Not To Us

Psalm 115:1-8 
John 1:14-18 
1 John 1:1-4

Not to us, Lord, not to us,
But to your name give glory
because of your faithful love, because of your truth.
Psalm 115:1

Peter: As the new Hallel rang in my ears and the vibrations of my deep, baritone voice could be felt in my cheeks, I continued to ponder the beauty of Yahweh’s faithfulness to my ancestors.

“He led them out of Egypt, freeing them from slavery, parted the Red Seas, gave them manna and quail every day in the desert, He led them to the promised land, and He promised to send a Rescuer, a Messiah.”

My eyes glance across the table towards that promised Messiah sitting beside John, the remains of our meal still spread before us. The bitter herbs, the tears of Israel as we cried out for a Rescuer. And here He sat!

John: “His name will have all the glory! When our Messiah becomes our Rescuer, when His Kingdom is established in Jerusalem again and Rome is overthrown, all will be right. Our hero. Our Savior. All the glory to Him! All glory will be given to God!”

My thoughts pile on top of each other as if my feet were tripping over themselves. I imagine His glory and all the redemption I had pictured throughout my lifetime as we waited for the promised Messiah….but this time, the excitement isn’t quite there. It is replaced with an aching heaviness, a sorrow, a dread I couldn’t quite put my finger on.

Why am I feeling this way? Why was the air so heavy at supper? Why had Jesus spoken of His suffering before breaking bread and sharing wine with us?

Jesus: And even in this, Father, may You have all of the glory. Everything I do, everything I’ve done is to give glory to the One who loves me. You are faithful. You are truth. Be glorified in Me.

Why should the nations say,
“Where is their God?”
Our God is in heaven
And He does whatever He pleases.
Psalm 115:2-3

Jesus: Word became flesh. I became flesh. I, the Father’s Son, co-eternal, sharing all deity with God the Father chose flesh.  My Father is on His throne in heaven and will act as He pleases, He answers to none. He holds all power and all authority.

The Rock will be struck and Living Water will be poured out.
This is the Father’s will for the salvation of Our people.

Peter: I watch Jesus as I sing and with power in my voice I sing that our God is in heaven and does whatever He pleases! “But our God is here now. Jesus, who I’ve sat with, eaten with, listened to, and who has listened to me. Jesus who has embraced me; Jesus who has prayed for me.”

Idols of old were made of wood and stone, silver and gold and our forefathers were mocked, “Where is your God?” The God they couldn’t hear, couldn’t see, couldn’t touch…
He can do as He pleases.

John: As I feel the sorrow looming above, behind, and beyond I wonder, where is our God? Can He not prevent Jesus from the suffering He foretells? Can He not deliver Jesus from the death He’s spoken of so frequently? Jesus prayed Peter would have faith (Luke 22:31-34), but am I lacking in faith, too?

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
Psalm 115:4-7

John: “The idols of old were nothing. Things that couldn’t hear, touch, see, or taste. They were objects created by God put together by humans also created by God. Idol worshipers used creation to create, then claimed their own creations were the creator. Senseless!

I have seen the Creator become creation by choosing flesh and becoming human. Jesus has dwelt among us and while we haven’t seen the Father, we’ve seen Jesus.

He and the Father are One.

We’ve heard Him speak, we know He has seen, He has listened and heard, smelled the sweetness after rain and aromas of delicious food, He has touched and healed.”

Peter: Judas is growing restless under these refrains and I catch his eye as I skim around the room. I breathe in deeply, confused, conflicted, but certain of the Lord and the assurance of His presence. As my eyes land on Jesus, His eyes are caught up in the beauty of the stars peeking through the small window of the Upper Room and I marvel at our Savior savoring His creation.

Jesus: The stars in all of their beauty, another symbol of a covenant entered into with Abraham. Even the stars declare my Father’s glory. All of creation points to Him, all of creation bows to Him, and His will has been that We would dwell with Our creation.

We spoke and the world came to be. (Psalm 33:6)
We saw the broken world and the flood came. (Genesis 6:5)
We heard the cries of Our people held in captivity in Egypt and we rescued them. (Exodus 3:9)
We smelled and breathed in the aromas of sacrifices being offered to us. (Genesis 8:21)
We molded and shaped each piece of creation into existence. (Psalm 139:13-16)
We walked with man in the Garden and I walk as a man into the Garden. (Genesis 3:8)

Father, You’ve spoken.
Let Your will be done.
We’ve seen the hurting world.
Let Us bring restoration upon it.
We’ve heard the cries of our beloved.
And You hear my own cries tonight from within.
We’ve smelled sacrifices for a long time.
Let this final sacrifice bring you all glory.

They cannot make a sound with their throats.
Those who make them are just like them, as are all who trust in them. 
Psalm 115:8

Open their eyes to see Me, and trust You, Father!

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