February 7, 2022 Monday
Intro: Back in a December devotion we reviewed that Psalms 113 – 118 are known as the Egyptian Hallel. As a reminder, “Hallel” is a portion of a service for certain Jewish festivals. It’s often a special prayer said/sung on those holidays to give thanks and praise to God. You may recall that these Psalms are typically connected with the Passover meal and other Jewish festivals as a reflection of God’s redemption of His people, the Israelites, as the commemoration of their Exodus from slavery in Egypt.
Many believe that Jesus and His disciples sung these hymns on the night before His crucifixion, so just before He was betrayed and arrested. Isn’t it absolutely amazing to think that you and I get to read, meditate, and pray on Psalm 115 today, and Jesus and his disciples may have sung it? Before the Holy Spirit guides us through this Psalm, let’s break it out into a few sections:
Verses 1-8 – GLORY TO THE LORD – God should be exalted above all else. He is glorious, and He did, does, and will do wonderous things, and so all glory should be given to Him; but the “nations” worshipped and continue to worship many other “gods” and idols.
Verses 9-11 – TRUST IN THE LORD – If “Israel” could just have trusted to God, they would have understood that He was their helper and shield. Friends, we are “Israel” and how often do we neglect to seek Jesus as our helper and shield in circumstances, relationships, trials, decisions, etc.? We must realize that our trust can only be found in the Lord, and not in this world and/or in the things of the world.
Verses 12 -15 – BLESSINGS COME FROM THE LORD – In verses 12 -13 we read that the Lord remembers those of us who make Him our helper and shield, and as a result we are blessed. In verses 14-15 we read how the Lord blesses.
Verses 16-18 – ALL BLESSINGS & PRAISE TO THE LORD – All of heaven and earth need to bless and praise the Lord.
Psalm 115
1 Not to us, O Lord, not to us,
but to your name goes all the glory
for your unfailing love and faithfulness.
2 Why let the nations say,
“Where is their God?”
3 Our God is in the heavens,
and he does as he wishes.
4 Their idols are merely things of silver and gold,
shaped by human hands.
5 They have mouths but cannot speak,
and eyes but cannot see.
6 They have ears but cannot hear,
and noses but cannot smell.
7 They have hands but cannot feel,
and feet but cannot walk,
and throats but cannot make a sound.
8 And those who make idols are just like them,
as are all who trust in them.
9 O Israel, trust the Lord!
He is your helper and your shield.
10 O priests, descendants of Aaron, trust the Lord!
He is your helper and your shield.
11 All you who fear the Lord, trust the Lord!
He is your helper and your shield.
12 The Lord remembers us and will bless us.
He will bless the people of Israel
and bless the priests, the descendants of Aaron.
13 He will bless those who fear the Lord,
both great and lowly.
14 May the Lord richly bless
both you and your children.
15 May you be blessed by the Lord,
who made heaven and earth.
16 The heavens belong to the Lord,
but he has given the earth to all humanity.
17 The dead cannot sing praises to the Lord,
for they have gone into the silence of the grave.
18 But we can praise the Lord
both now and forever!
Praise the Lord!
Prayer: Jesus, Thank You for being my helper in all situations and for being my shield when I need to be protected from the evil one. I trust in You, and in You alone. I thank You for Your blessings. Help me, Lord, to bless You with all that I say and do. I praise Your Precious and Holy Name, Jesus, and ask all of this in Your Name. Amen.
Written by: Jennifer Auer, Pastor Mary Haley’s Assistant