The Man Who Fought Against Slavery

Psalm 115:1-8

1Not to us, O LORD, but to you goes all the glory

for your unfailing love and faithfulness.

2Why let the nations say,

“Where is their God?”

3For our God is in the heavens,

and he does as he wishes.

4Their idols are merely things of silver and gold,

shaped by human hands.

5They cannot talk, though they have mouths,

or see, though they have eyes!

6They cannot hear with their ears,

or smell with their noses,

7or feel with their hands,

or walk with their feet,

or utter sounds with their throats!

8And those who make them are just like them,

as are all who trust in them.

At the age of twenty-six, William Wilberforce became a Christian. It wasn’t an easy conversion because Wilberforce, despite his diminutive stature, tipped-up nose, and shortsightedness, was a playboy. For months he wrestled with the decision, realizing that if he decided for Christ, he might lose his popularity and have to abandon his political ambition.

Wilberforce decided to follow Christ, but instead of abandoning his political ambition, he used it for God’s purposes. In the British Parliament in the early nineteenth century, Wilberforce proposed a bill to abolish slavery, and he kept on proposing bills until eventually one was passed. After slavery was abolished in England, he fought to abolish it internationally. It was said of Wilberforce that he was willing to compromise on almost anything except the slavery issue and the fundamentals of Christianity.

Wilberforce loved the Psalms and enjoyed comparing different Bible versions of the Psalms. When he finally won passage of his antislavery bill after years of tireless work, he went home and meditated on Psalm 115:1: “Not to us, O Lord, but to you goes all the glory.” For the ex-playboy, personal glory was no longer important.

It’s a great verse to tuck away for occasions like that. In heaven we will cast our crowns at Jesus’ feet, but it’s good practice for us to start giving him all the glory now.

Not I, but Christ be honored, loved, exalted;

Not I, but Christ be seen, be known, be heard;

Not I, but Christ, in every look and action;

Not I, but Christ, in every thought and word.

A. B. SIMPSON

Bible Networking

Compare verses 4-7 with Isaiah 44:9-20 and Isaiah 46:1-7.

Notable Quotable

“There are many precious texts of Scripture that we will carry to heaven with us and will form the theme of our song. But if there is one text that must break forth from every redeemed one as he enters heaven, it is the first verse of this psalm.”

BARTON BOUCHIER