Joel M Bradshaw

31For who is God, but the LORD?
And who is a rock, except our God?–Psalm 18

Recent drama notwithstanding, there are people who enjoy the Oscars. And the most important moments are the big awards at the end. Best Director, Actor, Actress, and Best Picture. These are the ones that watchers wait for. And they perfectly illustrate today’s verse.

We first get this idea back in Exodus 20. God said, “You shall have no other gods before me.” It’s number one of the Ten Commandments for a reason. God’s point then was David’s point here. None can stand in God’s category.

So if there was an Oscar given out for “The God Who Actually Exists” or “The God Who Actually Has Power” there would be only one name in that envelope. There are never three other nominees to rival God. He is alone in his category.

David reminds us of God’s name and title here. Who is God, except Yahweh? Who is a rock except Elohenu?

I think questions like these serve two purposes. The first purpose is rhetorical. There is no other God like Yahweh. There is no rock except our God.

The second purpose is both data-collecting and heart-revealing. Do you consider God to be alone in his category or are there other nominees in those envelopes? This reveals more about you than it does about God. Who do you worship? Who do you actually depend upon?

How you answer those questions reveals the object of your faith, the one you really trust. God demands exclusivity even though you might be surrounded by so called other nominees from the bland soup of religious pluralism. God’s point, David’s point is that the choice isn’t actually a hard one. Yahweh is alone in his category. It is necessary to treat him that way.–JMB