Know that the LORD, He is God;

.... It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves; We are His people and the sheep of His pasture (Psalm 100:3). The LORD (Yahweh) is the creator, the One who created the heavens and the earth (Genesis 2:4). Yahweh is self-existent, self- sufficient; the first cause and the last end of all things. He is the fountain of all being. So then this Yahweh, He is God, He is the One we should worship, He is the only should we serve (Luke 4:8). This is the very same Yahweh is the One who made us.   He made us from the dust of the earth, and He made us male and female (1 Corinthians 15:47; Genesis 1:27). Actually the word in the Hebrew passage is create, is it an activity reserved for God.  And in reference to things that have life, only man is created. Thus among living things mankind is unique. In particular mankind is not an accident of some undirected random process, we are created as unique image bearers of our creator God (Genesis 1:26).

It is perhaps astounding that from the beginning mankind has sought to make or create God. From primitive idolatry,  where statues and carved images were regarded as gods, to the Greek pantheon,  to all the forms of modern idolatry, we have made up gods. These gods in some ways are not as demanding as Yahweh, they may for example allow us to do exactly what we want. But in other ways have lead us to do things Yahweh neither demands, nor was it in His heart to do so (i.e. Jeremiah 32:35). And let's be clear we either serve God or we serve sin (Romans 6:20-22).  Perhaps though is not so surprising that we invent God, for we have an enemy intent on our destruction.

The phrase “It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves” is strangely relevant to our modern world. Carl Trueman in his book “The Rise and Triumph of the Modern Self ...” describes well what I want to say. He writes “our ever-growing alphabet of identity claims is, in fact, based on an idea most Westerners embraced long ago. Ultimate reality, we believe,  is found within ourselves. The external world, including our bodies, is just a canvas for expressing what we find within.” So then for example, contrary to God's Word, to Science and to common sense, we can determine our own gender.  And there are not just two, in fact we are advised to be familiar with at least thirteen.   What is this if it is not an attempt to make ourselves? It is, I believe,  and attempt to play God. But Yahweh, He is God and not we ourselves!

Father, we are Your people,  You created us, we are Your creatures,  Your handiwork. The ox knows its master, and a donkey recognizes its master’s care, but the ones You created do not know You, nor do we understand (Isaiah 1:3). We are the sheep of Your pasture, but all we like sheep have gone astray. Thank You Lord that You laid on the Lord Jesus Christ the iniquity of us all, making it possible for us to return to the shepherd and overseer of out souls (Isaiah 53:6; 1 Peter 2:25).  We thank You this morning Lord for salvation, for Your tender care, and for the true freedom that is only found  in committed relationship with You. Thank You that You receive all who will come in Jesus Name Amen