Blinded or Blessed?

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by elizabethaudet

by elizabethaudet

Psalm 115:1-18

God! He alone is God! How true! Blessed are His People! Amen! Blessed are those who trust in Him! Extremely Blessed! Blessed means "Made holy, Divine favor, or Happy". All of these fit what God does for those who trust Him. Notice it includes "Divine", not human; "Holy" not ungodly. It does not include the gods or people of this world for it is "Divine", not earthly. Psalm 115 is one of the Hallel Psalms sung on the night of the Passover celebration. Psalm 115 was sung at the close of the meal along with Psalms 116-118. Psalms 113-114 were sung at the beginning of the meal.

The first verse of Psalm 115 begins with praise to God, (TEV)-"To You alone, Lord, (echo) to You alone and not to us, must Glory be given, because of Your constant Love and Faithfulness." (Isaiah 48:11-(NKJV)-"For My own sake (echo) for My own sake, I will do it; for how should My Name be profaned? And I will not give My Glory to another.) So, "Why should the nations ask us, 'Where is your God?' " God proves Himself over and over, yet some cannot see His hand in anything! ( Psalm 42:3,20- sons of Korah's cry)

The Psalmist declares in Psalm 115:3-7, (CEB)-"Our God is in heaven-He can do whatever He wants." (1 Chronicles 16:25-26; Isaiah 40, whole chapter). God can do anything as He is not limited by any restrictions or handicaps!

But the god's of this world...

1. "Their idols are just silver and gold-things made by human hands. (Jeremiah 10:8 and read Psalm 135:15-18).

2. "They have mouths, but they can't speak"

3. "They have eyes, but they can't see,"

4. "They have ears, but they can't hear."

5. "They have noses, but they can't smell."

6. "They have hands, but they can't feel"

7. "They have feet, but they can't walk."

8. "They can't even make a noise in their throats." (Read Isaiah 44 to see the contrast with The True God.)

But the worst part of all this is in verse 8 of Psalm 115,"Let the people who made these idols and all who trust in them become just like them!" If you do not follow God and the teachings He laid down, you are like a dumb idol who cannot speak, see, hear, smell, feel, walk, or even make a noise in your throat. The idols must be carried, propped up, placed in their special places provided by man, and never move from it except by being attended to. What kind of god is that! It becomes only what you want it to be and do. No more, no less. My God is the True God. He does His own speaking, seeing, hearing, smelling, feeling, and movements. HE IS GOD!

The Psalmist continued in verses 9-11 of Psalm 115 and said, (TEV)-

"Trust in the Lord, people of Israel!" (first in line are His children) (Psalm 118:2-3).

Because, "He helps you and protects you. (Psalm 33:20-"He is our help and shield .")

"Trust in the Lord, You priests of God " (second in line)

Because, "He helps you and protects you."

"Trust in the Lord, all you who fear (respect) Him". (Third in line includes all)

"He helps you and protects you." (CEB-" Help and Shield.)

In Psalm115: 12-15, God sets the order of blessings also, " The Lord has been mindful of us;"

"He will bless us, (echo) He will bless us; (The Psalmist was an Israelite)

"He will bless the house of Israel; First were His followers)

"He will bless the house of Aaron". (Second were those who served God)

"He will bless those who fear the Lord. Both small and great." (This includes all of the believers. Psalm 128:1,4-"Blessed is everyone who fears the Lord, who walks in His Ways.")

"May the Lord give you increase more and more, you and your children."

"May you be blessed by the Lord, Who made Heaven and earth." (Genesis 1:1; 14:18-19- we are the "possessors" whom He "blessed".

The Psalmist explained the "possessors" by giving us a good example in verses from Psalm 115:16-18 when he said,(TLB)-"The heavens belong to the Lord but He has given the earth to all mankind." This is not a contradiction of Genesis 14:19 as all mankind are limited; for only the redeemed may inherit both in the future. (Read 2 Corinthians 12:2 and note Paul's explanation.) Now that is JUSTICE I can accept!

The Psalmist went on in verses 17-18 to say, (TLB)-"The dead cannot sing praises to Jehovah here on earth." (Psalm 6;5). "But we can! We praise Him forever!" The ungodly are spiritually dead already. The redeemed are spiritually alive in Christ. The physically dead who have already been redeemed cannot sing God's praises here on earth, but in heaven. (Daniel 2:20-22; Isaiah 38:18-19). The Psalmist concludes with, "HALLELUJAH! PRAISE THE LORD!" In Hebrew the "Hallelujah" is "Praise the Lord". (Check it out as Psalms 115-117 all end with this phrase, PRAISE THE LORD!" So, what are you waiting for?-

"PRAISE THE LORD!"

Next time...