Not unto us, O LORD, not unto us

..... but to Your name give glory, because of Your mercy, because of Your truth. Why should the Nations say “Where is their God?” The highest heavens, are the LORD’S; but the earth He has given to the children of men (Psalm 115:1, 2, 16). There are two distinct groups included in the phrase “the children of men.” They are the children of Israel, the prototype of God's people, and the nations. By default, since we always worship something, the second group are idol worshippers. At the time the Psalm was written, the idols were silver and gold, the work of men’s hands (verse 4). Today our idols are more subtle, science, intellect, success, self (I am captain of my fate, the master of my soul) etc., etc. The Lord took a great risk when He gave the earth to the children of men, but it was always His intention that we should steward it under His Lordship and guidance (i.e. Genesis 2:15-17). You know the story Adam (mankind) rebelled (fell) and the Lord cursed the earth for our sake (Genesis 3).

There is a sense in which every sin, every rebellion, is like the sin of the morning star, the son of the dawn, Satan, the one who once laid low the nations. He said in his heart “I will be like the most High” (Isaiah 14:12, 14). Likewise, the history of God's people, both Israel and the church, is one of  oscillation between revival, returning to God, and rebellion, of “doing it my way,” seeking our own glory. But the Lord will not give His Glory to another (Isaiah 42:8). The church of course, is often in denial that it is in rebellion, but so much of what we do is about our ministry, about our group being the best, and only true representative of God on earth. There are over forty thousand registered denominations. Is it any wonder the “nations” are saying “Where is their God?” I mean which of the forty thousand are they supposed to think is correct? We have a form of religion, but it is absent of its power (2 Timothy 3:5).

After the fall, the Lord cursed the earth for our sake (Genesis 3:17 NKJV), meaning that He changed reality so that the consequences, the  pain, confusion and the emptiness of our rebellions ways, would lead us to return to our God and the shepherd of our souls. I am hoping that I am wrong, but I have the sense that as we adjust to the new normal with this coronavirus, that the urgency, the impetus to humble ourselves, pray, seek His face and repent especially of our disunity (2 Chronicles 7:14) had diminished. As long as we refuse to be eager to maintain the unity He has purchased at such great cost (Ephesians 4:3), we are doing the exact opposite of this morning's title verse praying “Not unto us, O LORD, not unto us, but to Your name give glory, because of Your mercy, because of Your truth.”

Lord Jesus, please give us Your grace, and the humility that will enable us to be eager to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. Help us to get low, and to stay low. And when this is over Lord, please help us not to go back to the old normal. Show us Your Glory Lord, in signs, wonders and miracles. Kingdom of God come on earth as it is in Heaven in Your precious Name Amen