Psalm 115 is one of the Hellel
Psalms. The author again is unknown, hence it’s one of the 50 anonymously
written Psalms. The author was quite obviously contrasting the God of Israel,
the true and living God, with the false idols which the heathen worships. This
Psalm is believed to be a liturgical and recited responsively. Verses 1-8 were
corporately narrated by the congregation; the Levites and the choir would
narrate verses 9-11 while the priest would then recite verses 12-15, before the
congregation end with verses 16-18 again.
Verses 1-3 form a declaration of
the belief that God alone deserves the glory. He is the Sovereign God despite
the heathen’s insinuation of His absence. The Psalmist assures us that God is
very present in heaven, and He still does as He pleases. The people of God know
that God has unlimited power and He has all the freedom to exercise them. In
contrast, the Psalmist in verses 4-8 show how contemptuous are idols-makers and
their worshippers. No matter what material is used or how costly those material
may be, these idols are lifeless objects made by the hands of man.
In verses 9-11, Israel, the house
of Aaron or the priests, and all who fear the Lord were called to trust Him for
He alone would be their shield and protector. The trust they placed in God brought
assurance of blessing to both the great and the small. The Lord would increase the
people of Israel more and more. This Psalm tells us that heaven is God’s abode,
but earth he had given to men. Both the inhabitants of heaven and earth can and
should praise the Lord. Only in the land of the dead would praise for God not
be heard because the inhabitants there could not praise God. Hence Israel, the
people of God, pledge to praise as long as they live and forevermore.
We ought to trust God to be our
shield and to protect us. Like Israel, the priest and those who fear Him, we
are called to trust and fear Him. He promises to bless us and bring increase to
our life. Let us praise the Lord now and forevermore, for He is worthy to be
praised. Praise the Lord!
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