There is no question that God thinks about and cares for His people. In this psalm, Israel is taking a humble place and expressing their trust in the Lord. Their praise to God for His love and faithfulness silences the taunts and mockery of the nations around them. They were not in the tribulation, nor are they now, but finally, during that time and moving toward the millennium, they will turn to the Lord even when the ungodly men and nations mock them, saying, “Where is now their God?” The benefits of a covenant relationship with God will cause praise from their grateful hearts.
We know God knows everything and, as the sovereign, does what pleases Him to fulfill His divine purposes. Whether He chooses to give or take away is His right. To humble or revive His people is also His right. In this psalm, the nation, the priests, and all God-fearing people are called upon to trust in the Lord, who is their help and shield. God’s name is what we are to glorify, not the nation. Our reason for doing what is right to the best of our ability after we have prayed for divine help is that God will be glorified, not for our reputation to be enhanced or for applause from people.
God allows suffering according to His will, plans, and purpose. He is a living Spirit, not an image of man’s imagination and human hands. A sharp contrast is made between “our God” and “their idols” in the first half of this psalm. Idols have visible human-like parts – mouth, eyes, ears, nose, hands, and feet, but none have any life. They have no sense. They even have to be carried about by the people who made them. People give them the characteristics of people who want to worship themselves. Worthless, impotent, lifeless idols are made by people who want to become the objects of their worship of themselves. Pride and modern-day idolatry go together.
Atheism, materialism, immorality, and pleasure-seeking in all their forms are idolatry. Each is up with man and down with God. The lifelessness of idolatry is a significant point of this psalm. How great is the contrast between our Living God and lifeless idols! To trust an idol is to become like an idol – powerless and false. To spend our time getting tangible things is foolish and empty. It is unsatisfying and valueless in the long run. The Lord blesses those who trust in the Lord. This psalm states that he is Lord of the heavens and has made humans stewards of the earth.
Whether great or small, our Creator, Redeemer, Savior, and Lord wants to bless His people. Our faith and joy increase when we open our hearts and minds to praise Him. The nation, the religious leaders, and all God-fearing people are exhorted to join their voices in praise to our Living Lord. We praise Him for past blessings and are assured by faith of present and future blessings to those who love Him. Praise is our right to give Him now and forever.
When we feel abandoned and isolated, we must remember that God understands, sees, and thinks about us. When problems depress us, and we feel worthless, we can be encouraged by the thought that God knows. He will give the needed help when He knows the time is best. We need to commit ourselves from “this time forth and for evermore” to praise the Lord.