THERE IS ONLY ONE GOD! PRAISE HIM!

DON’T ALLOW CIRCUMSTANCES TO DISTRACT YOU

Psalm 135:13

Your name, O LORD, endures forever,

your renown, O LORD, throughout all ages.

This encouraging psalm reminds us that God never changes: in His reputation, His character, His sovereign control and power, His providential care, His love, nor in any other of His attributes! He is the only true God and we are called to praise Him. Our praise is the visible expression of what we believe about God, of what our hearts are embracing, and how much we trust Him.

The writer’s use of ‘LORD’ reminds us that God is Jahweh, ‘I AM WHO I AM’. We should be awed by the God who is like no other. He is perfect, He does not need anyone; He is eternal, unchanging, self-sustaining, the creator, the sustainer of all - and the list could on and on. The LORD is good! All He does is good, and all He allows is good.

           

Psalm 135:3

Praise the LORD, for the LORD is good;

sing to his name, for it is pleasant!

Not only is He the LORD and good, but He is also has sovereign control! He is supremely powerful: no one can hinder His decisions, no place is unreached by His authority. All creation is His dominion. He does what He pleases, and all that pleases Him is good and brings glory to Himself!

Psalm 135:5-7

For I know that the LORD is great,

and that our Lord is above all gods.

Whatever the LORD pleases, he does,

in heaven and on earth,

in the seas and all deeps.

He it is who makes the clouds rise at the end of the earth,

who makes lightnings for the rain

and brings forth the wind from his storehouses.

This God is taking care of me! Why am I worrying? Why am I complaining? Why do I get discouraged? Why do I get bitter? Why do I not forgive? Why am I not joyful? Why am I not resting? I HAVE NO EXCUSE!

Psalm 135:14

For the LORD will vindicate his people

and have compassion on his servants.

Why would I ever look elsewhere for guidance and help? Any other ‘god’ is the creation of man, as is any information about God that does not come from the Scriptures.

Psalm 135:15-18

The idols of the nations are silver and gold,

the work of human hands.

They have mouths, but do not speak;

they have eyes, but do not see;

they have ears, but do not hear,

nor is there any breath in their mouths.

Those who make them become like them,

so do all who trust in them.

How saddening it is, that all over the world there are people who venerate, worship or bow down to idols made by man. And even if their idols are not actually fashioned by men’s hands, so many have idols of their hearts: desires that replace their rightful worship of the one, true God. Let us be wary when our focus wanders to self and this world’s values, and turn it instead to praising the LORD!

Psalm 135:19-21

O house of Israel, bless the LORD!

O house of Aaron, bless the LORD!

O house of Levi, bless the LORD!

You who fear the LORD, bless the LORD!

Blessed be the LORD from Zion,

he who dwells in Jerusalem!

Praise the LORD!

When things are difficult in our lives and we allow our feelings to distract us from the character and work of God, we need to come back to this psalm and allow God’s Word to nudge us back into focusing on Him. Often we drift slowly almost without noticing.

Situations can so quickly take our attention from the Lord’s enduring sovereignty, robbing us of peace, and plummeting our spirits downward. We need to be reminded that God is always is control. He controls our health, our family, our job, our relationships, our all!

A life of praise and thanksgiving to God will be the springboard for a faithful, credible testimony about Him to those who need to hear.