To God Be The Glory

Bible Book: Psalms 115 : 1-18

Subject: Praise; Thanksgiving

Introduction

Rev. Charles H. Spurgeon (1834-1892) explains, “If you meet with a system of theology which magnifies man, flee from it as far as you can…. Here is a test for you to apply, and by it you may tell whether a thing is true or not. Does it glorify God? Then, accept it. If it does not, if it glorifies man—puts human will, human ability, human merit, into the place of the mercy and the grace of God—away with it, for it is not food fit for your souls to feed upon.”1

Drs. Charles F. Pfeiffer and Everett F. Harrison write, “This psalm is basically a hymn of praise designed for use in the temple worship. . . . That it was used in the worship of the feast celebrations is known from various sources. In fact, Psalms 115-118 were sung at the conclusion of the Passover meal, just before the worshipers returned to their homes. The hymn appears to have been designed originally for antiphonal use.”2

Note three things in this psalm.

I. Note the contrast of idols with God.

Psalm 115:1-8 reads, “Not unto us, O Lord, not unto us, But to Your name give glory, Because of Your mercy, Because of Your truth. Why should the Gentiles say, ‘So where is their God?’ But our God is in heaven; He does whatever He pleases. 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.”

Don Fleming, a prolific author and Bible teacher from Belmont, Queensland, Australia, explains, “God was always faithful to Israel, though the Israelites were often unfaithful to him. Their sins brought God's punishment upon them, causing their pagan neighbours to mock them with the accusation that their God was unable to help them and had deserted them (115:1-2).”

Dr. Warren W. Wiersbe writes, “Where is the God of Israel? In heaven on His glorious throne, reigning as the sovereign God of the universe! His throne is founded on mercy and truth (love and faithfulness), which reminds us of His covenant with Israel. Because He loved them, He chose them (Deut. 7:7-11) and gave them His covenant, which He faithfully kept. All of God's people can shout, ‘Alleluia! For the Lord God omnipotent reigns!’ (Rev. 19:6).”3

Note the sovereignty of God. Psalm 115:1-3 reads, “Not unto us, O Lord, not unto us, But to Your name give glory, Because of Your mercy, Because of Your truth. Why should the Gentiles say, ‘So where is their God?’ But our God is in heaven; He does whatever He pleases.” Dr. Allen P. Ross writes, “In verse 3 the psalmist declared his theme: God is sovereign. He alone is in heaven, and He does whatever He desires (cf. 135:6; Job 23:13).”4 Psalm 135:6 reads, “Whatever the LORD pleases He does, In heaven and in earth, In the seas and in all deep places.” Job 23:13 reads, “But He is unique, and who can make Him change? And whatever His soul desires, that He does.”

Note the supremacy of God. Psalm 115:4-8 reads, “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.”

These verses are repeated almost exactly in Psalm 135:15-18, “The idols of the nations 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; Nor is there any breath in their mouths. Those who make them are like them; So is everyone who trusts in them.” Dr. Allen P. Ross writes, “People who construct idols and those who trust in them become like them—powerless before the Lord God.”5 We find the following on “idol ideology” in The IVP Bible Background Commentary: “Idols came in a variety of shapes and sizes in the ancient Near East. They were typically carved of wood and overlaid with hammered out sheets of silver or gold. Basically human in appearance (except those from Egypt which combined human and animal characteristics), they had distinctive, even formalized, poses, clothing and hairstyles. Images of deity in the ancient Near East were where the deity became present in a special way, to the extent that the cult statue became the god (when the god so favored his worshipers), even though it was not the only manifestation of the god. Rituals were performed to bring the god to life in its idol. As a result of this linkage, spells, incantations and other magical acts could be performed on the image in order to threaten, bind or compel the deity. In contrast, other rites related to the image were intended to aid the deity or care for the deity. The idols then represented a worldview and concept of deity that was not consistent with how Yahweh had revealed himself. The idol was not the deity, but the deity was thought to inhabit the image and manifest its presence and will through the image.”6

Don Fleming writes, “The Israelites reply that their God is alive and in full control. The pagan gods, by contrast, are useless, and the reason they are useless is that they are lifeless. Those who trust in them will achieve nothing (3-8).”7 Dr. Warren W. Wiersbe writes, “[Israel] needed to remember that they were the servants of the living God . . ., and the church today also needs to keep this truth in mind. . . . Because the dead idols lacked the attributes of the living God, they were unable to do either good or evil, yet the people worshiped them!

But the greatest tragedy is not what the idols cannot do but what they can do to the people who worship them. We become like the God we worship. As we worship the true and living God, He transforms our ears to hear His truth and the cries of those in need. He gives us eyes to see His Word and His world and the path He wants us to walk. Our ‘spiritual senses’ develop and we become more mature in Jesus Christ (Heb. 5:10-14). But those who worship false gods lose the use of their spiritual senses and become blind to the light and deaf to God’s voice.”8

Idolaters encounter a deceptive demonic power that clouds their thinking. In themselves, idols are useless, lifeless, and powerless. Those who refuse to worship the true and living God, and who worship idols fall prey to the power of suggestion and the power of superstition. 1 Corinthians 10:14-22 reads, “Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry. I speak as to wise men; judge for yourselves what I say. The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ? For we, though many, are one bread and one body; for we all partake of that one bread. Observe Israel after the flesh: Are not those who eat of the sacrifices partakers of the altar? What am I saying then? That an idol is anything, or what is offered to idols is anything? Rather, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice they sacrifice to demons and not to God, and I do not want you to have fellowship with demons. You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons; you cannot partake of the Lord ’s Table and of the table of demons. Or do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? Are we stronger than He?” To take the name of God and mix it with pagan gods is blasphemy! William Purcell warns, “The worship of the false in any form is idolatry.”9 Evangelist Dwight L. Moody (1837-1899) explains, “You don’t have to go to heathen lands today to find false gods. America is full of them. Whatever you love more than god is your idol.”10 1 Corinthians 10:31 reads, “Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” It would be better for you not to serve God that to serve Him for your own glory!

Drs. Charles F. Pfeiffer and Everett F. Harrison explain, “The burden of the psalm is seen in the question by Israel’s Gentile enemies, Where is now their God? In appealing for help, the psalmist does not seek glory for his nation but recognition by the heathen of the glory due to the name of Yahweh. The impotent idols and their feeble worshipers stand in sharp contrast to God’s power and glory.”11

II. Note the conduit of blessing from God.

A conduit is, “A means by which something is transmitted.”12 Trust in the Lord is a conduit of blessing from God. Psalm 115:9-15 reads, “O Israel, trust in the Lord; He is their help and their shield. O house of Aaron, trust in the Lord; He is their help and their shield. You who fear the Lord, trust in the Lord; He is their help and their shield. 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. He will bless those who fear the Lord, Both small and great. May the Lord give you increase more and more, You and your children. May you be blessed by the Lord, Who made heaven and earth.”

Note the exhortation to trust. Imagine the following being read responsively with the priest and the people: “O Israel, trust in the LORD; He is their help and their shield. O house of Aaron, trust in the LORD; He is their help and their shield. You who fear the LORD, trust in the LORD; He is their help and their shield” (Psalm 115:9-11).

In a similar fashion Psalm 118:1-4 reads, “Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever. Let Israel now say, ‘His mercy endures forever.’ Let the house of Aaron now say, ‘His mercy endures forever.’ Let those who fear the LORD now say, ‘His mercy endures forever.’” Psalm 135:19-21 reads, “Bless the LORD, O house of Israel! Bless the LORD, O house of Aaron! Bless the LORD, O house of Levi! You who fear the LORD, bless the LORD! Blessed be the LORD out of Zion, Who dwells in Jerusalem! Praise the LORD!”

Note the expectation of trust. Psalm 115:12-15 reads, “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. He will bless those who fear the LORD, Both small and great. May the LORD give you increase more and more, You and your children. May you be blessed by the LORD, Who made heaven and earth.”

Dr. Warren W. Wiersbe writes, “‘Trust the Lord and He will give His blessing’ is the theme of this section, and how the discouraged remnant needed that assurance! . . . Because Jehovah God is the ‘Maker of heaven and earth’. . . . we should worship Him and not what He has created or what we manufacture ourselves.”13 Isaiah 40-48 provides a divinely inspired polemic against idolatry. Jeremiah 10:11 reads, “Thus you shall say to them: ‘The gods that have not made the heavens and the earth shall perish from the earth and from under these heavens.’” If you could explore the vastness of the universe with the most powerful telescope, and the intricacies of the human body with the most powerful microscope; it would be impossible to say it just happened by accident. If people could just get it in their minds that God created everything that was made.

III. Note the concert of praise to God.

Psalm 115:16-18 reads, “The heaven, even the heavens, are the Lord’s; But the earth He has given to the children of men. The dead do not praise the Lord, Nor any who go down into silence. But we will bless the Lord From this time forth and forevermore. Praise the Lord!” Drs. Charles F. Pfeiffer and Everett F. Harrison refer to Psalm 115:16-18 as “A Chorus of Praise. We will bless the Lord... for evermore. The Lord who created both the heavens and the earth has reserved the heavens for his domain. To man he has given the earth and the right to praise him here and now. In the thinking of most writers, death ends the opportunity for further worship. Hence the urgency of the exhortation, Praise ye the Lord.”14

Dr. Michael Guido (1915-2009) had the following unattributed clipping in his files:

“NO orchestra begins a presentation without preparation. All the instruments must be brought into tune with a standard. At the time of tuning, an observer, hearing the variety of sounds, might conclude that something has gone wrong with the orchestra. The strings, the brass, the woodwinds—all seem to be out of tune. But when the conductor steps to the podium and begins to lead an orchestra in a composition of Handel or Beethoven, all doubt is removed concerning the value of tune up time. The preparation is necessary for the presentation.. . . we can suggest some guidelines for those wanting to be in tune. [To be in tune with God is the essence of revival! You are either in tune or out of tune with God. There is no middle ground.]

First, you must recognize Christ as the Conductor. His word and His judgment are final. When He indicates to us that our lives are out of tune, we must humbly accept His judgment and seek to find the cause of the problem. If each member of the Church would recognize the Lordship of Christ in this matter, then there would be much less disunity and much more harmony among us.

Second, there must be a willingness to play the part that has been assigned. In any orchestra some instruments have a greater and more important part to play than others. But this does not mean the other instruments can become silent in protest. Each part is necessary if the composer’s goal is to be achieved. So it is in the Church. The Holy Spirit has assigned different parts to those in the Church. Not all are gifted with the ability to preach or to sing or to teach. Some have gifts that may appear minor. The truth is, however, that Christ looks for the practice of each gift in the Church.

Third, if there is to be harmony in the Church there must be a willingness for the glory to go to God. At the end of a concert it is the conductor who bows to accept the adulation of the crowd. It was because of his skill that the orchestra was able to play together and to present such pleasing music.

In the Church the glory for all that is accomplished must go to Christ. It is because of the work of His Spirit in the lives of His people that anything at all is accomplished.”15

Dr. Warren W. Wiersbe writes, “To ‘bless the Lord’ means to ascribe all glory and praise to Him, to delight His heart with our joyful and willing thanksgiving and obedience.”16

Conclusion

Rev. Charles H. Spurgeon writes, “‘God be the glory’ should always be the preacher’s motto.”17 Actually, “To God be the glory” should be every believer’s motto! Rev. Spurgeon explains, “Though the dead cannot, the wicked will not and the careless do not praise God, yet we will shout ‘Hallelujah’ for ever and ever.”18 To God be the glory!

1Charles H. Spurgeon, "Non nobis, Domine!” Sermon Notes (Psalm 115:1), Accessed 07/30/16: http://www.preceptaustin.org/spurgeon_on_psalms-pt8.htm.

4The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures by Dallas Seminary Faculty, eds. John F. Walvoord and Roy B. Zuck, Psalms, Allen P. Ross (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books / Scripture Press Publications, Inc., 1985), 876. Database ©2014 WORDsearch.

5Ibid.

8Wiersbe, Exposition, 300-301.

9Great Quotes & Illustrations, comp. George Sweeting (Waco, TX: Word Books, 1985), 149.

10Ibid.

11Wycliffe, Pfeiffer, 538.

12American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved. Accessed: 07/30/16 http://www.thefreedictionary.com/conduit .

13Wiersbe, Exposition, 301-302.

14Wycliffe, Pfeiffer, 538.

15“In Tune” (Psalm 115) Guido Gardens Library Psalm 115, #071.pdf.

16Wiersbe, Exposition, 302.

18Ibid.

Dr. Franklin L. Kirksey, pastor First Baptist Church of Spanish Fort 30775 Jay Drive Spanish Fort, Alabama 36527

Author of Don’t Miss the Revival! Messages for Revival and Spiritual Awakening from Isaiah and

Sound Biblical Preaching: Giving the Bible a Voice [Both available on Amazon.com in hardcover, paperback and eBook]