“Not to us, O Lord, not to us, but to your name give glory,
for the sake of your steadfast love and your faithfulness!
Why should the nations say,
‘Where is their God?’
Our God is in the heavens;
he does all that he pleases.
Their idols are silver and gold,
the work of human hands.
They have mouths, but do not speak;
eyes, but do not see.
They have ears, but do not hear;
noses, but do not smell.
They have hands, but do not feel;
feet, but do not walk;
and they do not make a sound in their throat.
Those who make them become like them;
so do all who trust in them…
You who fear the Lord, trust in the Lord!
He is their help and their shield…
The heavens are the Lord’s heavens,
but the earth he has given to the children of man…
But we will bless the Lord
from this time forth and forevermore.
Praise the Lord!” Psalm 115:1-8,11,16,18
The writer’s conversational psalm with the Lord involves deliberation and will. He resolves to honor God above himself, then describes those who would not. He acknowledges the foolishness of those who craft false gods and the sad but common result of their failure to fear and trust the Lord. He closes with repeated commitment, in light of the banal and senseless practices of those around him, to praise his God alone.
The tussle and pull of gods is ubiquitous. Living on this earth, we can in mind and practice confine the true God to the heavens where He dwells, and ignore His gaze and intermingling and influence during our days. We take thought for ourselves, we take glory for ourselves, and we segment God to Sunday church and morning prayers and the sky above.
Occupied here below among a myriad of idols, we get about the making of and absorption in our own gods- my ambition, my dreams, my family, my toys. We carve success trinkets and mold beauty figurines and tune in to our deity-voices. The more focused we are on what we’ve elevated to priority, the more we resemble that which and those we worship. Work etches its strain on our face, unhealthy veneration of our children imprints (and possibly impedes) logic and ministry, and we begin to mimic what we listen and pledge our allegiance to. How will we deal with this constant vying for our heart and soul devotion?
It is important to remember who God is, and what worship He requires. When He reigns supreme in affections and adoration, He will order rightly all other loves. What preoccupations and passions need we set aside to enthrone Him as Sovereign? What can we change so our worship is focused and genuine? Where will we ask Him to infiltrate mindset and affections to make us more like Him? How can we practically heed His call to be holy, in every priority and choice and expression, as He is? (Leviticus 19:2; John 4:24; 2 Corinthians 3:18)
Oh Lord, not to me be glory, or supremacy, or authority, or too much attention, but to You alone I give all. Purify my loves and worship for the sake of Your glory, so my life reflects and blesses and praises You forever.
As the rain and snow 