Read
The Lord Deserves
1We don't deserve praise!
The Lord alone deserves
all of the praise,
because of his love
and faithfulness.
2 Why should the nations ask,
“Where is your God?”
3Our God is in the heavens,
doing as he chooses.
4 The idols of the nations
are made of silver and gold.
5They have a mouth and eyes,
but they can't speak or see.
6Their ears can't hear,
and their noses can't smell.
7Their hands have no feeling,
their legs don't move,
and they can't make a sound.
8Everyone who made the idols
and all who trust them
are just as helpless
as those useless gods.
9People of Israel,
you must trust the Lord
to help and protect you.
10Family of Aaron the priest,
you must trust the Lord
to help and protect you.
11All of you worship the Lord,
so you must trust him
to help and protect you.
12The Lord will not forget
to give us his blessing;
he will bless all of Israel
and the family of Aaron.
13 All who worship the Lord,
no matter who they are,
will receive his blessing.
14I pray that the Lord
will let your family
and your descendants
always grow strong.
15May the Lord who created
the heavens and the earth
give you his blessing.
16The Lord has kept the heavens
for himself,
but he has given the earth
to us humans.
17The dead are silent
and cannot praise the Lord,
18but we will praise him
now and forevermore.
Shout praises to the Lord!
Reflect
“What a lovely ring,” my friend said.
I nodded. “My daughter gave it to me,” I said.
My response was immediate and came naturally. I did not choose the ring so couldn’t take credit for it. As I walked away I thought of a quote I once heard – “It is a gift and therefore beyond praise.” I often think of those words when someone praises me for something I’ve written.
We’ve seen it happen on football fields when an athlete scores, then does a short victory dance, raises his face to the sky and points up. Sometimes you’ll see a musician do it when the audience applauds. It’s a small way of publicly saying, “to your name be the glory” (Ps 115:1). Many mock those who make these small gestures to God to acknowledge him in the midst of the praise but those who do so are wise.
Giving God the glory is a good way to stay humble. Anyone who feels that God has gifted them in some way will agree. So often it is obvious that the talents and gifts we own have come from outside of us. Artists often refer to it as their “muse.” Christians know who that is. All good gifts come from God and it is only right to give credit where credit is due.
The writer of Psalm 115 exhorts the people of Israel to do this because of the great love and faithfulness of their God. He acknowledges that his people have fallen away into the worship of idols that can neither love nor be faithful. Neither will they bless as his God will, for he is alive and true and forever worthy of our praise.
It is only right to give credit where credit is due.
Respond
Our father in heaven, help us to remember who you are. Help us to remember to praise you in every circumstance, not because of what you have given us, but because of your great love for us. We acknowledge your sovereign hand in the circumstances of our lives and praise your name. Amen.
Marcia Lee Laycock
Marcia Lee Laycock is an award-winning writer and sought-after speaker. Having lived a few kilometers from the Arctic Circle, and two degrees off the Equator, her writing draws from a rich field of experiences. Marcia was the winner of the Best New Canadian Christian Author Award for her novel, One Smooth Stone, and she now has four devotional books and a fantasy series in print, which have also garnered awards. Marcia lives in central Alberta with her pastor husband. They have three grown daughters and two huge Great Dane grand-puppies.