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“Our God is in heaven; he does whatever pleases him” (Psalm 115:3).

It sounds both astonishing and self-evident at the same time.

I mean, how brash for anyone to declare that he does whatever he pleases. But, of course, this is God we are talking about. If God isn’t sovereign in all things then He isn’t God.

Humans tend to THINK we can do whatever we please, but in the meantime, our great contribution to this idea of religion is to make idols: “But their idols are silver and gold, made by the hands of men” (verse 4).  And what happens?  “Those who make them will be like them, and so will all who trust in them” (verse 8).

God is the only sovereign one.  “The highest heavens belong to the LORD…” (verse 16).

What should be our response?

“Not to us, O LORD, not to us but to your name be the glory…” (verse 1).

“ O house of Israel, trust in the LORD…”(verse 9).

“You who fear him, trust in the LORD…” (verse 11).

“…it is we who extol the LORD, both now and forevermore.  Praise the LORD!” (verse 18).

Give glory to God.  Trust in Him.  Bless God’s name forever.

Not to us, O LORD, not to us but to your name be the glory, because of your love and faithfulness.  ² Why do the nations say, “Where is their God?”  ³ Our God is in heaven; he does whatever pleases him.  ⁴ But their idols are silver and gold, made by the hands of men.  ⁵ They have mouths, but cannot speak, eyes, but they cannot see;  ⁶ they have ears, but cannot hear, noses, but they cannot smell;  ⁷ they have hands, but cannot feel, feet, but they cannot walk; nor can they utter a sound with their throats.  ⁸ Those who make them will be like them, and so will all who trust in them.  ⁹ O house of Israel, trust in the LORD— he is their help and shield.  ¹⁰ O house of Aaron, trust in the LORD— he is their help and shield.  ¹¹ You who fear him, trust in the LORD— he is their help and shield.  ¹² The LORD remembers us and will bless us: He will bless the house of Israel, he will bless the house of Aaron,  ¹³ he will bless those who fear the LORD— small and great alike.  ¹⁴ May the LORD make you increase, both you and your children.  ¹⁵ May you be blessed by the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth.  ¹⁶ The highest heavens belong to the LORD, but the earth he has given to man.  ¹⁷ It is not the dead who praise the LORD, those who go down to silence;  ¹⁸ it is we who extol the LORD, both now and forevermore. Praise the LORD.
— Psalm 115

Howard Morrison is a partner in Gilbert, Arizona’s Morrison Ranch (where one of his nicknames is Bias for Action). In addition to being an active second-generation partner in the the family owned business, Howard identifies himself as a pastor (in a previous life), a husband, and the glad father of three.