In this Psalm God shows us who has been given the earth. Showing us who has stewardship over it. In vs.16 He says “The heaven, even the heavens, are the Lord’s: but the earth hath he given to the children of men.”
Why is this important? Because some men would deceive us saying that men have given the earth to Satan in “the fall”. But, the scripture is clear. Satan is the god of the cosmos. That’s the world’s system. Not the earth itself.
The system John spoke of calling it a beast. A beast with 7 heads and 10 horns. It is this system that is the cosmos. The “air” Paul speaks of in Eph.6 over which Satan is the prince and power.
But, he does not own us. Nor does he own the earth. For God has given it to men to be stewards over until the end. An end Peter describes saying, “But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.”
Adding this question for us to take to our hearts saying,
“11 Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness,
12 Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?
13 Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.”
And because God wants us to know for whom and why Jesus came Peter assures us saying it is not God’s will that any should perish. But that all men would come to know Him to have eternal life.
So for now we who have believed are in the world. But, we are not of the world. Because like Jesus our kingdom is also not of this world. Our kingdom is not of this cosmos. Because we have believed in Jesus unto eternal life.
Those whose kingdom is of this world are the heathens of whom the Psalmist says asks of us who are not of this world, “Where is now their God?” To which we who know our God answer, “our God is in the heavens: he hath done whatsoever he hath pleased.”
And to show the folly of the heathen he says their “idols are silver and gold, the work of men’s hands.
5 They have mouths, but they speak not: eyes have they, but they see not:
6 They have ears, but they hear not: noses have they, but they smell not:
7 They have hands, but they handle not: feet have they, but they walk not: neither speak they through their throat.
8 They that make them are like unto them; so is every one that trusteth in them.”
Being just like their idols means they have eyes that can not see the love and mercy and grace of God. A love that saves them to the uttermost who have believed in Him. And having feet they do not walk in His ways. And having ears they can not hear His voice. Neither do they utter words of praise and thanksgiving to the one who made them.
They can not because they do not know Him. And as Paul said have been sent strong delusion because they would not love the truth. A delusion that has come upon those who have believed the doctrine of antichrist that the flesh is evil. And therefore denying that Jesus came in the same flesh all men have.
This is the false original sin and sin nature doctrine that comes from the gnostic teachings John condemned in 1st and 2nd John. Saying in 2John1, “For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist.
8 Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward.
9 Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.
10 If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed:
11 For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.” It is in this way that they are like unto the idols they worship. Because they have even made for themselves a Jesus who can never “succor them that are tempted.” Because without being the same flesh all men are He could never experience the same temptations we do. But, the scriptures say He did.
So this doctrine and the god it has made must be rejected completely if we are to know the true and living God. Because having eyes it can not see. And having ears it can not hear. And those “that make them are like unto them; so is every one that trusteth in them.”
But, it is also in like manner that we who have believed in Jesus unto eternal life are like unto our God. Because we have feet that walk in His ways. And ears that hear His voice. And eyes that see Him.
Which is why the Psalmist says we proclaim “Not unto us, O Lord, not unto us, but unto thy name give glory, for thy mercy, and for thy truth’s sake.” Because as our Creator He alone is worthy of all praise, honor, and glory. And as our deliverer He alone has defeated death.
This is why “The dead praise not the Lord, neither any that go down into silence.” Because they have not known Him. The dead are those who Jesus said “bury their own dead”. They are those who worship idols of their own making. And they that worship them are like unto them.
In this way their feet miss the path of the Lord. And their eyes can not see this path. And their mouths can not confess His name for salvation. And their ears can not hear His call to be saved.
But, because we who have believed do know Him “we will bless the Lord from this time forth and for evermore.” And we will proclaim His goodness to a world that does not know Him.
To help them grow ears that hear and eyes that see the things that God has prepared for those that love Him. To turn from idols to serve the living and true God as Paul says in 1Thes.1:9. The idols that they now serve. But, also that they can turn from.
This is the repentance God is looking for. A turning from idols to know and trust in Him. So that the abundant life Jesus came to provide for all men can be yours.
And Paul says if you will confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus. And believe in your heart that He has raised from the dead. You shall be saved. Saved from being like the idols you fashioned before you knew Him.
If you will do this then you will have eternal life. By confessing and believing this God creates a spirit in you that makes you His child and heir to His kingdom. If you will do this then immortality will also be yours at the resurrection. If you will do this… then I will see you there or in the air!
