They that make them are like unto them

Trent Cornwell

Gregory Keelen

Book of Psalms • Sermon • Submitted 2 years ago

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Psalm 115 (KJV 1900)

Psalm 115 KJV 1900

1 Not unto us, O Lord, not unto us, But unto thy name give glory, For thy mercy, and for thy truth’s sake. 2 Wherefore should the heathen say, Where is now their God? 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. 5 They have mouths, but they speak not: Eyes have they, but they see not: 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. 10 O house of Aaron, trust in the Lord: He is their help and their shield. 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. 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. 18 But we will bless the Lord From this time forth and for evermore. Praise the Lord.

1 Not unto us, O Lord, not unto us, But unto thy name give glory, For thy mercy, and for thy truth’s sake.

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

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.

5 They have mouths, but they speak not: Eyes have they, but they see not:

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.

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

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.

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.

18 But we will bless the Lord From this time forth and for evermore. Praise the Lord.

Introduction

This Psalm has been cited throughout history as Psalm for those who have found themselves at victory against all odds. My favorite of these occasions involves the resilient William Wilberforce. This famous British statesman fought to abolish slavery for forty-six years. Wilberforce also loved the Psalms. He was known for reciting Psalm 119 by heart. He also loved Psalm 115. After Parliament finally passed a bill to abolish slave trade, this little 5’3 warrior went home to mediate on 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.

Psalm 119 KJV 1900

1 ALEPH. Blessed are the undefiled in the way, Who walk in the law of the Lord. 2 Blessed are they that keep his testimonies, And that seek him with the whole heart. 3 They also do no iniquity: They walk in his ways. 4 Thou hast commanded us To keep thy precepts diligently. 5 O that my ways were directed To keep thy statutes! 6 Then shall I not be ashamed, When I have respect unto all thy commandments. 7 I will praise thee with uprightness of heart, When I shall have learned thy righteous judgments. 8 I will keep thy statutes: O forsake me not utterly. 9 BETH. Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed thereto according to thy word. 10 With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments. 11 Thy word have I hid in mine heart, That I might not sin against thee. 12 Blessed art thou, O Lord: Teach me thy statutes. 13 With my lips have I declared All the judgments of thy mouth. 14 I have rejoiced in the way of thy testimonies, As much as in all riches. 15 I will meditate in thy precepts, And have respect unto thy ways. 16 I will delight myself in thy statutes: I will not forget thy word. 17 GIMEL. Deal bountifully with thy servant, that I may live, And keep thy word. 18 Open thou mine eyes, That I may behold wondrous things out of thy law. 19 I am a stranger in the earth: Hide not thy commandments from me. 20 My soul breaketh for the longing That it hath unto thy judgments at all times. 21 Thou hast rebuked the proud that are cursed, Which do err from thy commandments. 22 Remove from me reproach and contempt; For I have kept thy testimonies. 23 Princes also did sit and speak against me: But thy servant did meditate in thy statutes. 24 Thy testimonies also are my delight And my counsellers. 25 DALETH. My soul cleaveth unto the dust: Quicken thou me according to thy word. 26 I have declared my ways, and thou heardest me: Teach me thy statutes. 27 Make me to understand the way of thy precepts: So shall I talk of thy wondrous works. 28 My soul melteth for heaviness: Strengthen thou me according unto thy word. 29 Remove from me the way of lying: And grant me thy law graciously. 30 I have chosen the way of truth: Thy judgments have I laid before me. 31 I have stuck unto thy testimonies: O Lord, put me not to shame. 32 I will run the way of thy commandments, When thou shalt enlarge my heart. 33 HE. Teach me, O Lord, the way of thy statutes; And I shall keep it unto the end. 34 Give me understanding, and I shall keep thy law; Yea, I shall observe it with my whole heart. 35 Make me to go in the path of thy commandments; For therein do I delight. 36 Incline my heart unto thy testimonies, And not to covetousness. 37 Turn away mine eyes from beholding vanity; And quicken thou me in thy way. 38 Stablish thy word unto thy servant, Who is devoted to thy fear. 39 Turn away my reproach which I fear: For thy judgments are good. 40 Behold, I have longed after thy precepts: Quicken me in thy righteousness. 41 VAU. Let thy mercies come also unto me, O Lord, Even thy salvation, according to thy word. 42 So shall I have wherewith to answer him that reproacheth me: For I trust in thy word. 43 And take not the word of truth utterly out of my mouth; For I have hoped in thy judgments. 44 So shall I keep thy law continually For ever and ever. 45 And I will walk at liberty: For I seek thy precepts. 46 I will speak of thy testimonies also before kings, And will not be ashamed. 47 And I will delight myself in thy commandments, Which I have loved. 48 My hands also will I lift up unto thy commandments, which I have loved; And I will meditate in thy statutes. 49 ZAIN. Remember the word unto thy servant, Upon which thou hast caused me to hope. 50 This is my comfort in my affliction: For thy word hath quickened me. 51 The proud have had me greatly in derision: Yet have I not declined from thy law. 52 I remembered thy judgments of old, O Lord; And have comforted myself. 53 Horror hath taken hold upon me because of the wicked That forsake thy law. 54 Thy statutes have been my songs In the house of my pilgrimage. 55 I have remembered thy name, O Lord, in the night, And have kept thy law. 56 This I had, Because I kept thy precepts. 57 CHETH. Thou art my portion, O Lord: I have said that I would keep thy words. 58 I intreated thy favour with my whole heart: Be merciful unto me according to thy word. 59 I thought on my ways, And turned my feet unto thy testimonies. 60 I made haste, and delayed not To keep thy commandments. 61 The bands of the wicked have robbed me: But I have not forgotten thy law. 62 At midnight I will rise to give thanks unto thee Because of thy righteous judgments. 63 I am a companion of all them that fear thee, And of them that keep thy precepts. 64 The earth, O Lord, is full of thy mercy: Teach me thy statutes. 65 TETH. Thou hast dealt well with thy servant, O Lord, according unto thy word. 66 Teach me good judgment and knowledge: For I have believed thy commandments. 67 Before I was afflicted I went astray: But now have I kept thy word. 68 Thou art good, and doest good; teach me thy statutes. 69 The proud have forged a lie against me: But I will keep thy precepts with my whole heart. 70 Their heart is as fat as grease; But I delight in thy law. 71 It is good for me that I have been afflicted; That I might learn thy statutes. 72 The law of thy mouth is better unto me Than thousands of gold and silver. 73 JOD. Thy hands have made me and fashioned me: Give me understanding, that I may learn thy commandments. 74 They that fear thee will be glad when they see me; Because I have hoped in thy word. 75 I know, O Lord, that thy judgments are right, And that thou in faithfulness hast afflicted me. 76 Let, I pray thee, thy merciful kindness be for my comfort, According to thy word unto thy servant. 77 Let thy tender mercies come unto me, that I may live: For thy law is my delight. 78 Let the proud be ashamed; for they dealt perversely with me without a cause: But I will meditate in thy precepts. 79 Let those that fear thee turn unto me, And those that have known thy testimonies. 80 Let my heart be sound in thy statutes; That I be not ashamed. 81 CAPH. My soul fainteth for thy salvation: But I hope in thy word. 82 Mine eyes fail for thy word, Saying, When wilt thou comfort me? 83 For I am become like a bottle in the smoke; Yet do I not forget thy statutes. 84 How many are the days of thy servant? When wilt thou execute judgment on them that persecute me? 85 The proud have digged pits for me, Which are not after thy law. 86 All thy commandments are faithful: They persecute me wrongfully; help thou me. 87 They had almost consumed me upon earth; But I forsook not thy precepts. 88 Quicken me after thy lovingkindness; So shall I keep the testimony of thy mouth. 89 LAMED. For ever, O Lord, Thy word is settled in heaven. 90 Thy faithfulness is unto all generations: Thou hast established the earth, and it abideth. 91 They continue this day according to thine ordinances: For all are thy servants. 92 Unless thy law had been my delights, I should then have perished in mine affliction. 93 I will never forget thy precepts: For with them thou hast quickened me. 94 I am thine, save me; For I have sought thy precepts. 95 The wicked have waited for me to destroy me: But I will consider thy testimonies. 96 I have seen an end of all perfection: But thy commandment is exceeding broad. 97 MEM. O how love I thy law! It is my meditation all the day. 98 Thou through thy commandments hast made me wiser than mine enemies: For they are ever with me. 99 I have more understanding than all my teachers: For thy testimonies are my meditation. 100 I understand more than the ancients, Because I keep thy precepts. 101 I have refrained my feet from every evil way, That I might keep thy word. 102 I have not departed from thy judgments: For thou hast taught me. 103 How sweet are thy words unto my taste! Yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth! 104 Through thy precepts I get understanding: Therefore I hate every false way. 105 NUN. Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, And a light unto my path. 106 I have sworn, and I will perform it, That I will keep thy righteous judgments. 107 I am afflicted very much: Quicken me, O Lord, according unto thy word. 108 Accept, I beseech thee, the freewill offerings of my mouth, O Lord, And teach me thy judgments. 109 My soul is continually in my hand: Yet do I not forget thy law. 110 The wicked have laid a snare for me: Yet I erred not from thy precepts. 111 Thy testimonies have I taken as an heritage for ever: For they are the rejoicing of my heart. 112 I have inclined mine heart to perform thy statutes Alway, even unto the end. 113 SAMECH. I hate vain thoughts: But thy law do I love. 114 Thou art my hiding place and my shield: I hope in thy word. 115 Depart from me, ye evildoers: For I will keep the commandments of my God. 116 Uphold me according unto thy word, that I may live: And let me not be ashamed of my hope. 117 Hold thou me up, and I shall be safe: And I will have respect unto thy statutes continually. 118 Thou hast trodden down all them that err from thy statutes: For their deceit is falsehood. 119 Thou puttest away all the wicked of the earth like dross: Therefore I love thy testimonies. 120 My flesh trembleth for fear of thee; And I am afraid of thy judgments. 121 AIN. I have done judgment and justice: Leave me not to mine oppressors. 122 Be surety for thy servant for good: Let not the proud oppress me. 123 Mine eyes fail for thy salvation, And for the word of thy righteousness. 124 Deal with thy servant according unto thy mercy, And teach me thy statutes. 125 I am thy servant; give me understanding, That I may know thy testimonies. 126 It is time for thee, Lord, to work: For they have made void thy law. 127 Therefore I love thy commandments Above gold; yea, above fine gold. 128 Therefore I esteem all thy precepts concerning all things to be right; And I hate every false way. 129 PE. Thy testimonies are wonderful: Therefore doth my soul keep them. 130 The entrance of thy words giveth light; It giveth understanding unto the simple. 131 I opened my mouth, and panted: For I longed for thy commandments. 132 Look thou upon me, and be merciful unto me, As thou usest to do unto those that love thy name. 133 Order my steps in thy word: And let not any iniquity have dominion over me. 134 Deliver me from the oppression of man: So will I keep thy precepts. 135 Make thy face to shine upon thy servant; And teach me thy statutes. 136 Rivers of waters run down mine eyes, Because they keep not thy law. 137 TZADDI. Righteous art thou, O Lord, and upright are thy judgments. 138 Thy testimonies that thou hast commanded are righteous And very faithful. 139 My zeal hath consumed me, Because mine enemies have forgotten thy words. 140 Thy word is very pure: Therefore thy servant loveth it. 141 I am small and despised: Yet do not I forget thy precepts. 142 Thy righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, And thy law is the truth. 143 Trouble and anguish have taken hold on me: Yet thy commandments are my delights. 144 The righteousness of thy testimonies is everlasting: Give me understanding, and I shall live. 145 KOPH. I cried with my whole heart; Hear me, O Lord: I will keep thy statutes. 146 I cried unto thee; save me, And I shall keep thy testimonies. 147 I prevented the dawning of the morning, and cried: I hoped in thy word. 148 Mine eyes prevent the night watches, That I might meditate in thy word. 149 Hear my voice according unto thy lovingkindness: O Lord, quicken me according to thy judgment. 150 They draw nigh that follow after mischief: They are far from thy law. 151 Thou art near, O Lord; And all thy commandments are truth. 152 Concerning thy testimonies, I have known of old That thou hast founded them for ever. 153 RESH. Consider mine affliction, and deliver me: For I do not forget thy law. 154 Plead my cause, and deliver me: Quicken me according to thy word. 155 Salvation is far from the wicked: For they seek not thy statutes. 156 Great are thy tender mercies, O Lord: Quicken me according to thy judgments. 157 Many are my persecutors and mine enemies; Yet do I not decline from thy testimonies. 158 I beheld the transgressors, and was grieved; Because they kept not thy word. 159 Consider how I love thy precepts: Quicken me, O Lord, according to thy lovingkindness. 160 Thy word is true from the beginning: And every one of thy righteous judgments endureth for ever. 161 SCHIN. Princes have persecuted me without a cause: But my heart standeth in awe of thy word. 162 I rejoice at thy word, As one that findeth great spoil. 163 I hate and abhor lying: But thy law do I love. 164 Seven times a day do I praise thee Because of thy righteous judgments. 165 Great peace have they which love thy law: And nothing shall offend them. 166 Lord, I have hoped for thy salvation, And done thy commandments. 167 My soul hath kept thy testimonies; And I love them exceedingly. 168 I have kept thy precepts and thy testimonies: For all my ways are before thee. 169 TAU. Let my cry come near before thee, O Lord: Give me understanding according to thy word. 170 Let my supplication come before thee: Deliver me according to thy word. 171 My lips shall utter praise, When thou hast taught me thy statutes. 172 My tongue shall speak of thy word: For all thy commandments are righteousness. 173 Let thine hand help me; For I have chosen thy precepts. 174 I have longed for thy salvation, O Lord; And thy law is my delight. 175 Let my soul live, and it shall praise thee; And let thy judgments help me. 176 I have gone astray like a lost sheep; seek thy servant; For I do not forget thy commandments.

Psalm 115 KJV 1900

Psalm 115:1 KJV 1900

1 Not unto us, O Lord, not unto us, But unto thy name give glory, For thy mercy, and for thy truth’s sake.

What an appropriate response to a major victory!

Not to us, Not to Us

The Psalmist opens with the declaration that God, not men, should receive glory,

Illustration: Need a mirror. What do you see? Favorite

Dad Joke: Look they have a picture of me here.

Regeneration

The shattered glass is restored and pointed toward our God.

1 John 3:2 “2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.”

1 John 3:2 KJV 1900

2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.

What to be more like Jesus than look at Him.

Rejecting glroy is needed to relfect glory

Main Idea: The Psalmist exalts the superiority of God over man-made idols, exhorting God’s people to worship and trust in God alone.

Not to Us, But to His Name Be the Glory

Not to us, but to His name (1-3)

Psalm 115:1-3 “1 Not unto us, O Lord, not unto us, But unto thy name give glory, For thy mercy, and for thy truth’s sake. 2 Wherefore should the heathen say, Where is now their God? 3 But our God is in the heavens: He hath done whatsoever he hath pleased.”

Psalm 115:1–3 KJV 1900

The Psalmist opens with the declaration that God, not men, should receive glory,

This is the decisive decision we must make with our days.

Because of sin, we want to be our own king.

God will not share His glory. Isaiah 48:11 “11 For mine own sake, even for mine own sake, will I do it: For how should my name be polluted? And I will not give my glory unto another.”

Isaiah 48:11 KJV 1900

11 For mine own sake, even for mine own sake, will I do it: For how should my name be polluted? And I will not give my glory unto another.

Told the MNG the 3rd word of Acts 13:36 brought a real decisive hour in my life.

Acts 13:36 KJV 1900

36 For David, after he had served his own generation by the will of God, fell on sleep, and was laid unto his fathers, and saw corruption:

Idols were attractive to Israel because the surrounding nations worshiped them.

They were attractive because idols didn’t speak, like God speaks.

Notice the emphasis on the idols lack of ability to speak (5, 7).

It was much easier to submit to a silent god, then a talking God, who calls you to holiness.

People today may not reject God in theory, but they don’t want a talking God, who makes demands on their lives. They want a silent God.

I estimate their are well over 100 wooden, metal, or concrete idols in our county. New ones have been added each year at a staggering rate. I do not expect to get a transfer letter from one of those places.

Different idols but the same motive; want what the neighbors have.

We want to love, trust, worship, and find satisfaction in things other than the God of the Bible.

There’s a “mental aspect” and a “heart aspect” to idolatry.

Mentally, we indulge in idolatry when we have thoughts about God that are unworthy of Him. 1 John 5:21 “21 Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen.”

1 John 5:21 KJV 1900

21 Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen.

Heart idolatry involves trusting in anything other than Christ to give us meaning, significance, joy, and salvation.

There can be no spiritual growth without the detection of idols, and the destruction of them.

We become what we behold/worship

Psalm 115:8 “8 They that make them are like unto them; So is every one that trusteth in them.”

Psalm 115:8 KJV 1900

8 They that make them are like unto them; So is every one that trusteth in them.

“There’s nothing that makes you more miserable, or less interesting, than self-absorption” Kings Cross

The cure for this is to become “God-absorbed.”

We need a dynamic encounter with God that makes us long for Him, and His glory, rather than our own glory and our selfish desires.

Why should he receive this glory?

Psalm 115:1 “1 Not unto us, O Lord, not unto us, But unto thy name give glory, For thy mercy, and for thy truth’s sake.”

Psalm 115:1 KJV 1900

1 Not unto us, O Lord, not unto us, But unto thy name give glory, For thy mercy, and for thy truth’s sake.

His loyal steadfast love.

For His truth’s sake.

Beholding is becoming

When one worships worthless idols, they will live a spiritually worthless life. In contrast, those who worship the living God, will grow into His image.

Psalm 135:18 “18 They that make them are like unto them: So is every one that trusteth in them.”

Psalm 135:18 KJV 1900

18 They that make them are like unto them: So is every one that trusteth in them.

By constantly beholding the glory of Christ, we become more like Him. 2 Cor 3:18 “18 But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.”

2 Corinthians 3:18 KJV 1900

18 But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.

Not the dead, but we the living (14-16)

Psalm 115:16-18 “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. 18 But we will bless the Lord From this time forth and for evermore. Praise the Lord.”

Psalm 115:16–18 KJV 1900

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. 18 But we will bless the Lord From this time forth and for evermore. Praise the Lord.

Praise God while you have breath and you will praise Him after your breath is gone! Don’t waste your life, living for substitute gods.

The key to understanding difficult passages is hidden in the 3rd stanza of Hymns. Where no one looks.

Then in a nobler, sweeter song, I’ll sing Thy power to save, When this poor lisping, stammering tongue lies silent in the grave. Lies silent in the grave, lies silent in the grave; When this poor lisping, stammering tongue lies silent in the grave.

Lord, I believe Thou hast prepared, unworthy though I be, For me a blood bought free reward, a golden harp for me! ’Tis strung and tuned for endless years, and formed by power divine, To sound in God the Father's ears no other name but Thine.”

What Idols Can’t Do; What God Does

Where is our God?

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

Psalm 115:2 KJV 1900

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

Answer: Psalm 115:3 “3 But our God is in the heavens: He hath done whatsoever he hath pleased.”

Psalm 115:3 KJV 1900

3 But our God is in the heavens: He hath done whatsoever he hath pleased.

He is in the Heavens

He does whatever He pleases

Idols are worthless

Psalm 115:4-8 “4 Their idols are silver and gold, The work of men’s hands. 5 They have mouths, but they speak not: Eyes have they, but they see not: 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.”

Psalm 115:4–8 KJV 1900

4 Their idols are silver and gold, The work of men’s hands. 5 They have mouths, but they speak not: Eyes have they, but they see not: 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.

Jeremiah said that idols were like scarecrows in a cucumber field (Jer 10:5)

Jeremiah 10:5 KJV 1900

5 They are upright as the palm tree, but speak not: They must needs be borne, because they cannot go. Be not afraid of them; for they cannot do evil, Neither also is it in them to do good.

Isaiah reminds people to take their idols as they leave because they can’t walk home or call an Uber on their own. Isaiah 46

Isaiah 46 KJV 1900

1 Bel boweth down, Nebo stoopeth, Their idols were upon the beasts, and upon the cattle: Your carriages were heavy loaden; They are a burden to the weary beast. 2 They stoop, they bow down together; They could not deliver the burden, But themselves are gone into captivity. 3 Hearken unto me, O house of Jacob, And all the remnant of the house of Israel, Which are borne by me from the belly, Which are carried from the womb: 4 And even to your old age I am he; And even to hoar hairs will I carry you: I have made, and I will bear; Even I will carry, and will deliver you. 5 To whom will ye liken me, and make me equal, And compare me, that we may be like? 6 They lavish gold out of the bag, And weigh silver in the balance, And hire a goldsmith; and he maketh it a god: They fall down, yea, they worship. 7 They bear him upon the shoulder, they carry him, And set him in his place, and he standeth; From his place shall he not remove: Yea, one shall cry unto him, yet can he not answer, Nor save him out of his trouble. 8 Remember this, and shew yourselves men: Bring it again to mind, O ye transgressors. 9 Remember the former things of old: For I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me, 10 Declaring the end from the beginning, And from ancient times the things that are not yet done, Saying, My counsel shall stand, And I will do all my pleasure: 11 Calling a ravenous bird from the east, The man that executeth my counsel from a far country: Yea, I have spoken it, I will also bring it to pass; I have purposed it, I will also do it. 12 Hearken unto me, ye stouthearted, That are far from righteousness: 13 I bring near my righteousness; it shall not be far off, And my salvation shall not tarry: And I will place salvation in Zion for Israel my glory.

This concern for the Lord’s reputation among the nations appears throughout the Old Testament Num 14:13-14 “13 And Moses said unto the Lord, Then the Egyptians shall hear it, (for thou broughtest up this people in thy might from among them;) 14 And they will tell it to the inhabitants of this land: for they have heard that thou Lord art among this people, that thou Lord art seen face to face, and that thy cloud standeth over them, and that thou goest before them, by day time in a pillar of a cloud, and in a pillar of fire by night.”

Numbers 14:13–14 KJV 1900

13 And Moses said unto the Lord, Then the Egyptians shall hear it, (for thou broughtest up this people in thy might from among them;) 14 And they will tell it to the inhabitants of this land: for they have heard that thou Lord art among this people, that thou Lord art seen face to face, and that thy cloud standeth over them, and that thou goest before them, by day time in a pillar of a cloud, and in a pillar of fire by night.

Israel was called not simply to defend their religion, but to make God’s fame know among the nations Joshua 4:24 “24 That all the people of the earth might know the hand of the Lord, that it is mighty: that ye might fear the Lord your God for ever.”

Joshua 4:24 KJV 1900

24 That all the people of the earth might know the hand of the Lord, that it is mighty: that ye might fear the Lord your God for ever.

Israel must give an answer to this taunt, not merely to look sensible in the eyes of culture, but to commend this God to unbelieving Gentiles.

The taunts continue.

Luke 23:39 “39 And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us.”

Luke 23:39 KJV 1900

39 And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us.

Trust in the Lord, He is Our Help and Shield

Psalm 115:9-11 “9 O Israel, trust thou in the Lord: He is their help and their shield. 10 O house of Aaron, trust in the Lord: He is their help and their shield. 11 Ye that fear the Lord, trust in the Lord: He is their help and their shield.”

Psalm 115:9–11 KJV 1900

God blesses His people

Psalm 115:12-15 “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. 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.”

Psalm 115:12–15 KJV 1900

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. 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.

Five times He mentions God’s blessing.

The three-fold call to trust the Lord in verses 9-11 is complimented by a three-fold assurance of God’s blessing on each group of people in verses 12-13

Kids are always waiting to know who get to go somewhere. Older kids or the younger kids.

Who get’s blessed? Small & Great!!

We have been abundantly blessed. Ephesians 1:3 “3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:”

Ephesians 1:3 KJV 1900

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:

What a contrast between the Living God and dead idols! The Living God blesses, fulfills promises, and dispenses grace on both the small and the great. His blessing, fulfilled promises, and abundant grace have been experienced by all who have trusted in the redeeming work of His Son, our Savior.

Dead idols, in contrast, never provide what they promise. They only leave you longing for more. They never bless, only deaden. They never grant grace, only condemnation.

The only logical response is to trust in the Lord, not in created things.

Trust in the Lord

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

Psalm 115:9 KJV 1900

9 O Israel, trust thou in the Lord: He is their help and their shield.

Let’s read this together. You respond with “he is their help and their shield.”

Psalm 115:9–11 KJV 1900

This is how we truly say “not unto us”

Proverbs 3:5-6 “5 Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; And lean not unto thine own understanding. 6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, And he shall direct thy paths.”

Proverbs 3:5–6 KJV 1900

5 Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; And lean not unto thine own understanding. 6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, And he shall direct thy paths.

Let us be glad today! Psalm 33:21 “21 For our heart shall rejoice in him, Because we have trusted in his holy name.”

Psalm 33:21 KJV 1900

21 For our heart shall rejoice in him, Because we have trusted in his holy name.

Conclusion

The Lord’s Prayer, and Psalm 115:1 sounds strange in a self-centered world, but it’s the foundation of the Christian life.

Psalm 115:1 KJV 1900

1 Not unto us, O Lord, not unto us, But unto thy name give glory, For thy mercy, and for thy truth’s sake.

Let’s pray through this passage.

Psalm 115:1 “1 Not unto us, O Lord, not unto us, But unto thy name give glory, For thy mercy, and for thy truth’s sake.”

Psalm 115:1 KJV 1900

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 central to the Christian life? We must live a“God-centered life” and a less “self-centered life?”

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

Psalm 115:2 KJV 1900

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

We still hear the taunts today. We must have a response and we should give it.

Psalm 115:3 “3 But our God is in the heavens: He hath done whatsoever he hath pleased.” What does verse 3 teach us about our response to the taunts of unbelievers, and what does it teach us about God’s faithfulness?

Psalm 115:3 KJV 1900

3 But our God is in the heavens: He hath done whatsoever he hath pleased.

Psalm 115:4-7 “4 Their idols are silver and gold, The work of men’s hands. 5 They have mouths, but they speak not: Eyes have they, but they see not: 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.” We still see these idols today and we want them destroyed.

Psalm 115:4–7 KJV 1900

Psalm 115:8 “8 They that make them are like unto them; So is every one that trusteth in them.”

Psalm 115:8 KJV 1900

8 They that make them are like unto them; So is every one that trusteth in them.

We see our worship determines our character or reflection of who He is.

Psalm 115:9-15 “9 O Israel, trust thou in the Lord: He is their help and their shield. 10 O house of Aaron, trust in the Lord: He is their help and their shield. 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. 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.”

Psalm 115:9–15 KJV 1900

9 O Israel, trust thou in the Lord: He is their help and their shield. 10 O house of Aaron, trust in the Lord: He is their help and their shield. 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. 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.

We see the relationship between trusting the Lord and the blessings of the Lord?

Psalm 115: 17-18 “17 The dead praise not the Lord, Neither any that go down into silence. 18 But we will bless the Lord From this time forth and for evermore. Praise the Lord.”

Psalm 115:17–18 KJV 1900

17 The dead praise not the Lord, Neither any that go down into silence. 18 But we will bless the Lord From this time forth and for evermore. Praise the Lord.