Psalm Chapter 115

Psalm 115:1 Not unto us, O LORD, not unto us, but unto thy name give glory, for thy mercy, and for thy truth's sake.

This is the attitude that we must try to keep and not get away from. Never should we rob God of His glory. It is He that saves, shows mercy, heals, delivers and blesses. We are never to take credit for God's power. That may be one reason we don't see as many healing and miracles that we read about in days past.

We should give God glory for allowing us to have access to the truth. We should be thankful and glorify God for His mercy that He gave to us. He could have just given His salvation to Israel and shut out the rest of the world, but no, God gave His own Son to save the whole world. It is possible for all the world to be saved. The only reason that the whole world is not saved is because someone in their ancestry did not believe and rejected God's plan of salvation through Jesus God's son.

Psalm 115:2 Wherefore should the heathen say, Where is now their God?

When calamity happened to Israel, the heathen would sometimes mock and ask, "Where is thy God?" God is never pleased when we laugh at the calamity of others, especially those that believe on Him.

Psalm 115:3 But our God is in the heavens: he hath done whatsoever he hath pleased.
4 Their idols are silver and gold, the work of men's hands.

In this day and age there is still some idolatry but mostly we have the danger of false religion or religion that gives no hope and no freedom from sin. In the days of the Old and New Testament, idolatry was the false religion of that day. According to the book of Revelation, idolatry will be revived just before the coming Of Jesus Christ. Some religions do use idols in their worship even today but I find that there is an increase in idolatry. Some have set up idols to represent Satan.

Psalm 115:5 They have mouths, but they speak not: eyes have they, but they see not:

Idol worship is vain and there are demonic deceiving spirits present around those worshipping idols to make them think that the idols are gods.

Psalm 115:6 They have ears, but they hear not: noses have they, but they smell not:
7 They have hands, but they handle not: feet have they, but they walk not: neither speak they through their throat.
8 They that make them are like unto them; so is every one that trusteth in them.
9 O Israel, trust thou in the LORD: he is their help and their shield.

How it must grieve God to have seen His own people given over to idolatry. God knows that other religions, idols and humanism can only harm His creation. They are vain and bring no salvation, no hope and no eternal life. Faith in Jesus is more than a religion, it is the mercy of God reaching out to the world and offering them freedom from sin and eternal life.

Psalm 115:10 O house of Aaron, trust in the LORD: he is their help and their shield.

God is our only help, idols cannot save.

Psalm 115:11 Ye that fear the LORD, trust in the LORD: he is their help and their shield.
12 The LORD hath been mindful of us: he will bless us; he will bless the house of Israel; he will bless the house of Aaron.
13 He will bless them that fear the LORD, both small and great.

His blessings were sent first to Israel and then to all that fear Him, both small and great. There is no respect of persons. All are the same in the eyes of God.

Psalm 115:14 The LORD shall increase you more and more, you and your children.
15 Ye are blessed of the LORD which made heaven and earth.
16 The heaven, even the heavens, are the LORD'S: but the earth hath he given to the children of men.
17 The dead praise not the LORD, neither any that go down into silence.

Actually both the physical dead and the spiritually dead do not praise the Lord. The Spirit of God makes us alive and makes our spirits want to soar with praise to God.

Psalm 115:18 But we will bless the LORD from this time forth and for evermore. Praise the LORD.

The peace of God cannot be understood by those that do not know Him. A true believer in Jesus can have peace even if he or she is in the middle of trouble. This peace does not depend upon circumstances. In sickness, financial hardship, despair, in prison, and in heartache, those that trust in Christ can have peace and even joy. Our hope is in Him and we look for His coming. Even so come Lord Jesus. DC

Psalm 116

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