Psalm 115
1 Not to us, O LORD, not to us, but to your name give glory, for the sake of your steadfast love and your faithfulness!
2 Why should the nations say, "Where is their God?"
3 Our God is in the heavens; he does all that he pleases.
4 Their idols are silver and gold, the work of human hands.
5 They have mouths, but do not speak; eyes, but do not see.
6 They have ears, but do not hear; noses, but do not smell.
7 They have hands, but do not feel; feet, but do not walk; and they do not make a sound in their throat.
8 Those who make them become like them; so do all who trust in them.
9 O Israel, trust in the LORD! He is their help and their shield.
10 O house of Aaron, trust in the LORD! He is their help and their shield.
11 You who fear the LORD, trust in the LORD! He is their help and their shield.
12 The LORD has remembered us;
he will bless us;
he will bless the house of Israel;
he will bless the house of Aaron;
13 he will bless those who fear the LORD,
both the small and the great.
14 May the LORD give you increase,
you and your children!
15 May you be blessed by the LORD,
who made heaven and earth!
16 The heavens are the LORD's heavens, but the earth he has given to the children of man.
17 The dead do not praise the LORD, nor do any who go down into silence.
18 But we will bless the LORD from this time forth and forevermore.
Praise the LORD!
In Judaism, Psalm 115 is kept intact and prayed as a prayer of praise and thanksgiving.
Interestingly verse 2 is found on the long Tachanun, falling on the face prayer, recited on Mondays and Thursdays.
Jesus Christ is King of the Jews yesterday, today and tomorrow. Does this agree with what Jesus told us in the Gospels? In the Lord's Prayer we ask God's will to be done perfectly on earth as in Heaven.
V 16 The heavens are the LORD's heavens, but the earth he has given to the children of man.
How does this relate to the delight we are told we are told in Genesis 1 and 2 and Proverbs 8?
Genesis 1
26 Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness.
And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth
and over every every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”
27So God created man in his own image,
in the image of God he created him;
male and female he created them.
28 And God blessed them.
And God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it,
and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”
29And God said, “Behold, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is on the face of all the earth,
and every tree with seed in its fruit. You shall have them for food. 30 And to every beast of the earth and to every bird of the heavens and to everything that creeps on the earth, everything that has the breath of life, I have given every green plant for food.” And it was so.
31And God saw everything that he had made,
and behold, it was very good.
Psalm 24:1 1O
The earth is the LORD's, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it
When Father God tells us 11 (Disciples) times in Genesis 1 and 2 that He finds His Creation Good, what are we to think that creation is just turned over to man? Jesus and Father God want to save the world in Christ Jesus. Just as we are given children to help to mature, God has given us His vast creation.
The Prodigal Son was not turned loose without - - - faith and prayer and love. Just as we are planned according to Psalm 139 before our birth - God has made plans for us to grow and mature and come Home.
Father God made His Covenant with us as the People of Jesus Christ and the New Testament.
2 Corinthians 6:16
For we are the temple of the living God; as God said, “I will make my dwelling among them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people."
And in the New Covenant, Father God gives us this earth.
What does God value in this equation?
Exodus 25:8
"Let them construct a sanctuary for Me, that I may dwell among them."
Ezekiel 37:27
"My dwelling place also will be with them; and I will be their God, and they will be My people."
Now the earth belongs to mankind and what does God say about us His Beloved?
1 Corinthians 6
18 Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a man can commit is outside his body, but he who sins sexually sins against his own body.
19 Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have received from God?
You are not your own!
God said
1. It is Good.
2. It is Good.
3. It is Good.
4. It is Good.
5. It is Good.
6. It is Good.
7. It is Good.
8. It is Good.
9. It is Good.
10. It is Good.
11. It is Good.
And with more importance - Father God gives His only and Wonderful Son Jesus - to us.
Unto us a Child is Born.
A Son is Given.
And 26 times
His Steadfast Love Endures Forever.
Psalm 136
Clearly we see:
We are chosen. Special. Important. And His Salvation is a Free Gift.
The question we began this post was, "Is the earth important to God?"
The answer is, "You are more precious to Him. Bought with Jesus - His Only Son. Jesus. Our God. Our Wonderful Jesus."
Father God chose Mary carefully. Joseph carefully chosen for God's Only Son.
All of the effort. All of the worry. All of the discomfort. All of the fear. All of the shame. All of the pain. All of the Love.
God tells us He would tenderly gather us as a mother hen. You are this loved to father God. Known to God as you are.
1 Corinthians 6
20 you were bought at a price. Therefore glorify God with your body
Abba, Our Father,
And all of the Glories of this earth are merely for us to visit and Go Home. You have Died for us to Live.
… Thou shalt call his name Jesus for he shall save his people from their sins. Matthew 1: 21
…His name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, The Mighty God,
…The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace Isaiah 9:6
… God hath made that same Jesus… both Lord & Christ Acts 2:36
…Behold the Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world! John 1:29
…they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, the song of The Lamb Revelation 15:3
…Behold, the Lion of the Tribe of Judah Revelation 5:5
..and the Bright & Morning Star Revelation 22:16
..and our hands have handled, of the Word of Life 1 John 1:1
…we have and advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ The Righteous 1 John 2:1
…whereby the Dayspring from on high hath visited us. Luke 1:78
…Before Abraham, I Am. John 8:58
…And I saw, and bare record that this is the Son of God. John 1: 34
…are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls. 1 Peter 2:25
…We have found the Messiah which, is being interpreted, the Christ. John 1:41
…I am the Way, the Truth and the Life, no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. John 14:6
…through the knowledge of the Lord & Savior Jesus Christ. II Peter 2: 20
..a name written King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Revelation 19:16
…I am the Light of the World. John 8:12
…The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world… John 1:9
…I am Alpha & Omega the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come
The Almighty Revelation 1:8
Luke 2:10
But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is
Christ the Lord.
Jesus, You are our Savior and Lord. Mediate our Prayer. Travel with us. Give us more opportunities for the Holy Spirit dwelling in us to do Good.
We lift up Gladly Those we Love. We lift up our Cares to You. We lift up our Employment. We lift up The Church of Jesus Christ for Your Glory.
We Give You Thanks. Memories of Your Real Help and Comfort. Our prayers cover the World. And in Return Your Love Encircles us. Encircles our Spirits. Encircles the Ones we Love. Encircles the World. Your Word Gives Life. Thank You. For All. All things are created by You and You are God. We give Thanks for Your Mercy in Your Word of Life.
Daily To Your Glory. To Love. To Life. To Truth. To Your Way.
Jesus is Our God. Amen.
♔ Lord Jesus Saves! †