Blessed to Be with God – Psalm 115

“Not unto us, O Lord, not unto us, but to Your Name give glory, because of Your mercy, because of Your truth.” Psalm 115:1

All glory belongs to the Lord’s Name because everlasting life is ours due to His mercy and truth. Our lives on earth in our current bodies are short compared to eternity. What statistics can we accumulate? What accolades can we display when it is God who will sustain us throughout eternity. Only He can do that!

Some praise human achievements, but none compare with God’s. He gives to us who believe in Him an all-expense paid trip to heaven. There, He takes care of us for the rest of our eternal lives. 

In Galatians 6:14, it is written, “God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ.” The one deed that made the difference for yours and my eternity was the death of Jesus Christ on the cross for our salvation. Thus, it is best to boast of Christ as Paul did in Galatians 2:20,and say, “The life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.”

God, in His mercy, reveals to us the truth about our origin, and about the spiritual world in which we live. “Thank You heavenly Father for revealing Yourself to us!”

The first request that we make to God in the Lord’s Prayer is, “Hallowed be Your Name.” Only after praying for His glory do we ask in this prayer for help with our daily needs. [1]

God takes note of the Christians who are defamed for His glory. In Hebrews 10:32-33, it is written, “Recall the former days in which, after you were illuminated, you endured a great struggle with sufferings: partly while you were made a spectacle both by reproaches and tribulations, and partly while you became companions of those who were so treated.” In Acts 5:41, the apostles rejoiced that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for the Lord’s Name. In John 3:30, John the Baptist said of Christ, “He must increase, but I must decrease.”

“Why should the Gentiles say, ‘So where is their God?’” Psalm 115:2

Those who did not know the Lord wanted to know where He was. Why did they ask this? Did they really want to know God? The Gentiles had visible “gods” which they created out of clay, wood and metal. They could see them. Israel’s God was invisible to the human eye. Perhaps, the Gentiles were mocking the Israelites because they had no physical images of their God.

“But our God is in heaven. He does whatever He pleases.” Psalm 115:3

God Almighty reigns from heaven above. He created people not vice versa. His universe is much greater than puny planet earth. Created things reflect His glory, but they are not Him.

His majesty surpasses the majesty of all earthly kings put together.

“Their idols are silver and gold, the work of men’s hands. They have mouths, but they do not speak. Eyes they have, but they do not see. They have ears, but they do not hear. Noses they have, but they do not smell. They have hands, but they do not handle. Feet they have, but they do not walk, nor do they mutter through their throat. Those who make them are like them. So is everyone who trusts in them.” Psalm 115:4-8

Instead of asking where Israel’s God is, the Gentiles should ask where is the life in their “gods.” They formed their “gods” with their hands from substances that they took from the earth. It is unreasonable to worship something that has no life in it. None of their features worked. [2]

Those who trust in idols become like them. They and their idols are spiritually dead to God. In Romans 1:23-31, God speaks of giving idolators over to a debased mind to do shameful deeds. The inability to control one’s moral behavior is a sign of not abiding in Christ.

Our new life in Christ cannot sin, but our sinful fleshly self can do nothing other than sin against God. Understood correctly, Paul’s words in Romans 7:20 and Romans 8:11 make perfect sense. He wrote, “It is no longer I myself who commits evil, but it is sin [the old sin nature] living in me.” “If the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of His Spirit who lives in you.”

To abide in Christ is to have the greatest king, Jesus Christ, reign on the throne of your heart. Jesus dethrones the lesser kings of sinful self, death and the devil. God replaces the hatred in us with His love. In Romans 5:5, it is written that God has poured His love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit whom He has given to us.

“O Israel, trust in the Lord. He is their help and their shield.” Psalm 115:9

Israel and every nation should confidently place themselves in God’s hands. He works all things for the good of those who trust Him to be their help and shield. [3]

“O house of Aaron, trust in the Lord. He is their help and their shield.” Psalm 115:10

Aaron represents the priests and ministers of God. Those who stand before God on behalf of others to lead them should demonstrate faith in God. Spiritual leaders are often the primary targets of God’s enemies. [4] Our faith in God during times of testing inspires our followers to trust in God as well. In Ephesians 6:16, Paul told Christians, “Take up the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one.”

“You who fear the Lord, trust in the Lord. He is their help and their shield.” Psalm 115:11

God extends His mighty help and gracious protection to all who fear, love and trust Him. Those who read and believe God’s Word will see that God is faithful to keep His promises. [5]

“The Lord has been mindful of us. He will bless us. He will bless the house of Israel. He will bless the house of Aaron.” Psalm 115:12

Jesus told us that our heavenly Father knows our needs. He answers our prayers. Every blessing that we enjoy springs forth from His love for us. Even when we forget Him, He never forgets us. His past faithfulness gives us confidence to trust Him today. [6]

“He will bless those who fear the Lord, both small and great.” Psalm 115:13

God’s blessings are more than kind words. He is actively at work doing good deeds for His people. His blessings are for young and old; rich and poor; and for mature believers and new believers alike. Everyone who fears Him is precious in His sight. [7]

“May the Lord give you increase more and more, you and your children.” Psalm 115:14

God’s blessing helps families to grow, wisdom to increase, knowledge to deepen, and joy to become fuller. Those whom God makes more like Christ are truly blessed. [8]

God’s blessings continue throughout our lives. He increases us until we reach spiritual maturity. As it is written in Proverbs 4:18, “The path of the just is like the shining sun that shines ever brighter unto the perfect day.” [9]

In Psalm 115:14, the Lord speaks of increasing us and our children. In Deuteronomy 7:9, we are exhorted to, “Know that the Lord your God, He is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and mercy for a thousand generations with those who love Him and keep His commandments.” [10]

“Thank You heavenly Father for keeping covenant with us and our children. Thank You for showing mercy to us and to our children for a thousand generations.”

“May you be blessed by the Lord, who made heaven and earth.” Psalm 115:15

God made the heaven and earth. He keeps the sun, moon, stars and planets in their places. He tends mountain peaks and ocean depths. His resources are unlimited. Nothing is beyond His power. He who made heaven and earth blesses us in many ways. [11]

“The heaven, even the heavens, are the Lord’s, but the earth He has given to the children of men.” Psalm 115:16

God has given the earth to us to cultivate and enjoy. One day, He will require an account of how we used His gifts. [12] He promises the “joy of the Lord” to us if we serve Him well here on earth.

“The dead do not praise the Lord, nor any who go down into silence.” Psalm 115:17

God gives to us believers in Him new bodies after our earthly service ends. Praise God for that! But once we die, our opportunities to be witnesses for Christ on earth are over. Psalm 115:17 reminds us to make the most of every opportunity to serve the Lord. [13]

“But we will bless the Lord from this time forth and forevermore. Praise the Lord!” Psalm 115:18

Acknowledging our blessings from God and blessing Him in return is a great way to pass our time here on earth. As long as we are here, we should bless the Lord. God blesses us generously, so we should gladly bless Him in return generously. “Bless the Lord O my soul!”


[1-13] Material developed and edited from Matthew Henry’s Commentary