Studies in the Psalms - Psalm 115

Psalm 115:1
Not to us, O LORD, not to us, but to your name give glory, for the sake of your steadfast love and your faithfulness!

Our God is an awesome God and He is worthy of all the glory for all things. Every single thing we have is a gift from God. Yet we live far too often as if we are the captains of our own lives.

Psalm 115:2-3
Why should the nations say, “Where is their God?”  Our God is in the heavens; he does all that he pleases.

The world is watching us. When we take the name of Christian, we are taking on the task of showing Christ to the world. We need to show them that no matter what they do to us, we know that it is God who is in control.

Psalm 115:4-8
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.

Israel’s problem was idolatry. So is ours. Silver and gold were their idols. What drives our people today? Money controls far too much of us. The psalmist explains why trusting in any god other than the God of the Universe is folly. Unlike our idols, God does hear our prayers, He not only sees us, He is aware of our every move. Our God actually walks with us. Our God not only walks with us, He leads us as our Great Shepherd. Rather than become like our idols, we must become like Jesus.

Psalm 115:9-11
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.

We need only fear the Lord and if we fear only Him, then we can trust only in Him. Our help and our protection come from Him and Him only.

Psalm 115:12-13  

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.

Want to be blessed? Fear the Lord.

Psalm 115:14-15
May the LORD give you increase, you and your children!  May you be blessed by the LORD, who made heaven and earth!

This should be our prayer for each other.

Psalm 115:16-18
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!

If you are reading this now, then God has given you another day of life. How will you spend it? He is worthy of our praise. Let this be our cry all the day long.

Not to us, O LORD, not to us, but to your name give glory, for the sake of your steadfast love and your faithfulness!

May God Richly Bless You.