Psalms 115: Giving Glory to God Alone
Not unto us, O Lord, not unto us, but unto thy name give glory, for thy mercy, and for thy truth’s sake.
Wherefore should the heathen say, Where is now their God?
But our God is in the heavens: he hath done whatsoever he hath pleased.
Their idols are silver and gold, the work of men’s hands.
They have mouths, but they speak not: eyes have they, but they see not:
They have ears, but they hear not: noses have they, but they smell not:
They have hands, but they handle not: feet have they, but they walk not: neither speak they through their throat.
They that make them are like unto them; so is every one that trusteth in them.
O Israel, trust thou 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.
Ye that fear the Lord, trust in the Lord: he is their help and their shield.
The Lord hath been mindful of us: he will bless us; he will bless the house of Israel; he will bless the house of Aaron.
He will bless them that fear the Lord, both small and great.
The Lord shall increase you more and more, you and your children.
Ye are blessed of the Lord which made heaven and earth.
The heaven, even the heavens, are the Lord’s: but the earth hath he given to the children of men.
The dead praise not the Lord, neither any that go down into silence.
But we will bless the Lord from this time forth and for evermore. Praise the Lord.
Psalms 115 is a powerful declaration of God's sovereignty and a stark contrast between the living God and lifeless idols. It's a call to faithfulness, urging God's people to place their trust in Him alone, recognizing that He is the source of all blessing and hope. This psalm is part of the "Egyptian Hallel" (Psalms 113-118), a collection of songs used during major celebrations in Israel, often marked by the repeated use of "Hallelujah," meaning "Praise the Lord!" These psalms were likely sung responsively (Mark 14:26), adding to their impact and communal significance. In a world filled with distractions and false gods, Psalm 115 remains relevant, reminding us where true glory and power reside.
God's Glory, Not Ours (Psalms 115:1)
The psalm begins with a humble acknowledgment: "Not to us, LORD, not to us, but to your name be the glory, because of your love and faithfulness" (Psalms 115:1). Believers with a right understanding of God and themselves recognize that God alone deserves the glory. It's not about our achievements or abilities, but about His "hesed" (faithful love, kindness) and truth (the absolute standard of reality). All praise and honor belong to Him, stemming from His inherent nature and unwavering commitment to His covenant people.
The Living God vs. Lifeless Idols (Psalms 115:2-8)
The psalmist addresses the taunts of the nations: "Why do the nations say, 'Where is their God?'" (Psalms 115:2). In the ancient world, nations had visual representations of their gods. Israel, forbidden from idolatry (Exodus 20:4-5), appeared to worship an invisible God. The psalmist boldly proclaims, "Our God is in heaven; he does whatever pleases him" (Psalms 115:3). He is not confined to earthly limitations or controlled by human desires. He is the limitless, transcendent God, sovereign in power and purpose.
The psalm then contrasts the living God with the futility of idols: "But their idols are silver and gold, made by human hands" (Psalms 115:4). Idols are nothing more than lifeless objects, crafted by human hands. They have mouths, but cannot speak; eyes, but cannot see; ears, but cannot hear; noses, but cannot smell; hands, but cannot feel; feet, but cannot walk; nor can they utter a sound with their throats (Psalms 115:5-7). No matter how much one pleads with them, they cannot deliver. The sobering truth is that "those who make them will be like them, and so will all who trust in them" (Psalms 115:8). We become like what we worship. If we place our trust in powerless idols, we become powerless ourselves.
Trusting in the Lord (Psalms 115:9-15)
The psalmist issues a clear call to God's people: "Israel, trust in the LORD! He is their help and shield. 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" (Psalms 115:9-11). All forms of idolatry are to be rejected, and trust in the Lord alone is the only way to access the blessings He provides. The psalmist emphasizes God's role as "help and shield," highlighting His protection and provision for those who trust in Him. He is the "Maker of heaven and earth" (Psalms 115:15), capable of providing blessings beyond our comprehension.
The psalm continues with a blessing: "May the LORD bless you; may the LORD bless you and your children. May you be blessed by the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth" (Psalms 115:14-15). This blessing is not just for individuals but for generations to come, emphasizing the enduring nature of God's faithfulness.
Praise the Lord Forever (Psalms 115:16-18)
"The highest heavens belong to the LORD, but the earth he has given to mankind" (Psalms 115:16). God has entrusted the earth to humanity, giving us a responsibility to care for it and to glorify Him in our stewardship. "It is not the dead who praise the LORD, those who go down to the place of silence; it is we who extol the LORD, both now and forevermore. Praise the LORD" (Psalms 115:17-18). The psalmist isn't denying life after death but emphasizing that submitting to God in praise, faith, and obedience is something we are called to do now. We cannot postpone this decision. After death, the opportunity to make this choice is gone. Only if we bless God now will we be able to bless Him forever. This psalm is a powerful reminder to continually choose the living God over lifeless idols, offering Him our praise and trust in every moment.
Not unto us, O Lord, not unto us, but unto thy name give glory, for thy mercy, and for thy truth’s sake.
Wherefore should the heathen say, Where is now their God?
But our God is in the heavens: he hath done whatsoever he hath pleased.
Their idols are silver and gold, the work of men’s hands.
They have mouths, but they speak not: eyes have they, but they see not:
They have ears, but they hear not: noses have they, but they smell not:
They have hands, but they handle not: feet have they, but they walk not: neither speak they through their throat.
They that make them are like unto them; so is every one that trusteth in them.
O Israel, trust thou 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.
Ye that fear the Lord, trust in the Lord: he is their help and their shield.
The Lord hath been mindful of us: he will bless us; he will bless the house of Israel; he will bless the house of Aaron.
He will bless them that fear the Lord, both small and great.
The Lord shall increase you more and more, you and your children.
Ye are blessed of the Lord which made heaven and earth.
The heaven, even the heavens, are the Lord’s: but the earth hath he given to the children of men.
The dead praise not the Lord, neither any that go down into silence.
But we will bless the Lord from this time forth and for evermore. Praise the Lord.
Psalms 115 is a powerful declaration of God's sovereignty and a stark contrast between the living God and lifeless idols. It's a call to faithfulness, urging God's people to place their trust in Him alone, recognizing that He is the source of all blessing and hope. This psalm is part of the "Egyptian Hallel" (Psalms 113-118), a collection of songs used during major celebrations in Israel, often marked by the repeated use of "Hallelujah," meaning "Praise the Lord!" These psalms were likely sung responsively (Mark 14:26), adding to their impact and communal significance. In a world filled with distractions and false gods, Psalm 115 remains relevant, reminding us where true glory and power reside.
God's Glory, Not Ours (Psalms 115:1)
The psalm begins with a humble acknowledgment: "Not to us, LORD, not to us, but to your name be the glory, because of your love and faithfulness" (Psalms 115:1). Believers with a right understanding of God and themselves recognize that God alone deserves the glory. It's not about our achievements or abilities, but about His "hesed" (faithful love, kindness) and truth (the absolute standard of reality). All praise and honor belong to Him, stemming from His inherent nature and unwavering commitment to His covenant people.
The Living God vs. Lifeless Idols (Psalms 115:2-8)
The psalmist addresses the taunts of the nations: "Why do the nations say, 'Where is their God?'" (Psalms 115:2). In the ancient world, nations had visual representations of their gods. Israel, forbidden from idolatry (Exodus 20:4-5), appeared to worship an invisible God. The psalmist boldly proclaims, "Our God is in heaven; he does whatever pleases him" (Psalms 115:3). He is not confined to earthly limitations or controlled by human desires. He is the limitless, transcendent God, sovereign in power and purpose.
The psalm then contrasts the living God with the futility of idols: "But their idols are silver and gold, made by human hands" (Psalms 115:4). Idols are nothing more than lifeless objects, crafted by human hands. They have mouths, but cannot speak; eyes, but cannot see; ears, but cannot hear; noses, but cannot smell; hands, but cannot feel; feet, but cannot walk; nor can they utter a sound with their throats (Psalms 115:5-7). No matter how much one pleads with them, they cannot deliver. The sobering truth is that "those who make them will be like them, and so will all who trust in them" (Psalms 115:8). We become like what we worship. If we place our trust in powerless idols, we become powerless ourselves.
Trusting in the Lord (Psalms 115:9-15)
The psalmist issues a clear call to God's people: "Israel, trust in the LORD! He is their help and shield. 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" (Psalms 115:9-11). All forms of idolatry are to be rejected, and trust in the Lord alone is the only way to access the blessings He provides. The psalmist emphasizes God's role as "help and shield," highlighting His protection and provision for those who trust in Him. He is the "Maker of heaven and earth" (Psalms 115:15), capable of providing blessings beyond our comprehension.
The psalm continues with a blessing: "May the LORD bless you; may the LORD bless you and your children. May you be blessed by the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth" (Psalms 115:14-15). This blessing is not just for individuals but for generations to come, emphasizing the enduring nature of God's faithfulness.
Praise the Lord Forever (Psalms 115:16-18)
"The highest heavens belong to the LORD, but the earth he has given to mankind" (Psalms 115:16). God has entrusted the earth to humanity, giving us a responsibility to care for it and to glorify Him in our stewardship. "It is not the dead who praise the LORD, those who go down to the place of silence; it is we who extol the LORD, both now and forevermore. Praise the LORD" (Psalms 115:17-18). The psalmist isn't denying life after death but emphasizing that submitting to God in praise, faith, and obedience is something we are called to do now. We cannot postpone this decision. After death, the opportunity to make this choice is gone. Only if we bless God now will we be able to bless Him forever. This psalm is a powerful reminder to continually choose the living God over lifeless idols, offering Him our praise and trust in every moment.