Psalms 115:1-8 Not to us, O LORD, not to us, but to your name give glory, for the sake of your steadfast love and your faithfulness! (2) Why should the nations say, “Where is their God?” (3) Our God is in the heavens; he does all that he pleases. (4) Their idols are silver and gold, the work of human hands. (5) They have mouths, but do not speak; eyes, but do not see. (6) They have ears, but do not hear; noses, but do not smell. (7) They have hands, but do not feel; feet, but do not walk; and they do not make a sound in their throat. (8) Those who make them become like them; so do all who trust in them.

In Psalm 115, Israel was in effect saying that God needed to give his name glory for the sake of/because of his love… why?

God’s people viewed themselves and their dealings with the nations as being tied up with the glory of God. If the nations were oppressing Israel, it had an impact on God’s perceived glory.

Was this a false dilemma? No. Not perceptionally. If the other nations were “winning,” it meant that their gods, who did not have ears or eyes, or mouth (v 4-7) looked better than the God of Israel. It was a slap in the face of God’s glorious name.

The Psalmist though seems to know that he has no leg to stand on because he cannot appeal to Israel’s righteousness. He knows their sin. Instead he appeals to God’s steadfast love, because despite Israel’s sin, God can be counted on to vindicate his name on the basis of his love towards Israel. He does love Israel despite their sin. It is a marriage relationship where, despite Israel’s rebellion, God’s love towards her will cause him to vindicate his name and deliver her.

What does this mean for his people today?

For believers, God’s wrath in particular has been dealt with at the cross, but, as God’s people, we are still representatives of his glory here on earth. While we can do nothing to diminish his glory, we most certainly can hurt the reflection of that glory by our actions. We may not have the nations oppressing us, but when we turn away from God towards sin, we are most surely giving glory to the things and idols of this world over and above Jesus. What are we choosing to give glory to? Are we worshiping and s”What is the chief end of man? To glorify God and enjoy him forever.” We were created to glorify God and also for pleasure, and we have two possible paths to take to get there. We can choose to find pleasure in the things of this world, which will turn our hearts to other gods just as surely as it did Israel. Or, we can choose to glorify God, and in so doing, we will find pleasure in serving him. This will keep our hearts from idols, and allow us to reflect the glory of our creator.erving gods of our own making? Are we worshiping, Money, Sex, Power, and Things? Those are the gods we often see held up in our culture as the be-all end-all. People strive for these things. Or, are we serving the true and living God who sent his son to die for us?

Psalms 115:9-18 O Israel, trust in the LORD! He is their help and their shield. (10) O house of Aaron, trust in the LORD! He is their help and their shield. (11) You who fear the LORD, trust in the LORD! He is their help and their shield. (12) The LORD has remembered us; he will bless us; he will bless the house of Israel; he will bless the house of Aaron; (13) he will bless those who fear the LORD, both the small and the great. (14) May the LORD give you increase, you and your children! (15) May you be blessed by the LORD, who made heaven and earth! (16) The heavens are the LORD’s heavens, but the earth he has given to the children of man. (17) The dead do not praise the LORD, nor do any who go down into silence. (18) But we will bless the LORD from this time forth and forevermore. Praise the LORD!

The second half of the psalm is a call for Israel to put their trust in the Lord, as well as an expectant hope that he will surely help them. Indeed, the last part affirms that God has delivered his people and concludes with a blessing for God’s people and a reaffirmation to praise God while here on this earth.

“What is the chief end of man? To glorify God and enjoy him forever.” We were created to glorify God and also for pleasure, and we have two possible paths to take to get there. We can choose to find pleasure in the things of this world, which will turn our hearts to other gods just as surely as it did Israel. Or, we can choose to glorify God, and in so doing, we will find pleasure in serving him. This will keep our hearts from idols, and allow us to reflect the glory of our creator.

Why do we so easily turn to other things then? We are like Israel. Our hearts wander. We think the grass is greener. It might seem so, but it is also full of poisonous snakes. Sometimes we wander, and we see the diminished life we have, and then God, because of his steadfast love, forgives us and pulls us back to our purpose: To enjoy him, and bring him glory.

Let us then say when confronted with the desire to serve other gods “But we will bless the LORD from this time forth and forevermore. Praise the LORD!”

Coram Deo!

Pastor Aaron Knapp