Psalm 115

In another hillel (praise the Lord!) Psalm we have been brought face-to-face with the root question of humanity: in Whom do you trust?  The answer is either God or god because, by definition, that is what we call that in which we put our trust.  The clarity of our choice in answering that question could not be easier to see than in this Psalm.

·         115:1-2: The writer of the Hymn is concerned that God be glorified before the Gentiles.  God is known to the Psalmists for the familiar twin perfections: mercy (chesed, lovingkindness) and truth (emeth, faithfulness).  The people of the nations need to glorify Him as well.

·         115:3-8:  In contrast to the God of Israel, the God who is in heaven and who does as He pleases, are the images that are made by and worshiped by the nations.  These gods (and therefore the object of the faith of the Gentiles) are designed by men to have mouths, eyes, ears, noses, hands, feet and throats; but none of them work.  They have no life in them; they are made of silver and gold.  Pay careful attention to 115:8: those who make the images and those who worship the images are alike; since they trust in something that is nothing they receive no help.  

·         115:9-11: How unlike the God of Israel.  Those who trust in Him find Him to be their help (a general, all-purpose term that simply says God does what is needed in each situation) and shield (He protects them).

·         115:12-15: Again, those who trust in the Lord, that is, who fear the Lord, will be blessed by Him.  Verses 14-15 call upon God to do just that: to cause His people to prosper.

·         115:16-18: The call to praise at the end is very basic.  God who made heaven and earth (the end of v15) has given the earth to mankind.  The Psalmist commits to bless God in response.

Paul said, To this end we both labor and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of those who believe (1 Tim. 4:10).  Think of this.  In contrast to the people of earth who trust in things they have made (fortunes, learnedness, status, a multitude of friends, etc.) and who cannot count on these to be merciful and true (remember 115:1), we trust in a God who is, 1) alive, eternal in the heavens, living and giving life to all; and 2) the Savior, the One who will deliver us, who will especially help those who believe in Him.

We have an opportunity to consider: truly, without hypocrisy, in Whom do I really trust?  Is my “god” the creation of my own hands, my own imagination?  Or is my trust in the God who created me?  This is not only a theological question; it is a practical question.  Who is my God according to my lifestyle?