Theme: How God Blesses
This week’s lessons remind us of the need to trust God in all things, and of what he will do for us as we look to him in faith.
Scripture: Psalm 115:1-18
What happens if we do trust the Lord? Will we be disappointed? Those who trust in their idols or false gods will be disappointed, because the idols are nothing and can do nothing. The worshiper will get nothing from them. But those who trust God will never be disappointed, because he is the living, true, kind and compassionate God who delights to do good to those who seek, trust in and obey him.
Stanza four contains more repetition, and this corresponds to the repetitive sentences already found in verses 9-11. In that stanza, we saw that the “house of Israel,” the “house of Aaron,” and “all who fear him” were challenged to trust God. In this stanza (vv. 12, 13) these same people are addressed and are declared to be recipients of God’s blessing. Plus there is an initial general statement that God “will bless us.”
The LORD remembers us and will bless us:He will bless the house of Israel,he will bless the house of Aaron,he will bless those who fear the LORD—small and great alike (vv. 12, 13).
What is new in this stanza is its emphasis on the blessing of God—for “small and great alike.” And lest we miss this, the next stanza elaborates on it by pronouncing a blessing on both the adult people of God and their children. What this means is that God’s blessing is for you, whoever you may be, if you will only stop trusting in yourself and your own devices and instead begin to trust God.
It is true in the matter of salvation. Not all are being saved. No one who expects God to recognize his own good works or merit will enter heaven. Salvation is by the grace of God through the work of Christ alone. But if you will come that way, trusting him rather than yourself, then you will be saved, even if you are poor or uneducated or of low esteem either in your own or others’ eyes. Children may be saved. The despised may be saved. Those who are overlooked or abused may be saved. The text says, “he will bless those who fear the LORD—small and great alike” (v. 13).
It is true in matters of the Christian life. You do not have to be a highly favored individual to grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. In fact, it is often the disfavored and disadvantaged who grow most and deepest, because they are not trusting to their own wisdom or strength but in the Lord. The Bible says, “If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him” (James 1:5). Proverbs says,
Trust in the LORD with all your heartand lean not on your own understanding;in all your ways acknowledge him,and he will make your paths straight (Prov. 3:5, 6).
God will also bless you in the hour of your death if you are trusting him. For how could it be that the one who has been faithful to bless you throughout your life should abandon you in death’s hour? Rather the opposite is the case. God will be even closer to you then. The very next psalm says, “Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints” (Ps. 116:15).
Study Questions:
Who does God bless? What is the condition for God’s blessing?
How does God bless in life? In death?
On what does salvation depend? What types of people are saved?
Prayer: Ask God for the strength to entrust him with your life rather than to trust your own judgment.
Key Point: Those who trust God will never be disappointed.
