Thy work not mine, O Lord!

It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new like the dew. David was rejecting man worship, in a way that Herod, in the New Testament did not. When the people spoke to Herod and said this man speaks like a God, He did not give the glory to the Lord.
They sang of David, Saul has killed his thousands... and David his ten-thousands. This would have killed most men in their pride. David, though, was aware of the motive of idolatry that makes men go beyond the bounds to honor their leader. He, in response poured that kind glory to the Lord alone. He poured, as it were, a drink offering to the Lord. Sometimes our children may honor us more than is due. Sometimes students or those of lesser station may hear our hearts bearing witness of a need or want and they may go beyond the bounds of reason to grant that request. Mary did with Jesus. Only because He was the Lord of Glory could He have received such a pouring out of human emptying, in public. I really can't think of any other situation where that would be appropriate. Jesus is God and worthy of all of the glory. We can receive praise and respect to a point, but we must give all the glory to the Lord who made us and redeemed our souls.
The rich young ruler was deceived into believing that he could be good enough for God. People tell rich people this. We are guilty of coddling people or manipulating people in their sensitive consciences. Steven Curtis Chapman wrote, It is Your World Lord!
In a sense he was saying, what am I supposed to do about all of the mass of human need and my sense of ability in some sense and yet inability in another sense. There are billions of people who would or could use what I could give them. That song takes me to the people and reminds me that it is never wrong to pray about the mass of human need. Only God can meet all of the human needs. The greatest king and the best mother could never meet all of her children's or subjects needs.
Guilt is not what God wants for us. Making real attempts at usefulness and aid and having plans and planners for the needs that we can meet and prayer for the needs that are beyond us. I love the fact that in the Valley of Decision, it shows that the boss knew that he was being held responsible for his employee's infirmity and was being cursed daily by that man in his grief. His response was respect and care for the man as much as possible and doing what he could to promote moving ahead and forward with a good conscience. This is My Father's World, not mine.

Jesus, called the rich young ruler into fellowship with Himself by offering Him a relationship. Sell what you have and follow me. That was only due to Him because He was the Lord of Glory. The demoniac on the other hand begged to be with Jesus and Jesus denied him. God became sin for us, that we, whoever we are, rich or poor, Redeemed clean or redeemed demoniac, should have the peace of God and own the righteousness of God through Christ. No strings attached.
Dec. 6, 2009