Psalm 115:9-11 O house of Israel, trust in the LORD–
he is their help and shield.
O house of Aaron, trust in the LORD–
he is their help and shield.
You who fear him, trust in the LORD–
he is their help and shield.

It is very interesting how the Bible slips in some very important concepts in places we don’t expect them, and are all too likely to overlook. On the surface, this passage seems like a very ordinary admonition to trust God. It is that, but what makes it special is those to whom it is addressed. First of all, there’s Israel, God’s chosen people. The whole OT keeps repeating the refrain of trying to get Israel to trust in Yahweh alone, and not in any of the idols the psalmist has just mentioned. Then there’s the House of Aaron, which is to say, the priests. On one level, we wouldn’t expect the priests to need this admonition, because after all, they’re priests of Yahweh. However, priests are just as human as anyone else. They are attacked by doubts of various sorts, and need to be reminded that God is the answer to everything that confronts them. Then we have the God-fearers. Throughout the Bible this term is used to refer to Gentiles who realize that Yahweh is the one true God, and choose to worship Him. What is so significant here is that exactly the same thing is said about them as about Israel and the House of Aaron. This is what Paul picked up on in Romans 2:11 and elsewhere, when he says that God does not show favoritism. Even Christian Jews in the 1st Century had trouble grasping that, and the Lord had to give Peter a very dramatic vision to get the point across. (Acts 10 and 11) The Gospel is for every human being who will accept it!

As a Gentile myself, this is of course vital to me, and doubly so when I am a missionary pastor. The human tendency is very much to build walls, and I must stand firm against that. After all, “There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” (Galatians 3:28) It is not that those categories disappear, it is that they make no difference. We love to put people into boxes. An extreme example of that is the Indian caste system. It is extremely upsetting to some upper caste Indians that many lower caste Indians are rising to the top of society simply on the basis of ability. And naturally it is the lowest caste Indians who are most open to the Gospel, because it proclaims God’s equal love to them. Japanese society doesn’t have castes like that, but it is extremely vertical, with different ways of speaking to those who are above, equal, or below you. The Gospel wipes that out too, and many Japanese are uncomfortable with that, even in the Church. I’ve got to proclaim God’s equal love for all, and stand firm at the foot of the cross when people try to put me on a pedestal. I also have to assure those who have low images of themselves that they are as valuable in God’s eyes as anyone else, and that He wants to bless them and use them, if they will trust Him.

Father, You blessed me from childhood with parents who walked in this truth. Thank You. Some have seen me as disrespectful and/or conceited at times because of it. Help me not offend unnecessarily, but keep me from backing down from Your truth. May I be bold and loving in declaring Your Gospel to all who will receive it, so that many indeed may be saved, for Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!