Psalm 135: We Become What We Worship

Some Things Must Be Repeated

The idols of the nations are silver and gold,
the work of human hands.
They have mouths, but do not speak;
they have eyes, but do not see;
they have ears, but do not hear,
nor is there any breath in their mouths.
Those who make them become like them,
so do all who trust in them.
Psalm 135:15-18 (ESV)

This section is almost a word for word copy of Psalm 115:4-8. And I am well aware we made pretty much this same point when we discussed Psalm 115. But some things simply need to be repeated.

We become what we worship. No exceptions. Nobody worships an idol and becomes like YHWH. Nobody worships YHWH and becomes like an idol.

If we trust in useless idols and false gods, we will become useless and false. If we trust in the living, working, making, doing God, we will become living, working, making, doing image-bearers of Him.

But if we refuse to follow the only living God, the consequences are actually so much worse than simply being useless and false. Think about the description of those idols. Unseeing eyes. Unhearing ears. Unbreathing mouths. Have you ever seen a person like that? I have. In a casket. The idols are dead. Those who trust in them become dead.

Granted, few people in our modern west bow to lifeless statues. But when we worship money, sex, fame, popularity, education, family, and even self, our idols are actually just as useless, false, and lifeless. Life only comes from one place–the living God. Of course, the issue over which we must take extreme care can be seen in that tragic story of Nadab and Abihu in Leviticus 10. Ostensibly, they worshiped the Living God. They were in the tabernacle of the Living God. They were offering sacrifices to the Living God. They were offering on the altar of the Living God. But they ended up dead. Why? Because despite all outward appearances, their willingness to offer fire of their own choosing instead of God’s choosing demonstrates who they were truly worshiping–themselves. Let us not deceive ourselves. Let us, with fearless, thorough honesty, seek after the one, true, Living God.

Let us worship Him. And watch Him make us like Him.

Praise the Lord!

Tomorrow’s reading is Psalm 135.

PODCAST!!!

Click here to take about 15 minutes to listen to the Text Talk conversation between Andrew Roberts and Edwin Crozier.

PATHS:
Discuss Today’s Meditation with Your Family

How does Psalm 135 prompt or improve your hope in God?

Psalm 112: We Become What We Worship

Today’s reading is Psalm 112.

The Blessings for those Who Worship

Those who fear the Lord are blessed. That is, those who stand in awe, proclaim the majesties, bow in reverence, bask in the glory of God are blessed. Those who worship are blessed. The favored, abundant, blessed life means experiencing the blessing from God. What does that look like?

Some of the blessings seem extrinsic. That is, they seem like external gifts added into the life of the worshiper. The psalmist talks about a blessed family and material blessing. As we read the psalm, we see evidence of stability, security, protection, and victory. These remind us of the favored blessings God promised Israel in Deuteronomy 28. Certainly they are great blessings.

However, the greatest blessing is not what God gives because we worship, but what kind of people we become because we worship God.

Like God, Like Worshiper

In Psalm 111, we read about the fearsome God. The only proper response is to fear. Of course, that leaves the option, doesn’t it? Not everyone responds appropriately. In Psalm 112, we read about the one who responds properly, that is, the one who fears. The most powerful point of this pair of psalms stands out by the parallels between them. In Psalm 111:5, the LORD is gracious and merciful. In Psalm 112:4, the one who fears the LORD is gracious and merciful. In 111:7, the works of God are just. In 112:5, the God-fearer conducts his affairs in justice. In 111:7-8, the precepts of the LORD are established. In 112:8, the heart of the worshiper is established (in the ESV, the word here is translated “steady”). In 111:5, the LORD provides food for those who fear Him. In 112:5, 9, the one in awe of God generously gives to the poor. Perhaps the most shocking, but most clear, comparison: in 111:3, the LORD’s righteousness endures forever. In case we miss it, Psalm 112 states it twice. The righteousness of the God-fearer endures forever (see 112:3, 9).

The greatest reward for fearing the Lord is not an extrinsic gift. The greatest reward is not in houses, crops, clothes, money, wealth, fame, children, or any other external favor. The greatest reward is those who worship God become like God.

Please, do not miss the profound nature of this promise. The great blessing of worship is not earning some bartered gift. God is not saying to us, “Worship me the right way and, completely separate from and having nothing to with the worship itself, I’ll give you some reward.” What more does the person truly in awe of God want than to be with God and to be like God? God explains the road to being like God and being with Him is quite plainly to dwell in awe. Worship transforms us. We, who by sinning have become twisted, distorted, wrecks, may grow to become shining, eternal, heavenly beauties. But the path of growth is quite simply worship.

By keeping our eyes and minds on God, we become like Him. We become what we worship. When we worship the only one worthy of it, we become like Him.

Praise the Lord!

Tomorrow’s reading is Psalm 112.

PODCAST!!!

Click here to take about 15 minutes to listen to the Text Talk conversation between Andrew Roberts and Edwin Crozier.

PATHS:
Discuss Today’s Meditation with Your Family

How does Psalm 112 admonish you?