Psalms 115

Psalms 115THEME: Glory to God because He is the opposite of heathen idolsThis great psalm was sung in the Upper Room at the time our Lord commemorated the Passover with His disciples and instituted the Lord’s Supper. It is thrilling to realize that the Lord Jesus Himself sang this and the other Hallel psalms. We are not told who the writer is, but it is felt that it was written by someone who was celebrating the remnant’s return from the Babylonian captivity. It can be divided into three stanzas: (1) the congregation singing (vv. Psa_115:1-8), (2) the Levites (vv. Psa_115:9-11), and (3) the congregation (vv. Psa_115:12-18). You may disagree with me, but it seems to me that it was divided like this.

Psalms 115:1

The nation Israel is here taking a very humble place, and they are trusting God. They had not been trusting Him, but they are here in the Great Tribulation and are moving toward the Millennium. You can see that singing this during the three feasts was bound to make an impression upon them. The heathen round about them were ridiculing them, saying, “Where is your God?”

Psalms 115:2

In other words, “You say He is your God: Why doesn’t He deliver you?”

Psalms 115:3

God allowed them to suffer because of their sin. It was according to His will, His plan, and His purpose. Israel is beginning to accept their circumstances from God. Now listen to his apology against idolatry:

Psalms 115:4

Israel’s God is in heaven. He is the Creator. He is a spirit. Man did not make Him. The gods of the heathen, on the other hand, were made out of silver and gold; they were the work of men’s hands.

Psalms 115:5

The heathen made their gods with all of the sense organs, but the gods don’t use them; indeed, they cannot use them.

Psalms 115:7

In other words, the gods of the heathen cannot help them. Isaiah gave possibly the finest satire against idolatry that you will find in the Scriptures. He says, speaking of men who are idolators, “He heweth him down cedars, and taketh the cypress and the oak, which he strengtheneth for himself among the trees of the forest: he planteth an ash, and the rain doth nourish it. Then shall it be for a man to burn: for he will take thereof, and warm himself; yea, he kindleth it, and baketh bread; yea, he maketh a god, and worshippeth it; he maketh it a graven image, and falleth down thereto. He burneth part thereof in the fire; with part thereof he eateth flesh; he roasteth roast, and is satisfied: yea, he warmeth himself, and saith, Aha, I am warm, I have seen the fire: and the residue thereof he maketh a god, even his graven image: he falleth down unto it, and worshippeth it, and prayeth unto it, and saith, Deliver me; for thou art my god” (Isa_44:14-17). When the idol is made, the man has to carry it on his back into town.

Do you see the picture? A man is carrying his god. God says to man, “I am the Lord. I will carry you.” Does your God carry you, or do you carry your god? To many people their religion is a burden, something that they have to carry on their shoulders. Does God carry you, or do you carry Him?

If you carry Him, that is a modern form of idolatry. The enemy has ridiculed God’s people; now the Levites will answer those who ridicule:

Psalms 115:9

Some folks ask me, “What is the answer to atheism? What is the answer to materialism? What is the answer to all of the immorality around us?” Well, don’t bother visiting a psychiatrist and lying on his couch. He doesn’t have the solution. The answer is simple, so simple that many people have passed right by it: trust the Lord. That’s the solution. In the midst of all the atheism, the materialism, and the immorality, trust the Lord. Rest in Him. Draw near to Him. Cast yourself upon Him. Oh, this is a wonderful psalm! It will bring you very close to the Lord. Beginning with verse Psa_115:12 the congregation answers. This is, more or less, an antiphonal psalm.

Psalms 115:12

God will bless you, too. He will bless your friends, your house, your church, and your community, if only you will turn to Him. The thing that is so wonderful is that He is mindful of us. God has not forgotten me, and He has not forgotten you. I don’t know your name and address, but He knows it. When I am in an airplane and look down and see all the subdivisions of a city, I think of the thousands of people who live there, and who knows them? Society is very impersonal. You are a number where you work and live; you are a number where you attend school, and you are a number to your government. But God knows you. God not only knows your number, He knows your name, and He knows all about you. Trust in Him.

Psalms 115:13

This is a categorical, dogmatic statement. Either you believe what it says, or you don’t believe it. If you believe it, what a difference it will make in your life!

Psalms 115:14

He is the Creator.

Psalms 115:16

Apparently God did not intend for man to live on the moon. When man journeys to the moon, he is more or less using God’s property. He has given the earth to man.

Psalms 115:17

While we are here on earth we are to praise the Lordhere is where it counts.

Psalms 115:18

Those who know Him will bless Him from this time forth and for evermore. Praise the Lord. Hallelujah! You don’t mind saying that, do you? Even if you are a dignified Presbyterian or an Episcopalian, you should not mind praising the Lord. It won’t hurt any of us to do that. Many of us have tensions and hang-ups. One of the best remedies is to open your heart to the Lord and praise His name. Talk to Him. It will help a great deal.