Categories: Psalms

Psalm 115

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To Your Name Give Glory

115   Not to us, O LORD, not to us, but to your name give glory,
    for the sake of your steadfast love and your faithfulness!
  Why should the nations say,
    “Where is their God?”
  Our God is in the heavens;
    he does all that he pleases.
  Their idols are silver and gold,
    the work of human hands.
  They have mouths, but do not speak;
    eyes, but do not see.
  They have ears, but do not hear;
    noses, but do not smell.
  They have hands, but do not feel;
    feet, but do not walk;
    and they do not make a sound in their throat.
  Those who make them become like them;
    so do all who trust in them.
  O Israel, trust in the LORD!
    He is their help and their shield.
  O house of Aaron, trust in the LORD!
    He is their help and their shield.
  You who fear the LORD, trust in the LORD!
    He is their help and their shield.
  The LORD has remembered us; he will bless us;
    he will bless the house of Israel;
    he will bless the house of Aaron;
  he will bless those who fear the LORD,
    both the small and the great.
  May the LORD give you increase,
    you and your children!
  May you be blessed by the LORD,
    who made heaven and earth!
  The heavens are the LORD’s heavens,
    but the earth he has given to the children of man.
  The dead do not praise the LORD,
    nor do any who go down into silence.
  But we will bless the LORD
    from this time forth and forevermore.
  Praise the LORD!

(ESV)

Psalm 115 Commentary

by Brad Boyles

Israel, trust in the LORD! He is their help and shield. 10 House of Aaron, trust in the LORD! He is their help and shield. 11 You who fear the LORD, trust in the LORD! He is their help and shield.

Psalms 115:9-11 HCSB

Three times we read the call to trust. Three times we read about the truth of who God is for each of these types of people – He is their help and shield.

For the people of Israel – those under His covenant – He is their help and shield. For the house of Aaron – the Levitical priests who served the Lord – He is their help and shield. And yes, even for anyone who fears God and trusts in Him, He will also be their help and shield!

To fear the Lord is a requirement of all believers. It’s a truth made clear by both the Psalms and Proverbs (Psa 22:24, Psa 22:26; Psa 25:12, Psa 25:14; Psa 34:8, Psa 34:10; Psa 52:8; Psa 112:1; Psa 145:19; Pro 3:7; Pro 24:21).

What is the opposite of trusting the Lord and fearing His Name? Idol worship.

Their idols are silver and gold, made by human hands.

Psalms 115:4 HCSB

It’s revealing to consider the idols that humans worship were made by human hands from things that God Himself created. We know this, yet, often we ignore this concept in our own lives. The gifts of God are just that – gifts. They were graciously given for enjoyment and pleasure but not for worship. All worship belongs to God!

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