The One who deserves our praise and trust

The psalmist starts out this psalm with a cry that resonates.

Not to us, O LORD, not to us but to your name be the glory, because of your love and faithfulness.  (Psalm 115:1)

Who are you living for?  For yourself?  What are you living for?  To make money?  To achieve glory?

Or are you living for him who actually deserves all the glory because of his faithfulness and love towards us?

Throughout this psalm, the writer urges us to praise and put our trust in God.  Why?  What makes him worthy of it?

For one thing, he is the one who can do all things.  Verse 3 puts it this way,

Our God is in heaven; he does whatever pleases him.  (3)

People have two reactions to this.  One is fear.  “If God can do anything, there’s no telling what he might do to me.”

But for those who have come to know him, they stand in awe.  That this God who can do anything, nevertheless loves and cares for us.  And that no matter how often we are faithless, yet he remains faithful to us.

We stand in awe because he is no mere idol with eyes that can’t see, ears that can’t hear, a nose but can’t smell, hands but can’t feel, feet but can’t walk, and a mouth but can’t speak.

Such a god is utterly powerless to help himself, no less us.

But our God sees us, he hears and answers us when we call, and he acts on behalf of those who love him.

And so not only does this Jewish psalmist call for the Jews to trust in him, but he says,

You who fear him, trust in the LORD– he is their help and shield.  (11)

What happens when we do?

The LORD remembers us and 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 — small and great alike.  (12-13)

How are you living your life?  Are you trying to stay in control?  Are you fretting because you can’t manage to stay on top of things?

Then let go.  Put your trust in God.  He will be your help.  He will be your shield.  And because he is all-powerful, he can stay on top of things where you can’t.

So as the psalmist sings,

Extol the LORD, both now and forevermore.

Praise the LORD. (18)