#846.5 Not To Us Part 2

Not to us, O Lord, not to us, but to your name give glory,

for the sake of your steadfast love and your faithfulness!

2 Why should the nations say,

“Where is their God?”

3 Our God is in the heavens;

he does all that he pleases.

4 Their idols are silver and gold,

the work of human hands.

5 They have mouths, but do not speak;

eyes, but do not see.

6 They have ears, but do not hear;

noses, but do not smell.

7 They have hands, but do not feel;

feet, but do not walk;

and they do not make a sound in their throat.

8 Those who make them become like them;

so do all who trust in them.

9 O Israel, trust in the Lord!

He is their help and their shield.

10 O house of Aaron, trust in the Lord!

He is their help and their shield.

11 You who fear the Lord, trust in the Lord!

He is their help and their shield.

12 The Lord has remembered us; he 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,

both the small and the great.

14 May the Lord give you increase,

you and your children!

15 May you be blessed by the Lord,

who made heaven and earth!

16 The heavens are the Lord's heavens,

but the earth he has given to the children of man.

17 The dead do not praise the Lord,

nor do any who go down into silence.

18 But we will bless the Lord

from this time forth and forevermore.

Praise the Lord! Psalm 115 ESV

A Psalm to the glory of God's name.

O Israel, trust in the Lord - You are God's chosen people, set apart to know Him, to come out of the bondage of ignorance. Where else can you go, He holds the words of life, that which was able to make you wise unto salvation. He does not say trust in your lineage, your self, your works, the might of your own arm, but rather, trust in the Lord. 

1 Now this is what the LORD says— He who created you, O Jacob, and He who formed you, O Israel: “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; you are Mine! 2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you go through the rivers, they will not overwhelm you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched; the flames will not set you ablaze.… Isaiah 43: 1-2

He is their help and their shield - This is repeated each time, for the remnant, the priests, and all those who fear the Lord. We have seen that an idol is nothing, so why should anyone bow to what has to be made and protected by human hands? Whether Jew or Greek, there is only One true Lord over all. 

…3 But the one who loves God is known by God. 4 So about eating food sacrificed to idols: We know that an idol is nothing at all in the world, and that there is no God but one. 5 For even if there are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth (as there are many so-called gods and lords),…

…6 yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom all things came and for whom we exist. And there is but one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things came and through whom we exist. 7 But not everyone has this knowledge. Some people are still so accustomed to idols that they eat such food as if it were sacrificed to an idol. And since their conscience is weak, it is defiled. 8 But food does not bring us closer to God: We are no worse if we do not eat, and no better if we do.… 1 Corinthians 8: 3-8

O house of Aaron, trust in the Lord - These were the part of Israel set apart to the work and ministry of the Lord. They were responsible for the tabernacle, keeping of the ordinances, pronouncing the law of God to the people. They were of the tribe of Levi and there inheritance was not in the land, but in the Lord Himself. This will be the breaking test of so many ministers, to serve God against the culture may mean less food and money in the coffers, but you belong to the Lord, His kingdom, His glory, trust in the Lord. 

ii. “You who are nearest to him, trust him most; your very calling is connected with his truth and is meant to declare his glory, therefore never entertain a doubt concerning him, but lead the way in holy confidence.” (Spurgeon)

…6 An elder must be blameless, the husband of but one wife, having children who are believers and are not open to accusation of indiscretion or insubordination. 7 As God’s steward, an overseer must be above reproach— not self-absorbed, not quick-tempered, not given to drunkenness, not violent, not greedy for money. 8 Instead, he must be hospitable, a lover of good, self-controlled, upright, holy, and disciplined.… 

9 He must hold firmly to the trustworthy message as it was taught, so that by sound teaching he will be able to encourage others and refute those who contradict this message. 10 For many are rebellious and full of empty talk and deception, especially those of the circumcision, 11 who must be silenced. For the sake of dishonorable gain, they undermine entire households and teach things they should not.… Titus 1: 6-11

You, who fear the Lord - This is the beginning of wisdom to all who believe. The Lord is faithful to those that choose the fear of Him over the approval and applause of men. They have thrown away such idols, known their own hearts to be deceitful, and long for every word that proceeds from the mouth of God. 

May the Lord give you increase - The church starts at home, and there is a spiritual aspect to the command, "be fruitful and multiply", as Abraham's seed would be a blessing to all nations. Those, who have received of His spirit, will well up like an Artesian  spring and overflow. Teach your children, exercise your gifts to the edifying of the body, and go into all the world and preach the gospel. 

i. We take comfort that the small are mentioned first, meaning they will not be forgotten. “God’s blessing is for you, whoever you may be, if you will only stop trusting in yourself and your own devices and instead begin to trust God.” (Boice)

But the earth He has given to the children of man - The earth is the Lord's and the fullness thereof, but He has granted dominion of it to men. We are His stewards, belonging to Him, and should take the greater care of our Father's work. What a lovely place, yet men will work hard at plundering it's beauty to the glory of themselves and the destruction of good.

iii. “All is his, but we are his substantial heirs and trustees. There is generosity in the phrase, ‘the earth he has given’; there is responsibility as well, for we are not its makers, nor is it simply ‘there’ as meaningless matter to exploit. Behind the gift is the Giver.” (Kidner)