The rule of desert survival was to live with the desert and not against it, for all desert life is an accommodation to conditions that exist.”
–Louis L’Amour (Taggart)
“Bless the Lord, O my soul… Who redeems your life from destruction, who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies.”
–Psalm 103:1,4 (NKJV)
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The presence and promise of the Lord is all we need to face life’s challenges. The first part of Psalm 115 dealt with the futility of idols which we studied last week. Now we see the faithfulness of God in the later portion. As George Wood puts it, “From verse 9 to the conclusion, this psalm calls upon you to deepen your walk with God by depending wholly upon Him.” Trust does not go to idols or individuals, but to God. “In God We Trust” –oh that this nation would go back to this basic truth!
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 been mindful of 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 small and great.
14 — May the LORD give you increase more and more, you and your children.
15 — May you be blessed by the LORD, who made heaven and earth.
16 — The heaven, even the heavens, are the LORD’s; but the earth He has give to the children of men.
17 — The dead do not praise the LORD, nor any who go down into silence.
18 — But we will bless the LORD from this time forth and forevermore. (NKJV)
We are called to trust and rely upon the Lord–the One who does as He pleases (vs. 3). Notice, three times the phrase: “He is their help and their shield.” This proclaims God’s protective care over those who put their trust in Him. His shield is His divine protection over us from our enemies. It is not a cliche; it is a proclamation. Dare to trust Him!
God is ever mindful of our needs. Do not be like those who trust in idols, for Jesus tells us, “Therefore do not be like them. For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him.” (Matthew 6:8, NKJV) He is good and He cares for His own. I used to wonder how I could ever bless God. How can mere man bless God? We are told to “Bless the Lord, O my soul; and all that is within me, bless His holy name!” (Psalm 103:1, NKJV) When He blesses us, we in return should bless Him. How? By praising Him. By not forgetting He forgave our sins and iniquities. By offering something within ourselves in response to His blessing–such as a “living sacrifice.” We bless Him by our actions of obedience, we bless Him when we give gratitude for His deeds to us.
Praise and give Him adoration now, among the living. The dead can no longer praise the Lord. Their voices and hearts have become silent. Now is the day of salvation; now is the time to praise and extol Him. Bless the Lord now and regard His benefits now. Tomorrow may be too late. What do we have to guard against idols today? Most certainly, John writes that we should keep ourselves from idols–the idols of the mind. Those things which give a false representation of God. False teachings, twisted doctrines, compromise with the teachings of the world, these are idols that we face today along with materialism and self-centeredness. “The most important thing about you is what comes into your mind when you think about God.” (A.W. Tozer) That means our thoughts and actions must be based on Scripture, those things that are worthy of Him. Lloyd-Jones says, “A man’s god is that for which he lives, for which he is prepared to give his time, his energy, his money, that which stimulates him and rouses him, excites and enthuses him.” Yes, be careful for there are plenty of idols in the world today. Our obligation is to bless the Lord–forevermore.
“Sure I must fight if I would reign;
Increase my courage, Lord;
I’ll bear the toil, endure the pain,
Supported by thy word.”
–Isaac Watts