Psalm 115

Tucked away in the biblical book of Psalms there are a half dozen songs that served a special purpose for God’s children. One commentator summarizes their use like this:

Psalms 113-118 are a small collection of Hallel-Psalms which were used in Jewish worship and had their place in the liturgy for the feasts of Pilgrimage, Passover, Weeks, and Tabernacles, as well as the New Moon and the Feast of the Dedication of the Temple.

In pausing on special days to sing songs of faith, Psalm 115 takes us back to the start of the 10 Commandments, where God’s people are reminded that there is only one true God (all the other things which distract and divert our attention are idols and false gods.)

Psalm 115
New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

¹ Not to us, O Lord, not to us, but to your name give glory,
for the sake of your steadfast love and your faithfulness.
² Why should the nations say,
“Where is their God?”

³ Our God is in the heavens;
he does whatever he pleases.
⁴ Their idols are silver and gold,
the work of human hands.
⁵ They have mouths, but do not speak;
eyes, but do not see.
⁶ They have ears, but do not hear;
noses, but do not smell.
⁷ They have hands, but do not feel;
feet, but do not walk;
they make no sound in their throats.
⁸ Those who make them are like them;
so are all who trust in them. 

⁹ O Israel, trust 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 You who fear the Lord, trust in the Lord!
He is their help and their shield.

¹² 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;
¹³ he will bless those who fear the Lord,
both small and great.

¹⁴ May the Lord give you increase,
both you and your children.
¹⁵ May you be blessed by the Lord,
who made heaven and earth.

¹⁶ The heavens are the Lord’s heavens,
but the earth he has given to human beings.
¹⁷ The dead do not praise the Lord,
nor do any that go down into silence.
¹⁸ But we will bless the Lord
from this time on and forevermore.
Praise the Lord!

It’s easy to get distracted by the shiny objects (gold and silver and the things that we make), but the real pleasure comes as we calm our hearts and minds and appreciate the blessings (breath, life, relationships, love) that God freely showers upon God’s children.

Prayer

Dear God, I am blessed. Let me focus on You so closely today that I discover the depths of those blessings. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.