Psa 115:1 Not unto us, O LORD, not unto us, but unto thy name give glory, for thy mercy, and for thy truth's sake.

We do not know who wrote Psalm 115 nor when it was written. Some said it was written before the exile while some said it was after. The “exile” refers to the period when Israel was deported out of their country and placed in either Assyria or Babylon. I prefer to think it was written during the exile. That would be a good time when the enemies of God would mock the Jews concerning their God. The message of this psalm is this: There is only one God. All other gods are man-made, and cannot do anything to send us help. The Psalmist begins with this call: “Not unto us, O LORD, not unto us, but unto thy name give glory, for thy mercy, and for thy truth's sake” (v.1). Not unto us, O LORD, not unto us - He cries out to God to bring glory to His name and to answer the taunt of the enemies. The heathens were saying: “Where is now their God?” (v.2b). The implication is: “If their God is so powerful as they claimed, why were they in exile?” Three times in this psalm, the Psalmist calls on Israel to “trust in the LORD for He is their help and their shield” (v.9, 10, 11). He is exhorting them not to lose heart because of the ridicules of the heathen but to trust in God. He assures them: “The LORD hath 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 them that fear the LORD, both small and great” (v.12, 13). There is a tendency for some to waver in their faith over their present circumstances. There is this false notion that if God is with us, everything should go on well with us. But God did not promise us a heaven on this earth; He did promise us a heaven that is out of this universe. The Psalmist brings to his readers’ minds the absurdity of idolatry (v.4-8). He says idols are the work of men’s hands. They cannot speak, see, hear, smell, handle, and walk. Whereas, God is eternal, uncreated, and dwells in heaven: “But our God is in the heavens: he hath done whatsoever he hath pleased” (v.3). Did you see the difference? Idols are of this earth; our God is in heaven. Idols are created by men; our God created all things. Idols cannot see, speak, hear, smell, handle, and move, and hence, unable to help their worshippers; our God can provide help and bless His people. Therefore, man’s most important duty is to praise God. The Psalmist concludes this psalm by saying: “The dead praise not the LORD, neither any that go down into silence. But we will bless the LORD from this time forth and for evermore. Praise the LORD” (v.17, 18). The unbelievers today are still asking this question: “Where is now their God?” (v.2a). They do not care what God did thousands of years ago in Egypt and in the wilderness. They see what God is seemingly NOT doing today in the lives of His believers and in this world. They ask: “Where is God?” Our answer is the same: “Our God is in the heavens” (v.3a). Our faith must not be shaken by the events that are happening to us or to this world. Our God is in heaven and all things are ordered in accordance with His sovereign will: “He hath done whatsoever he hath pleased” (v.3b). God does things on His time table. He does not have to prove Himself to anyone. He does not need to explain His actions. We are blessed to know this God who created all things. Let us hold fast our faith to the end.