God Promises to Bless the Faithful

Psalms 115:1 Not to us, O LORD, not to us, but to your name be the glory, because of your love and faithfulness. 2 Why do the nations say, “Where is their God?” 3 Our God is in heaven; he does whatever pleases him. 4 But their idols are silver and gold, made by the hands of men. …9 O house of Israel, trust in the LORD – he is their help and shield…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.
 
GOD’S glory belongs to God, “not to us.” the psalmist sings. How easy it is to praise, honor and worship people and objects, even ourselves. This violates God’s first and second commandments. But that happened often in Israel as illustrated in Judges 17:4 So Micah (not the prophet) returned the silver to his mother, and she took two hundred shekels of silver and gave them to a silversmith, who made them into the image and the idol. And they were put in Micah’s house. 5 Now this man Micah had a shrine, and he made an ephod and some idols and installed one of his sons as his priest. Then Judges’ author condemns this: Judges 17:6 In those days Israel had no king; everyone did as he saw fit.
   How easily we will do as we want. We will cast aside a true trust in God and put our trust in all types of objects and people. Because God does not submit to our commands, he will seem invisible to the unbelievers and even to Christians who have a casual relationship with him. They will proudly point to the church and ask, “Where is their God?” because they put their trust in an object made by the hands of men. The pagan world overflows with idols of all shapes and sizes, many formed to resemble a man or woman. Some resemble animals and others the heavens. But what power do they have? Can they walk, eat, breathe, think or talk? How fruitless is the worship of lifeless idols. It is difficult to conceive that a man creates a god, and then he worships what he has created.   
   With the psalmist’s words, God tells Israel, “Trust in the LORD.” And once again he implores them to know, “He is their help and shield.” God’s will is for Israel to worship him. He wants to remember – be mindful of his faithful people – in order to bless those who fear the LORD – small and great alike.”
   Then the psalmist gives a blessing: Psalm 114:14 May the LORD make you increase, both you and your children. 15 May you be blessed by the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth. 16 The highest heavens belong to the LORD, but the earth he has given to man. Know the LORD God oversees your life.
   He then concludes with a final encouragement to faithful worship: V 17 It is not the dead who praise the LORD, those who go down to silence; 18 it is we who extol the LORD, both now and forevermore. Praise the LORD.
           With the psalmist’s gifts, God sings his love to you. He warns you against a life without his presence. He promises he will bless all who are faithful.