd temple
after return from Babylonian captivity.
Regardless of when, God has manifested Himself to His people.
It is this quality that gives us reason to trust Him and His will.
Cf. Eph. 1:5, 9 both of which speak of His work “according to His
good pleasure”.
c.
Idols have no such power (4-7) – contrast our God with the worthless gods of
idolatrous nations. How
powerless they are is summarized here.
Isaiah addressed this in greater detail in His prophecy – they
build idols and have to prop them up so that they will not fall, the
Lord challenges them to speak – tell what is going to happen, do good or
evil but do something, etc.
d.
Those who make idols and
those who trust in them are just as weak. (7-8)
Isaiah 44:9-20 is an indictment against idolaters.
e.
Is idolatry a problem
today?
It used to be that such a question need the definition of an idol
defined. Now we have many
who are once again worshipping nature, worshipping false gods and man
worshipping himself. In
addition to this there are many whose conduct is idolatrous because they
refuse to worship God! Col.
3:5 describes covetousness as idolatry.
Jesus taught in Matt. 6:24 that we cannot serve God and mammon at
the same time. If we are not
serving God, mammon is an idol.
Many false religions that profess to follow Christ have also fallen down
to the idols of political correctness, ecumenicalism and modernism
(which rejects the inspiration of scripture).
So yes, idolatry is just as much a problem today and we must
guard against it!
a.
Israel and the house of Aaron called upon to trust in the Lord.
Israel was of course the nation (depending upon the time of
writing – both Israel and Judah).
IT is God’s chosen nation.
Aaron would be reference to the priesthood – the Levites.
In many of the prophets, the responsibility for downfall rested
with the failure of the priests and leaders to reveal the LORD’s message
to the people – either outright failure or corruption of the law itself.
Here they are called upon to trust in the LORD.
b.
You who fear the LORD
trust in Him
– extended to all who fear God.
Perhaps the psalmist is making a distinction between those who
professed to follow God and those who really did.
Perhaps he is looking to Gentiles to turn to Him.
Perhaps this is looking toward spiritual Israel.
c.
He is their help and their shield
– this is the promise to those who trust Him.
He will help and defend those who belong to Him.
If we are to truly obey Him, it is imperative that we trust Him.
Prov. 3:5-6 calls for us to truth Him and acknowledge Him and He
will direct our paths.
a.
He is mindful of us and will bless us
– the same 3 groups that are mentioned in the previous verses are
mentioned here – Israel, Aaron and those who fear God.
But here we have promise – He will bless!
The idea of being blessed is to have His favor shone upon us.
Everything good that God has done for us is a blessing from Him.
The “beatitudes” contain “blessings” to those who possess the
godly attitudes (Matt. 5:3-12).
Eph. 1:3 speaks of how He has blessed us with every spiritual blessing
in the heavenly places.
We are blessed in so many ways.
His people are abundantly blessed.
b.
Both small and great
– God shows no partiality!
His favor is available to everyone (cf. Ac. 10:34-35, Rom. 2:11, etc.)
c.
Vs. 14 - He can give us increase more and more
– this is a description of how He can bless us.
d.
Vs. 15, “May you be
blessed by the LORD who made the heaven and earth.” This is a reminder of WHO can bless us.
e.
Vs. 16 - Why?
Because the heavens belong to Him!
He is ruler of the universe!
The heavens declare His glory and bow to Him (Psa. 19:1-2)
“The heavens are Yours, the earth also is Yours; The world and all
its fullness, You have founded them.” (Psalm 89:11)
UNLIKE the idols of other nations and manmade objects of worship, God is
real. The heavens belong to
Him.
f.
The earth is given to the children of men
– we are its stewards.
Gen. 1:28, 2:15, Psalm 8:6-8 - from the beginning man was entrusted with
caring for the earth.
It is ours to enjoy and use to live.
He can do that because…He is God!
And since He put us over the earth, we ought to honor Him as we care for
it.
g.
The dead do not praise Him – acknowledge Him while you still live.
The day is coming when you can no longer honor him.
Then your destiny will be sealed – Heb. 9:27
Isaiah 38:18, “For Sheol cannot thank You, Death cannot praise You;
Those who go down to the pit cannot hope for Your truth.” (as
Hezekiah is granted 15 more years of life)
h.
But we do and will
– from now on and forever more.
Let us remember our God before it is too late.
Let us try to serve Him with our all AND tell others about it.
When we assemble
together to worship God we are given the privilege of worshipping Him!
Do we view such opportunities
with joy and gladness?
i.
Hallelujah
– which means, “praise the Lord”
There is a song that has been sung in times past, (not in our book)
entitled, “To God be the glory, great things He has done.
So loved He the world that He gave us His Son, Who yielded His
life an atonement for sin, And opened the life-gate that all may go in.
Praise the Lord, Praise the Lord, let the earth hear His
voice…let the people rejoice.
O come to the Father, through Jesus the Son, and give Him the
glory great things He hath done.”
And
thus we have another psalm of praise to God!
Let us be reminded in these psalms and at other times to glorify
Him.