"Not to us, Yahweh, not to us, but to Your name give glory because of Your faithful love, because of Your truth. Why should the nations say, “Where is their God? ” Our God is in heaven and does whatever He pleases. Their idols are silver and gold, made by human hands. They have mouths but cannot speak, eyes, but cannot see. They have ears but cannot hear, noses, but cannot smell. They have hands but cannot feel, feet, but cannot walk. They cannot make a sound with their throats. Those who make them are as are all who trust in them. Israel, trust in the Lord! He is their help and shield. House of Aaron, trust in the Lord! He is their help and shield. You who fear the Lord, trust in the Lord! He is their help and shield. 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. May the Lord add to ⌊your numbers⌋, both yours and your children’s. May you be blessed by the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. The heavens are the Lord’s, but the earth He has given to the human race. It is not the dead who praise the Lord, nor any of those descending into the silence ⌊of death⌋. But we will praise the Lord, both now and forever. Hallelujah!"
This Psalm is such an amazing thing! How incredible and comforting to remember that my God isn't some stone idol, crafted in my image and by my hands, with eyes, ears, and mouth that don't even work. My God is the Creator of Heaven and Earth, a LIVING God who sees, knows, hears, responds, speaks, feels, understands. Such sweet security to know that my God listens when I speak, out of 7 billion people, His ears perk up when I lift my voice, be it a scream of joy or a whisper of desperation. What a comfort to know that I have not nor am I making God in my image, fashioning him with my fickle hands, corrupt image, distorted morality, but HE is the one making me with His perfect hands, infinite wisdom, glorious image. He sees what is ahead because He has already walked there ahead of me and He knows my ways, my choices, my failures, and loves me the same. He makes me in HIS glorious image, inviting me into His eternality.
That's why I love prayer. I'm speaking personally with the God of Heaven and Earth, the One who spoke life into existence. He tilts His ear to my voice and listens to my every word. He whispers sweet reassurance in my ears and wraps His arms around me. When did Buddha ever leave his lotus position to comfort a hurting follower? When did Allah ever come to humanity, to live like a man, and give his life for the world? When did Shiva, Ganesh, or any other of the pantheon of Hindu gods ever answer the prayers and care for the millions of faithful. Yet my God listens every time. My God answers my prayers. My God stepped onto the scene of human history, to live a life like me, to understand my pains and temptations, and satisfy His justice on my behalf. What God is like Jehovah? NONE!
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