August 21, 2023 — Psalm 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 whatever 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; they make no sound in their throats. Those who make them are like them; so are 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 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 those who fear the LORD,  both small and great. May the LORD give you increase,  both 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 human beings. The dead do not praise the LORD, nor do any that go down into silence. But we will bless the LORD  from this time on and forevermore. Praise the LORD!” 

“Our God is in the heavens; he does whatever 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” 

Psalm 115 is a hymn of praise to G-d who is above all things — who is the creator of all. While G-d is not seen in any anthropomorphic manner — yet we see G-d in the things G-d created — and the evidence of G-d’s power — and through the Son, Jesus, who brings salvation.  

The Psalmist attacks those who worship false gods and idols, promoting the first of the Ten Commandments: “You shall not have other gods beside me. You shall not make for yourself an idol or a likeness of anything in the heavens above or on the earth below or in the waters beneath the earth; you shall not bow down before them or serve them.” (Exodus 20:4-5) 

I am reminded of the battle between Elijah and the priests of Ba’al on Mount Carmel. Elijah challenged them to have their gods consume a sacrifice — and so they called on the name of Baal from morning until noon, crying, “O Baal, answer us!” But there was no voice, and no answer. They limped about the altar that they had made. At noon Elijah mocked them, saying, “Cry aloud! Surely he is a god; either he is meditating, or he has wandered away, or he is on a journey, or perhaps he is asleep and must be awakened.” (1 Kings 18:26-27) 

We worship one G-d — who was, is and is to come, the almighty. And we continue to read the Psalms in our worship, and use them in our prayer life — for they remind us of the greatness of our G-d. 

Let us pray: 

Lord God, creator and ruler of the universe, you have entrusted the care of the earth to its peoples. Grant that your children, surrounded by signs of your presence, may live continually in Christ, praising you through him and with him, now and forever. 

Amen. 

Pastor Dave