Trust in the Lord (3)

Trust in the Lord Because of His Loving Favor (v. 9-15).

The Lord is Merciful to Us (Help and Shield) (v. 9-11).

“O Israel, trust thou in the LORD: he is their help and their shield. O house of Aaron, trust in the LORD: he is their help and their shield. Ye that fear the LORD, trust in the LORD: he is their help and their shield.” (Psalm 115:9-11). The people who are being oppressed at this time may have an inclination to turn to these idols. The exhortation here is as follows. Since God is omnipotent and the idols are impotent, we know who we are to trust! Trust in the Lord and in His Power!

The Lord is their help. He will offer them assistance in their time of need. “But if thou wilt go, do it, be strong for the battle: God shall make thee fall before the enemy: for God hath power to help, and to cast down” (2 Chronicles 25:8). He is the one who can deliver them from this mess. The Lord is their shield. That means He is their protector. Remember what God called Egypt? Trust was placed in Egypt whom God referred to as “a broken reed.” People would be a lot happier if God was their shield (Deut. 33:29).

The Lord is Mindful of Us (Blessing and Increase) (v. 12-14).

“The LORD hath been mindful of us: he will bless us; he will bless the house of Israel; he will bless the house of Aaron. He will bless them that fear the LORD, both small and great. The LORD shall increase you more and more, you and your children” (Psalm 115:12-14). God never forgot about the Israelites. He had always been “mindful” of them before, during, and after their struggles. Keep in mind, it was their own actions which led them to captivity. He would bless them and continue to bless them. Soon, they would be released from the captivity and allowed to live in the land as once before. There would also be a great increase of the people. This shows that God would protect them, the seedline, and cause the people to abound as they once had.

Trust in the Lord (2)

The Heathen gods are Impotent and Can Do Nothing Right (v. 4-8).

“Their idols are silver and gold, the work of men's hands. They have mouths, but they speak not: eyes have they, but they see not: They have ears, but they hear not: noses have they, but they smell not: They have hands, but they handle not: feet have they, but they walk not: neither speak they through their throat. They that make them are like unto them; so is every one that trusteth in them” (Psalm 115:4-8). The Psalmist, after describing the omnipotence of God, gives a sharp contrast of the gods of the heathen. While God was omnipotent and could come and go as He pleased the false gods were senseless (v. 4-6). While God has existed from eternity, these idol gods were created by the words of man’s hands. While God has spoken to man in different times and manners (Hebrews 1:1), these idols have mouths which are incapable of sound. The sacrifices of the time were a sweet savour to God (Lev. 1:9), but the works of stone did not have the ability to smell. The ears of the Lord are able to hear the prayers of the righteous. The ears of these glorified paper weights could not hear. God’s hands are capable of saving man (Is. 59:1), but these idols could handle nothing. They had all the parts which were capable but were not capable of using any of the five senses.

These idol gods were also stationary (v. 7). They have feet but cannot walk. Think of the description of these idols for a moment and think back to moments in the past where these idols could have easily spoken up. Genesis 31 depicts Laban being angry with his son-in-law for a number of reasons. One of them is the loss of an idol. Verse 30 tells of Laban asking Jacob point blank, “Why did you steal my gods?” Jacob told him to search to see if the idol was anywhere to be found. Laban searched the tent of Leah and found nothing. He entered the tent of Rachel and we are told that she sat upon camel’s saddle filled with his gods. Did Laban hear muffled cries, “HELP! We’re suffocating! Help us lest we perish!” No. They were made of stone and incapable of anything. The golden calf never received the worship of the Israelites. It surely did not try to save itself when Moses tried to destroy it (Exo. 20:22-23; 32:1-6, 24). What about the god of the Philistines which went by the name Dagon? The Philistines stole the ark from the Israelites and brought it before their god. The next day Dagon had fallen upon its face. Did Dagon pick itself back up? No. The next day the statue was in the same position but with its head and hands broken off. Did it try to pick itself up saying, “Whoops. Looks like I’ve lost my head! Get it?” No (1 Sam. 5:1-5). The idol gods are powerless where the God of Israel’s power is limitless.

Their followers were the same (v. 8). These people were senseless and stationary. They were senseless because they worshipped items of stone and wood. Not only did they worship items of stone and wood but they worshipped items which were made by the hands of man. This trust also made them out to be stationary because these gods could not bring them deliverance.

Trust in the Lord (Psalm 115) Part 1

Trust in the Lord (Psalm 115).

Have you ever felt forsaken? Have you ever felt as if there was no one who cared for you? You were alone in this world and there was nothing which could change that fact. It is important that Christians cling to a number of people who are close to us. We cling to family members who have been an important part of our lives regardless if they are members of the one body or not. The same goes for our friends. We also cling to our spiritual family who is there for us when times get tough. Most importantly, it is vitally important that we cling to God. He is the One who can help us out the most.

If you have a Bible handy it would be of great value to find Psalm 115. Verses two and three point out that this was written during some sort of tribulation within Israel. Many have state this could have been written during the Babylonian captivity. The Israelites, with the encouragement of their captors, would have felt forsaken by their God. It was imperative to encourage these Israelites to “Trust in the Lord.” There are three important reasons why.

Trust in the Lord Because of His Limitless Power (v. 1-8).

He is Omnipotent and Will Do What is Right (v. 1-3).

“Not unto us, O LORD, not unto us, but unto thy name give glory, for thy mercy, and for thy truth's sake. Wherefore should the heathen say, Where is now their God? But our God is in the heavens: he hath done whatsoever he hath pleased” (Psalm 115:1-3). The Psalm begins with a reminder of who truly deserves glory. He was to receive praise because of the mercy He shows to His creation. This praise is also rendered for the sake of His truth. This reminder is given because Israel is under some sort of torment at this time. The heathen people are mocking these Israelites and the God of Heaven. Think of the words being used against the Israelites. “Where is not their God?” The Israelites, if the time period is correct, are currently under bondage to the world power that is Babylon. “Their God was mighty and powerful in the past but where is He now? Surely, He cannot be that powerful because He flees from the might of our armies!” It could have also hinted at the idea that many had during this time. The “god” of a certain people was a regional god. The God of Israel would only be able to exert His powers over the lands of Israel but no further. It would be statements like this which would encourage the Israelites to ditch the God of their fathers and follow after the gods of the persecutors.

The Psalmist gives the perfect response to these accusations. God is not merely a “regional” god. God is in Heaven! He can come and go as He pleases. This gives the idea that God is an omnipotent being. He is in the heavens and whatever He has done, it was done according to His pleasure. This also shows that whatever it is that God has done, it is right. It does not matter how man may feel about the subject. One may protest all day long but God’s doings are right doings. The children of Israel’s current predicament were done due to their actions and their willingness to transgress the will of God. Therefore, what He has done to them is right.

What Does God's Grace Teach Us (4)

It Teaches Me About Hope

Look to the Blessed Hope Found in the Returning Christ. Think of what Paul has written up to this point. There is hope for the Christian who follows the written precepts. The one who rejects ungodliness and worldliness, and lives soberly, righteously, and godly in this world has a wonderful hope found in the returning Savior. “Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear His voice, and shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation” (John 5:28-29). There is a wonderful hope which we have surrounding His return. This hope is based upon the promises which He made. This would include:

·         Eternal Life: “And this is the promise that he hath promised us, even eternal life” (1 John 2:25).

·         An Immortal Body: “For our conversation is in heaven: from whence also we look for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto His glorious body, according to the working whereby He is able even to subdue all things unto Himself” (Phil. 3:20-21).

These are just two of the many promises which He made.

This hope can only be found for those who live according to the Word of God. Wicked man may live with hope in his heart but it will be extinguished at the judgment day (Prov. 11:7).

It Teaches Me of a Savior

Paul writes that “He gave Himself for us.” This Christ, Who is one day returning, is the One Who gave His life for us on the cross. It was important that He give His life.

His Blood Redeems Man. To be redeemed is to “release by paying a ransom price, to redeem.” When one thinks of an individual who is being ransomed, one would think of a person who is under heavy bondage or distress. Paul wrote to the Romans that each were at one time under bondage to the cruel task master which is sin (Rom. 6:16). Man alone cannot pay that ransom price. “Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot” (1 Pet. 1:18-19). It is through Him that we have “redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace” (Eph. 1:7).`

His Blood Purifies Me. Think of water that has been run through a purifier. The purpose of the purifier is to cleanser the impurities from water. The process takes the liquid which at one time was cloudy and filled with all sorts of contaminates and makes it clean and drinkable. IF I have been redeemed of my past sins, then I have been purified by the blood of Christ. Notice, this purification is done “…unto Himself…” That means that I am no longer my own. I am not under His ownership and should act accordingly.

I am Become Someone New. I become a peculiar person, that is, a special person dedicated with zeal to His service (1 Pet. 2:9). “Activity in the kingdom is a natural consequence; we understand what we were and what we have become; we appreciate the blessings of the Lord; we want others to enjoy the same privileges; and we strongly desire to do all within out power in behalf of the Lord who saved us” (Winton. p. 47).

God’s grace is a teacher. It teaches me:

·         About Denial

·         How to Live Right

·         About Hope

·         Of a Savior

Grace is God’s part of man’s salvation. Obedient faith is man’s part. One must be a faithful child of God in order to receive the blessings of the Savior. That means one must:

·         Hear God’s Word (Rom. 10:17).

·         Believe that Word (John 8:24).

·         Repent of Sins (Luke 13:3).

·         Confess Christ as Your Savior (Acts 8:37).

·         Be Baptized For the Remission of Sins (Acts 2:38).

·         Live Faithfully Until Death (Rev. 2:10).

What Does God's Grace Teach Us (3)

It Teaches Me to Live Right

It would be one thing to teach me what is wrong but what if I am never told what is right? I may not be doing the things which are mentioned as evil but I still may not be living right. Thankfully, God’s grace teaches me the life which I am to live.

Live Soberly. To live soberly is to exercise self-restraint or to be clear minded. This is the opposite of drunkenness, which would hinder self-restraint and clear thinking. One should be mindful of that next time he thinks of drinking an alcoholic beverage. It is imperative that an individual live his life soberly. Why? For one, it would hinder an individual from properly performing his duties to God, his fellow man, family, and so on because he has no self-restraint. An individual who lacks this could not be an elder (1 Tim. 3:2). Soberness is needed to fight against the devil lest one’s soul is devoured (1 Pet. 5:8).

Live Righteously. That is, to live a life which is right in the eyes of God. To be righteous is to keep the commands which God has given us. “My tongue shall speak of thy word: for all thy commandments are righteousness” (Psalm 119:172; cf. Acts 10:34-35, 1 John 3:7).

Live Godly. Being godly is the opposite of being ungodly. It is trying to be like God in our thoughts and actions. “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord” (Is. 55:8). It is funny how many people look to this verse and say, “Well, God’s thoughts are not our thoughts and our ways are not like His. Moving on.” If being godly is to be like God in our thoughts and actions doesn’t that mean we should be striving to make our thoughts as His thoughts and our ways as His? This is also part of the great chain which we refer to as “The Christian Graces” (2 Pet. 1:6-7).

When Do We Live It? Paul said, “in this present world.” This present world refers to the world in which we currently live. That means we are to live soberly, righteously, and godly NOW. One is not to wait until next week or next year. This is a problem when one thinks about the way the world works. The world is focused on the physical – the here and now. It stands in contradiction of the world of the eternal. God’s grace teaches us to live in such a way that it prepares us for the world that is to come and to live it now.