Psalms 115:1-18 NIV
Not to us, Lord, not to us but to your name be the glory, because of your love and faithfulness.
Why do the nations say, “Where is their God?” Our God is in heaven; he does whatever pleases him.
But their idols are silver and gold, made by human hands.
They have mouths, but cannot speak, eyes, but cannot see.
They have ears, but cannot hear, noses, but cannot smell.
They have hands, but cannot feel, feet, but cannot walk,
nor can they utter a sound with their throats.
Those who make them will be like them, and so will all who trust in them.
All you Israelites, 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.
— 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.
The Lord remembers us and will bless us:
He will bless his people Israel,
he will bless the house of Aaron,
he will bless those who fear the Lord — small and great alike.
May the Lord cause you to flourish, both you and your children.
May you be blessed by the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.
The highest heavens belong to the Lord, but the earth he has given to mankind.
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.
Psalm 115 challenges the idolatry of the nations that surround Israel. The opening liturgy begins with a humble call to God from the gathered worshipers. The glory goes to God, not to His servants. That phrase inspired Chris Tomlin to write Not To Us. Follow the link to hear a live version.
The psalm continues by criticizing the idol worshipers and their false gods. While the idol worshipers tease Israel for having no image of their God, it is the idolaters who are the fools. Their gods might be seen in their man made statues and mosaics, but these images can do nothing. They neither speak nor do they move to act upon their intercessions and requests. The warning is to know that you become what you worship.
What is your highest high? Above all things what would you give your life to keep? Most of us would answer with family as our choice. Mark Twain is quoted to have said something like, "If they don't allow cigars in heaven, I shall not go."
I'm currently geeking out over the coming star wars film. But would I give my life to see it? Would I surrender my family? No! Still if I spend so much heart time on this film, to the neglect of my daily worship of God, what am I really worshiping? Of late I have begin to ask myself if my work has become an object of worship. I spend so much heart time on work I am often not present to others, including family. Be careful what you give your heart to.
Psalm 115 continues with a threefold call to trust in the Lord for He is their help and shield. The call is to Israel, the priesthood, and any gentiles who choose to worship the God of Israel. There is blessing for great and small alike who call upon the Lord.
The psalm ends with a worldview and a vocation to worship. God, Maker of heaven and earth, gave the earth to mankind. It is the duty of earthlings who still breathe to worship the Maker. We were made for this, to give God the glory.
So let us choose the living God, and not our American idols in the sports arena, the fashion runways, the concert hall, the movie theater, or on the cover of Forbes. Don't even let your family become an idol to you. You become what you worship. Choose our eternal loving God and become love forever.
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