Have Confidence in God!

Please see the links to our EXTRA Bible Study notes at the bottom of the page.

Opening Prayer

Generous Lord, the source of my life, the yearning of my heart, bring Christ’s life in me to fruition.

Read Psalm 115:1-18

^[1] 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.

Meditate

“I do not know the course ahead, / what joys and griefs are there. / But one stands near who fully knows, / I’ll trust his loving care” (Alfred B. Smith, 1916-2001). Compare the lyrics of this Gospel song with the psalm.

Think Further

The first words of this psalm are striking and arresting in their declaration: give glory and praise to God, who is full of love and faithfulness. In the Hebrew, there is no “and” between “love” and “faithfulness,” so these characteristics of God are closely linked. His people must praise him! Note the parallel between this verse and the end of the psalm, both containing a negative statement followed by a positive one–God alone should be praised. Do we regularly spend time praising the Lord?

Verse 3 stresses that God is sovereign; he rules supreme, transcendent over his creation. He is a protector of his people, a help and shield (9-11)–so we can fear and trust him with confidence. He promises blessing as we remember him, no matter how small we feel (12-13). He will bless our family’s future (14). How amazing–this great, sovereign God is pleased to work for our good!

So is there not ample reason to trust him, whatever our circumstances? Why do we sometimes find it so hard? One reason this psalm suggests is that we often rely on other things apart from God. He talks about those who trust in idols, which cannot do anything for them because they originate with human hands (4-7). What are the things that we look to, that play perhaps too big a part in our lives and stop God from being at the center, making it harder to trust in him when things become difficult?

So, says the writer, be certain of the Lord’s sovereign control and trust him and praise him forever. It is the certainty of God at work that will make our faith triumphant. God loves, acts, helps, and blesses!

Apply

What are some modern idols? Can you think of any Christian idols? How do these affect your ability to trust God?

Closing prayer

Lord God, You are worthy of my praise and worthy of my trust. Thank You for being my help and protector.

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