The earth is the Lord’s

God, through Asaph, says in Psalm 50:

“For every beast of the forest is Mine, The cattle on a thousand hills.
“I know every bird of the mountains, And everything that moves in the field is Mine.
“If I were hungry I would not tell you, For the world is Mine, and all it contains.” (Ps. 50:10–12; NASB)

Everything belongs to the Lord.  He is sovereign over all of it and dependent on none of it.  He controls all things and nothing operates or moves outside the bounds of that control.  He owns everything, and everything He owns He uses for His divinely good purposes.

Abraham Kuyper has famously said, “…there is not a square inch in the whole domain of our human existence over which Christ, who is Sovereign over all, does not cry: ‘Mine!’”

And because all is His, God says there are two implications for those who follow Him:

“Offer to God a sacrifice of thanksgiving And pay your vows to the Most High;
“Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I shall rescue you, and you will honor Me.” (Ps. 50:14–15; NASB)

Because God is the Lord, His followers owe Him worship and thanksgiving — it is even an obligation of their vows of obedience to Him (v. 14).  And because God is the Lord and the earth is the Lord’s, we are to trust Him and seek His help (v. 15).  He is not a God who withholds good from His people, but because He is the Lord and all things belong to Him, He delights to use those things to care for His people and rescue them out of their trouble.

The earth is the Lord’s.  Worship Him because of His sovereignty over all things.

The earth is the Lord’s.  Trust Him and seek His help because of His sovereignty over all things.  And in so doing you will honor Him.