Give Glory to the Lord Alone

115:1 Not to us, O Lord, not to us! But to your name bring honor, for the sake of your loyal love and faithfulness. 115:2 Why should the nations say, “Where is their God?” 115:3 Our God is in heaven! He does whatever he pleases! 115:4 Their idols are made of silver and gold – they are man-made. 115:5 They have mouths, but cannot speak, eyes, but cannot see, 115:6 ears, but cannot hear, noses, but cannot smell, 115:7 hands, but cannot touch, feet, but cannot walk. They cannot even clear their throats. 115:8 Those who make them will end up like them, as will everyone who trusts in them. 115:9 O Israel, trust in the Lord! He is their deliverer and protector. 115:10 O family of Aaron, trust in the Lord! He is their deliverer and protector. 115:11 You loyal followers of the Lord, trust in the Lord! He is their deliverer and protector. 115:12 The Lord takes notice of us, he will bless – he will bless the family of Israel, he will bless the family of Aaron. 115:13 He will bless his loyal followers, both young and old. 115:14 May he increase your numbers, yours and your children’s! 115:15 May you be blessed by the Lord, the creator of heaven and earth! 115:16 The heavens belong to the Lord, but the earth he has given to mankind. 115:17 The dead do not praise the Lord, nor do any of those who descend into the silence of death. 115:18 But we will praise the Lord now and forevermore. Praise the Lord! Psalm 116

Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NET) are from the NET Bible®, copyright ©1996, 2019 by Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. All rights reserved.

Psalm 115 says that God alone should receive honor. He is in heaven and does whatever he pleases. Idols are lifeless and useless. Therefore Israel and all who fear the Lord must trust him, because he is their deliverer and protector, and he will bless his people.

The psalm begins by refusing self-glory. God’s name must be honored because of his loyal love and faithfulness. When the nations ask, “Where is their God?” the answer is not fear, but truth: the Lord is in heaven and rules as he wills.

The psalm then mocks idols. They are made by human hands from silver and gold. They have mouths, eyes, ears, noses, hands, and feet, but they cannot do anything. They cannot speak, see, hear, smell, touch, or walk. Those who make them and trust in them are shown as becoming like them in a moral and spiritual sense.

After that, the psalm calls the covenant people to trust the Lord. Israel, the house of Aaron, and all who fear the Lord are told the same thing: trust in the Lord. He is their deliverer and protector. The Lord has not forgotten his people. He will bless them, including their children, and he is the Creator of heaven and earth.

The psalm ends by saying that the heavens belong to the Lord, while the earth has been given to mankind. The living should praise the Lord now and forever. The dead do not praise him in the silence of death, but we will praise him now and forever.

• God alone deserves glory, not his people.
• The Lord is in heaven and does whatever he pleases.
• Idols are made by human hands and have no life or power.
• People become like what they trust in.
• The Lord calls his covenant people to trust him.
• God is deliverer and protector to those who rely on him.
• The Lord remembers and blesses his people.
• The living should praise the Lord now and forever.

• Do not take glory for yourself; give honor to the Lord.
• Do not trust idols or any false god.
• Trust in the Lord; he is your deliverer and protector.
• The Lord will bless his people.
• Praise the Lord now and forever.

This psalm belongs to Israel’s worship life under the covenant. It shows the living God as the only true God and calls his people to trust him. In the wider Bible, it supports the ongoing witness against idols and for the Lord’s holy rule over all things.

Believers should refuse pride and self-exaltation. They should not trust money, power, images, or any created thing as if it could save them. When people mock faith, God’s people should answer with calm trust in the Lord’s sovereignty. Life should be used for worship, gratitude, and praise.

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