Faith under pressure

In Jewish liturgy, the two parts of Psalm 115are regarded as one song, with the first part (verses 1 to 11 in our Bibles) omitted during certain festivals. The preceding Psalm 114 recounted the story of the Exodus from Egypt and urged the people to return from exile to their homeland. Psalm 115 continues from here, addressing the contemporary challenges of the time—opposition from neighboring nations. It serves as a poignant expression of faith amidst adversity.

-o0o-

Psalms in Book 5 affirm that God does answer prayer, God’s promises are valid and it includes a long love song for God’s laws. Psalms 113-118 are called the Hallel or Egyptian Hallel and come between the acrostic songs of 112,113 & 119. In modern Jewish life, Psalms 113 and 114 are sung before the passover meal and Psalms 115-118 at its conclusion.

The books of Psalms are roughly themed like this:

Book 1: Psalms 1 – 41: God is beside us.
Book 2: Psalms 42 – 72: God goes before us
Book 3: Psalms 73 – 89: God is all around us.
Book 4: Psalms 90 – 106: God is above us.
Book 5: Psalms 107 – 150: God is among us.

Not to us, O Lord, not to us, but to your name give glory,
    for the sake of your steadfast love and your faithfulness!
² Why should the nations say,
    “Where is their God?”
³ Our God is in the heavens;
    he does all that he pleases.
⁴ Their idols are silver and gold,
    the work of human hands.
⁵ They have mouths, but do not speak;
    eyes, but do not see.
⁶ They have ears, but do not hear;
    noses, but do not smell.
⁷ They have hands, but do not feel;
    feet, but do not walk;
    and they do not make a sound in their throat.
⁸ Those who make them become like them;
    so do all who trust in them.
⁹ O Israel, trust in the Lord!
    He is their help and their shield.
¹⁰ O house of Aaron, trust in the Lord!
    He is their help and their shield.
¹¹ You who fear the Lord, trust in the Lord!
    He is their help and their shield.
¹² The Lord has remembered us; he will bless us;
    he will bless the house of Israel;
    he will bless the house of Aaron;
¹³ he will bless those who fear the Lord,
    both the small and the great.
¹⁴ May the Lord give you increase,
    you and your children!
¹⁵ May you be blessed by the Lord,
    who made heaven and earth!
¹⁶ The heavens are the Lord’s heavens,
    but the earth he has given to the children of man.
¹⁷ The dead do not praise the Lord,
    nor do any who go down into silence.
¹⁸ But we will bless the Lord
    from this time forth and for evermore.
Praise the Lord!

Psalm 115 ESVUK

Whose earth is it?

Starting at the end, yet again! The burning question arises from the comparison of verse 16, “the earth he has given to the children of man,” with Psalm 24:1, “The earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof, the world and those who dwell therein.” Can you believe the contradiction here?

Yes, certainly! The earth is a timeless creation of God, who is eternal. While human life may seem short in comparison, lasting only 70 to 80 years as mentioned in a psalm, it is but a fleeting moment in the eyes of an everlasting God. It’s important to note that the context of Psalm 90:10, where this life span is mentioned, isn’t to limit us, but to emphasize that despite our brief existence, we can experience enduring, eternal joy.

But that is not Psalm 115, which we are looking at here. This psalm says that the earth is given to those who fear God. We are but custodians of God’s earth.

Hold that thought whilst I give an overview of the psalm:

You become what you worship

Psalm 115 confidently demonstrates the stark contrast between God’s people and those who do not worship Him, emphasizing the absurdity of the prevalent idol worship at that time. The passage assertively describes seven attributes of idols in verses 5 to 7, effectively exposing the folly of such practices.

1. They have mouths, but do not speak;
2. They have eyes, but do not see.
3. They have ears, but do not hear;
4. They have noses, but do not smell.
5. They have hands, but do not feel;
6. feet, but do not walk;
7. and they do not make a sound in their throat.

Contrast of the 7 properties of idols and their makers—verse 8 says if you worship idols you become like them, you become what you worship—with 3 groups of people who fear the Lord (vv9-11 repeated in 12-13).

1. O Israel, trust in the Lord! He is their help and their shield.
2. O house of Aaron, trust in the Lord! He is their help and their shield.
3. You who fear the Lord, trust in the Lord! He is their help and their shield.

The last group are God fearing non-Jewish people or converts. God’s help and protection is not limited to just one ethnicity. It is these people, who trust in the Lord, who are given the earth.

I asked you to hold that thought.

What are our idols in the 21st century? Here’s one thought …

An idol is anything more important to you than God, anything that absorbs your heart and imagination more than God, and anything that you seek to give you what only God can give.
Tim Keller in Counterfeit Gods.

Our idols are anything in our life that is taking the place of God, even church.

---

< Psalm 114 | Psalm 115 | Psalm 116 >