Psalm 115:1-18
Not to Us, LORD
1Not to us, O LORD, not to us, but to Your name be the glory, because of Your loving devotion, because of Your faithfulness.
2Why should the nations say, “Where is their God?”
3Our God is in heaven; He does as He pleases.
4Their idols are silver and gold, made by the hands of men.
5They have mouths, but cannot speak; they have eyes, but cannot see;
6they have ears, but cannot hear; they have noses, but cannot smell;
7they have hands, but cannot feel; they have feet, but cannot walk; they cannot even clear their throats.
8Those who make them become like them, as do all who trust in them.
9O Israel, trust in the LORD! He is their help and shield.
10O house of Aaron, trust in the LORD! He is their help and shield.
11You who fear the LORD, trust in the LORD! He is their help and shield.
12The LORD is mindful of us; He will bless us. He will bless the house of Israel; He will bless the house of Aaron;
13He will bless those who fear the LORD—small and great alike.
14May the LORD give you increase, both you and your children.
15May you be blessed by the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth.
16The highest heavens belong to the LORD, but the earth He has given to mankind.
17It is not the dead who praise the LORD, nor any who descend into silence.
18But it is we who will bless the LORD, both now and forevermore. Hallelujah!
Berean Standard Bible
Not to us, LORD, but to Your name be the glory because of Your loving devotion and faithfulness. The nations ask where Israel's God is, and the answer is that He is in heaven and does whatever pleases Him.
The idols of the nations are silver and gold, shaped by human hands. They have mouths but cannot speak, eyes but cannot see, ears but cannot hear, noses but cannot smell, hands but cannot feel, feet but cannot walk. Those who make them become like them—unable to respond.
Israel, the house of Aaron, and those who fear the LORD are told to trust Him. He is their help and shield. The dead do not praise the LORD, but the living will bless Him forever. Praise belongs to God, not to us.
Questions
1 Where should glory go?
AnswerGlory should go to God's name because of His loving devotion and faithfulness.
2 What are idols unable to do?
AnswerThey cannot speak, see, hear, smell, feel, walk, or make a sound.
3 Whom is told to trust the LORD?
AnswerIsrael, the house of Aaron, and everyone who fears the LORD is told to trust Him.
4 Who will bless the LORD?
AnswerThe living will bless the LORD forever.
What This Means for Us
Anything we treat as ultimate will shape us. A household that worships money may become unable to see need; one that worships approval may become unable to speak truth.
“Not to us” is a useful correction for successful moments. Give God glory without pretending our work, responsibility, or gratitude do not matter.
Prayer
LORD, keep us from worshiping what our hands have made. Receive the glory, make us responsive to truth and need, and teach us to trust You as help and shield. Amen.