Sunday 10 May, 2015

Not to us, 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 human hands. 5 They have mouths, but cannot speak, eyes, but cannot see. 6 They have ears, but cannot hear, noses, but cannot smell. 7 They have hands, but cannot feel, feet, but cannot walk, nor can they utter a sound with their throats. 8 Those who make them will be like them, and so will all who trust in them. 9 All you Israelites, trust in the Lord— he is their help and shield. 10 House of Aaron, trust in the Lord— he is their help and shield. 11 You who fear him, trust in the Lord— he is their help and shield. 12 The Lord remembers us and will bless us: He will bless his people Israel, he will bless the house of Aaron, 13 he will bless those who fear the Lord— small and great alike. 14 May the Lord cause you to flourish, 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 mankind. 17 It is not the dead who praise the Lord, those who go down to the place of silence; 18 it is we who extol the Lord, both now and forevermore. Praise the Lord.

This Psalm has been a big encouragement to me in the past few weeks as I’ve meditated on it, as I’m sure it was meant to be to the people of Israel when it was written. It’s not in everything that the Psalmist wrote about God but what he didn’t. Our God sees, hears, feels & touches, He speaks to us, He moves with us, goes before us, He is not made by us & is not a powerless, impotent idol, He is not a wooden pole or a shiny piece of metal – crafted and artistic as they may be.

This Psalm was written as an encouragement/challenge to Israel to worship the one true God and has encouraged my prayer life. My God is in the heavens, He is above all, He hears me & speaks to me, He’s alive and real, I am not worshipping something that is a motionless object. He can be trusted, He is faithful and will bless those that reverence Him. He is my help and my shield.

How eternally grateful I am.

Written by Suzie Hodgson