Written By: God through Inspiration
Penned By: David, Asaph, Solomon, Heman, Ethan, Moses, and the Sons of Korah
Date Penned: (1440-586 BC)
Overview: Poetry for the Expression of Praise and Worship to God (c 1-150)
Theme: The Fifth Book of Psalms (c 107-150)
Message: God is Alive (v 1-18)
Psalms 115 Commentary
(115:1) A Passover Song - Psalms 115 through 118 were traditionally sung at the Passover meal, commemorating Israel's escape from slavery in Egypt (Exodus 11-12).
(115:1) God is Glorified - The writer asked that God's name, not the peoples, be glorified. Too often we ask God to glorify his name with ours. For example, we may pray for help to do a good job so that our work will be noticed. Or we may ask that a presentation go well so we will be appreciated. There is nothing wrong with wanting others to be pleased and impacted by our work, the problem comes when we want to look good without regard to how we want God to look in the process. Before you pray, ask yourself, Who will get the credit if God answers my prayer?
(115:4-8) Our Idols - When the psalms were written, many people worshiped gods represented by statues made of wood, stone, or metal. They took pride in idols they could see and ignored or disregarded what they couldn't see. Today idols take many different forms, such as homes, clothing, possessions, celebrities, causes, financial assets, or ideologies. For many, tangible objects are still valued more than intangible realities (such as spiritual growth, salvation, giving to those in need, or spending time with loved ones. Those who spend their time accumulating the things of this world are as foolish and empty as the idols themselves. (For more on the foolishness of idols, see Isaiah 44:0-20.)
(115:12) The Lord Knows - "The LORD hath been mindful of us," says the psalm writer. What a fantastic truth! There are many times when we feel isolated, alone, and abandoned, even by God. In reality, he sees, understands, and thinks about us. When weighed down by problems or struggling with self-worth, be encouraged that God keeps you in his thoughts. If he thinks about you, surely his help is near.
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