TO GOD BE THE GLORY
Opening Prayer
Thank you, Lord God, for the gift of this day and the freedom that is mine to come and study your Word, to worship you, and to serve you in it.
Read PSALM 115
For additional translations of the passage, use this link to Bible Gateway.
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
- Psalm 115:18 Hebrew Hallelu Yah
New International Version (NIV)Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Reflect
Read Psalm 115:1. How can you praise the Lord for his love and faithfulness?The idols of other nations are contrasted with the living God (vv. 2–8). Our own world has many idols too! Using these verses, consider how you might answer someone who asks why they should worship the Lord and not idols of status, wealth, or power. The words ‘he is their help and shield’ occur three times in verses 9 to 11: God provides help for his people and protects them. But idols cannot help because they have no power. These words challenge us today too with our tendency toward self-reliance. Only God can be our ‘help and shield.’
Look at verses 12 to 15. Notice how often the words ‘bless’ or ‘blessed’ occur. The psalmist’s words move from a sense of surviving (vv. 9–11) to one of thriving. God gives abundantly to all his people. Verse 15 provides the reason for the declaration of praise in verse 1.
Praising the Lord continues (vv. 16–18). Just as idols (see vv. 4–8) are unable to praise God, neither can the dead (v. 17). It is to the living that the Maker of heaven and earth gifts the earth; the living God gives help and provides protection and blessing to them. It is the living who praise the Lord now and always (v. 18).
Apply
What does the Lord’s blessing look like in your life? Give him thanks for that. Pray for those you know who need the Lord’s help today.
Closing prayer
Loving Father, thank you for the countless ways you bless me. I lift up to you those I know who are struggling today. Help them to know your presence and see your help and protection in their lives.
Book and Author Intros
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