115:1 Not to us, O Lord, not to us! But to your name bring honor, for the sake of your loyal love and faithfulness. 

 

The author is unknown. Psalms 113–118 form the Egyptian Hallel songs. Hallel means “Praise God.” These songs were sung during the Jewish festivals and on holy days. Psalm 113-114 were sung before the meal on Passover. Psalms 115-118 were sung after the meal. Jesus sang these songs on Passover with His disciples.

 

All glory belong to God. Glory does not belong to “us.” Notice that this Biblical doctrine is repeated twice, making the concept emphatic. Believers bring damage to themselves when they glorify their own attributes, skills, or actions. Even mighty angels recognize this great truth. It is inappropriate for God’s servants on earth to seek glory for themselves, “For men to search their own glory is not glory” (Proverbs 25:27). All glory should be given to God. No one would be saved, if God did not intervene. Therefore, no one has the right to boast.

 

115:2 Why should the nations say, “Where is their God?” 

 

During the Assyrian Captivity, the Gentiles were gloating. They were saying, “Where is Israel’s God?” The Babylonians, Medes, Persians, Greeks, and Roman Gentiles could ask the same gloating question. During the Great Tribulation, the followers of the Antichrist will ask this same question.

 

115:3 Our God is in heaven! He does whatever he pleases! 

 

The question of the Gentiles is answered. God is in His heavens doing whatever He pleases. Because of Israel’s rebellion, It was God’s will for Israel to be temporarily spanked by these Gentile nations.

 

115:4 Their idols are made of silver and gold— they are man-made. 

 

The idols of these Gentile nations are not gods at all. They are simply silver and gold statues which were made by the hands of finite and foolish men.

 

115:5 They have mouths, but cannot speak, eyes, but cannot see, 115:6 ears, but cannot hear, noses, but cannot smell, 115:7 hands, but cannot touch, feet, but cannot walk. They cannot even clear their throats.

 

When the idol is made, the man has to carry it on his back into town. The idol cannot speak, see, hear, smell, touch, walk, or even clear its throat.

 

115:8 Those who make them will end up like them, as will everyone who trusts in them. 

 

Those who build substitutes for the true God of creation—whether metal images with their hands or imaginations of their minds, are blasphemous and foolish. The biggest idol of today is evolution. It is the worship of nothing exploding into everything, which is scientifically impossible. Evolution is a faith that teaches 0 x 0 = everything. Creation without an eternal God is mathematically and scientifically impossible.

 

115:9 O Israel, trust in the Lord! He is their deliverer and protector. 

 

Instead of trusting in worthless demonic idols, Israel needs to trust in Jehovah. It is Jehovah who is her Savior and shield.

 

115:10 O family of Aaron, trust in the Lord! He is their deliverer and protector. 

 

The “family of Aaron” are the Levites. The Levites were responsible for teaching the people of Israel, The Levites were commanded to trust in the Lord so that they could teach their people to do the same. 

 

115:11 You loyal followers of the Lord, trust in the Lord! He is their deliverer and protector. 

 

The “loyal followers of the Lord” are those who master and apply Bible doctrine. Jehovah saves and shields His loyal followers. They are immortal, until they finish their divine task. Believers who are not loyal to their task may commit “the sin not death” and be called home early. God may give their task to another believer who is more committed to learning and applying Bible doctrine. The believer who is called home will not lose his eternal life, but he will lose his physical life. 

 

What is the answer to atheism? What is the answer to materialism? What is the answer to all of the immorality around us? Many people pay millions of dollars a year to psychologists in order to find their purpose in life. The psychologist does not have the solution, but he will not mind taking money from his clients. The answer is very simple: Trust in the Lord. However, one cannot trust in the Lord unless he masters Bible doctrine from the entire counsel of the Word of God. 

 

115:12 The Lord takes notice of us, he will bless— he will bless the family of Israel, he will bless the family of Aaron. 

 

The business world, the educational community, and the political government treats its employees, students, and citizens like a number. Society is very impersonal. God is not like that. He knows how many hairs are on the heads of every being in His entire creation. He knows when a sparrow falls to the ground. God not only knows one’s number, but He knows one’s name. He knows all about everyone on a personal level. He knows things about people that even they do not know. God will bless those who master and apply Bible doctrine. 

 

115:13 He will bless his loyal followers, both young and old. 

 

No one is too old to be blessed by God. Old people are alive, because God still has a purpose for them. He has left them on the earth for a divine reason. Elders have the privilege and experience of studying Bible doctrine for many, many years. Their vast knowledge should be taught to younger generations who are hungry for the Word of God. 

 

Beware of elders who have not spent their life studying the Bible. Their soul is filled with the doctrines of demons. They are very dangerous. The elder who has mastered Bible doctrine is golden.

 

115:14 May he increase your numbers, yours and your children’s!

 

Children are gifts from God. The satanic world system commits the sin of fornication and adultery. To cover their sin, they kill the child. It is murder to abort these gifts from God. 

 

115:15 May you be blessed by the Lord, the creator of heaven and earth! 

 

Idols did not create anything. They are lifeless and worthless. Nothing did not explode and create everything. Nothing is just as lifeless and worthless as the idols in which Israel worshiped. It is foolish to “believe” or “place one’s faith” in evolution. The Lord is the Creator God. He is the one who can bless or curse.

 

115:16 The heavens belong to the Lord, but the earth he has given to mankind. 

 

The heavens belong to the Lord. He has given the earth to mankind. Notice that God did not give the stars, planets, or moon to man. Except for angels, there is no evidence in Scripture or secular science that their are intelligent beings outside of earth. It is foolish for governments to spend millions of tax dollars looking for intelligent life outside of the earth. Such projects of the satanic world system make men more vulnerable to demonic deception.

 

115:17 The dead do not praise the Lord, nor do any of those who descend into the silence of death. 

 

This verse is taken out of context by cults and isms in order to teach an unconscious and inactive existence after death. The point is that the dead have left the physical earth and have lost their opportunity to praise the Lord. Cults and isms will usually quote this verse, but skip the next verse.

 

115:18 But we will praise the Lord now and forevermore. Praise the Lord! 

 

God will be praised for eternity, even after believers are dead.