Psalm 115 is all about how silly we as humans can be, thinking we can actually do anything apart from God. It is also about who really gets the glory—God or us? By the way, many of the lines in this psalm are also found in Psalm 135.
1 – 3
If more of us would live by verse 1 of this psalm we would be so much better off. Life does not revolve around us but around God. It is God’s creation, and God’s universe.
This mistake of thinking we are the center of the universe comes to us, not from God, but from Lucifer in the Garden of Eden. Prior to that he rebelled against God with this statement:
Is. 14:14 “I will ascend above the highest clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.”
Why it is important for us to know the futility of this boast is found in the balance of the psalm.
First: God is the only One who is truly good, the only One who is loving and faithful. Jesus said in Matthew 19:17 “There is only One who is good.” He meant God alone is good.
Second: Because of what people say about God. For some reason at the writing of this psalm God was absent or hadn’t shown Himself to Israel. Today we hear much the same thing. “God is just a myth” they say. The truth is that just because we don’t see Him is not an indication of His existence or non-existence. God lives in a different dimension (“heaven”) and He is not dependent at all on us!
But because God doesn’t dance to our tune, we turn to other places and things we can see and manipulate for answers. They are called idols.
4 – 8
Idols in those days were literally made of wood, silver, or gold. They were supposed to be physical representations of the gods behind them. And if you did certain things you could get that god to do something for you. It meant they didn’t have to depend on an invisible God who does what He pleases rather than what pleases us.
The problem is that they don’t really exist. Oh, there might be some power there—but it is from demons that don’t want what pleases us either. They only want to enslave us and keep us from depending on and serving Yahweh.
Are there idols today? Absolutely. An idol, in fact, is anything that stands between you and trusting God. It can be money, power, beauty, pleasure, intelligence, and even family.
We have certain needs but don’t depend on God to fulfill them in His way so we turn to idols to get what we think we want, not what God knows we need.
So the psalmist encourages his nation to turn back to trusting (seek refuge in, put confidence and hope in) Yahweh completely.
9 – 18
The obvious encouragement is not to trust dumb evil idols but to trust a good God who will provide what you need in terms of satisfaction and protection.
In response to that trust, God will bless.
He will bless us with fruitfulness (vs 14)
He is the source of everything we need (vs 15)
God is in control of everything (vs 16)
Idols and their masters are destined for eternal death. They will never praise God and their voices will be silenced.
But if we trust in God we will continue to praise Him forever and ever!
Psalm 116
This psalm could, in a way, be the response to someone who read Psalm 115 and decided that even though their situation was dire, they would dare to trust God anyway.
1 – 2
The Hebrew word “love” here in verse one is interesting. It is associated with a covenantal relationship of disciple to Lord (see 119:47-48, Dt 6:5). So as we commit ourselves to God we realize that He hears our cries for mercy. And because God hears us, we will continue to cry out to Him.
We cannot just cry out to God and think He hears us.
Is. 59:1 Indeed, the LORD’s hand is not too short to save,
and His ear is not too deaf to hear.
2 But your iniquities have built barriers
between you and your God,
and your sins have made Him hide His face from you
so that He does not listen.
It is only through God’s doing that He hears and helps. Later in Isaiah 59 it says:
The LORD saw that there was no justice,
and He was offended.
16 He saw that there was no man—
He was amazed that there was no one interceding;
so His own arm brought salvation,
and His own righteousness supported Him.
So the psalmist next describes his dire situation:
3 – 4
For whatever reason the psalmist felt his life was in danger. Sheol was the abode of the dead. Jonah, when he was thrown into the sea, also felt he was going to Sheol (Jonah 2:2 and following). But you know, when life is difficult, it can feel like we just can’t go on. That’s the time to call on God!
5 – 11
I love verse 5 – how God can be both gracious and righteous at the same time. This only happens through our Lord Jesus!
Then look at verse 6: “the Lord guards the inexperienced.” Isn’t that lovely? God really has a soft place in His heart for those that are weak, inexperienced, and helpless.
And so because of that, the psalmist can rest assured and be at peace that God has rescued him. The word “rest” in verse 7 means “a settled spot, home”.
Even when he was “severely afflicted” or thought everyone was out to deceive Him—God was still good.
Philippians 4:6-7: 6 “Don’t worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses every thought, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.”
So what is our response to this goodness?
12 – 14
In reality there is nothing we can do to “repay” the Lord for what He has done for us. But what the psalmist says is that He will take God up on His offer of salvation. In a way we have salvation outlined here.
We believe God when He said that salvation comes only through His Messiah Jesus and we appropriate that to our lives (take up the cup)
We call on the name of Jesus
We commit our lives to Him
15 – 16
God values those who belong to Him whose lives are in danger. Though we may not escape physical death, we will all experience eternal life.
2Tim. 4:18 “The Lord will rescue me from every evil work and will bring me safely into His heavenly kingdom. To Him be the glory forever and ever! Amen.”
17 – 19
Here the psalmist rejoices in the salvation of the Lord. He says he’ll be able to go back to the Temple and bring praise to Yahweh.
Psalm 117
Just two verses long, this is among the shortest of all the psalms. But it’s message still powerful.
The “Hallelujah” at the end of Psalm 116 might actually belong at the beginning of this psalm.
1 – 2
Yahweh is not just God of the Hebrews but God of all peoples. Paul used this verse in Romans 15:11 as part of his argument that salvation through Jesus is for Gentiles as well as Jews.
Why should all nations praise Him? Because of his faithful love which is “great.” That Hebrew word denotes something that prevails over another because of its vast, superior qualities.
God’s love is greater than our sin. His faithfulness is greater than our rebellion.
Hallelujah!
