THE LORD IS NOT LIKE IDOLS

Psalm 115:1-18 / Keywords 115:3

Our God is in heaven; he does whatever pleases him.

 

115:1 Not to us, Lord, not to us

    but to your name be the glory,

    because of your love and faithfulness.

2 Why do the nations say,

    “Where is their God?”

3 Our God is in heaven;

    he does whatever pleases him.

4 But their idols are silver and gold,

    made by human hands.

5 They have mouths, but cannot speak,

    eyes, but cannot see.

6 They have ears, but cannot hear,

    noses, but cannot smell.

7 They have hands, but cannot feel,

    feet, but cannot walk,

    nor can they utter a sound with their throats.

8 Those who make them will be like them,

    and so will all who trust in them.

9 All you Israelites, trust in the Lord—

    he is their help and shield.

10 House of Aaron, trust in the Lord—

    he is their help and shield.

11 You who fear him, trust in the Lord—

    he is their help and shield.

12 The Lord remembers us and will bless us:

    He will bless his people Israel,

    he will bless the house of Aaron,

13 he will bless those who fear the Lord—

    small and great alike.

14 May the Lord cause you to flourish,

    both you and your children.

15 May you be blessed by the Lord,

    the Maker of heaven and earth.

16 The highest heavens belong to the Lord,

    but the earth he has given to mankind.

17 It is not the dead who praise the Lord,

    those who go down to the place of silence;

18 it is we who extol the Lord,

    both now and forevermore.

Praise the Lord.[a]

Footnotes

a. Psalm 115:18 Hebrew Hallelu Yah

 

1. Unbelievers may mock us for worshiping an invisible God, saying “Where is he?” (2) But worshiping God, who is in heaven, raises our spirits above all earthly and corruptible things. We don’t worship God to get what we want from him but for his own sovereign goodness (3). The godless worship idols such as money, which are blind and mute and can never truly save (4-7). In fact, worshiping idols makes us lost and blind like the idols themselves (8).

2. Though God cannot be manipulated, he brings great benefits to those who trust in him. He is called a help and a shield because, in Jesus, he saves us from sin and protects us from evil in the world (9-11). God remembers everyone who fears him, whether they are famous or nobodies, and he blesses them even if the world forgets them. It is right for us to pronounce blessings on our brothers and sisters who fear the Lord, because it is God’s own will to bless them and their children (14-15).

Prayer Father, thank you for enabling us to worship you for who you are. Thank you for your sure blessings for everyone who trusts in you. Elevate my heart to heaven in worship of you today.

One Word Worship God who is in the highest heavens