Today's Featured Psalm
Psalm 115

Read this Psalm

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!

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.

9 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!

Scripture taken from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Psalm Devotional
Trust in the Lord

The theme of public praise continues in Psalm 115 as part of the Hallel (“the praise;” Psalms 113–118). All these were very familiar psalms as they were used in the Passover as well as in the Feasts of Weeks, Booths, New Moon, and Dedication. (See articles on the previous psalms in this series for details.)

This theme is very prominent in the Scriptures (e.g., Deut. 6:4; 1 Thess. 1:9). The psalmist starts with a fundamental contrast of piety: “You are God; I am not,” with glory due accordingly (v. ). The great motive of this praise from God’s people is His covenant commitment and His faithfulness to it (v. 1; Ps. 117:2). The next contrast is between the idolatrous nations who think we don’t have a god because they can’t see Him, and the church that confesses that our covenant God is above all created definitions and limitations (vv. 2-3). Our God is in the heavens; their gods are from the earth (vv. 3-4; Eph. 1:18-23). Our God makes promises and keeps them (vv. 1, 3). Their gods make promises but cannot keep them (vv. 5-7; Ps. 135:15-18). They have mouths, but can’t speak (v. 5) or even make a sound (v. 7).

Listen to this Psalm

Hallel album art Not Unto Us, Lord (Psalm 115A)
The Book of Psalms for Worship | Hallel
Hallel album art O Israel, Trust in the Lord (Psalm 115B)
The Book of Psalms for Worship | Hallel