stephen R Harrison

Everybody worships something. It’s just how we are wired. God created us to worship Him, but because of sin, man worships other false gods, idols, and even themselves. In Psalm 115, the psalmist makes it clear that God is the One they worship. The psalmist does not want to worship himself, stating, “Not to us, Lord, not to us but to Your name be the glory” (v. 1). We can foolishly be deceived that we are the object of our worship. People make terrible gods because they are sinful and imperfect. I am not all-powerful, all-knowing, or omnipresent but sometimes I think I am. I let myself down every time I do not depend on the Lord for His power, wisdom, and presence. Others may wonder where our God is in times of trouble, but the psalmist reminded them God is in heaven on His throne (v. 3). No other false god has a heaven from which to reign. While Israel was in Egypt, they were not faithful to worshipping God. Even though He did many miracles among them, they worshipped false Egyptian gods and idols (Joshua 24:12). Although the Egyptians worshipped thousands of false Gods, Israel was instructed to only worship the One True God. In fact, the ten plagues sent by God directly opposed and overpowered false belief in ten Egyptian gods proving He alone was God the only one capable of salvation and deliverance. It always amazes me that those who worship false gods must invent an infinite number to try to match the glory of the Lord because the sum of all creation and the human imagination cannot culminate anything better than God Himself!

The Egyptian gods were manmade of silver and gold (v. 4) but the psalmist said they could not talk, see, hear, smell, feel, walk, or utter any sounds (vv. 5-8). They were temporary, useless, inanimate, powerless, fabricated statues and figments of the imagination. Anything we put before God is also pointless for worship as it cannot save, fulfill, forgive sins, or relate to us. We may not have idols made of gold and silver (unless we worship money and possessions), but there are many things that steal worship from the Lord. While we may find inadequate temporary appeasement of the flesh in other things and people, they are not God and will not ultimately satisfy. Our worship of these will be empty and unfulfilling as they cannot supply what only God is and has. The psalmist was correct, “Those who make them (gods/objects of worship) will be like them (worthless and void of meaning), and so will all who trust in them” (v. eight).

In a call to worship, the psalmist instructs all of Israel to trust in the Lord as He alone is their help and shield (vv. 9-11). He alone can bring blessing to those who fear Him (vv. 12-13). Only God can cause us to flourish (v. 14). God made the heavens in which He lives and the earth He has entrusted to mankind (v. 15-16). Although Israel was taken away from their home for 400 years, God owned the Egyptian land and would restore to them their land. Wherever Israel went, they were to remember God owns that land, is mightier than its ruler, and ever present with His people. That’s why He alone is to be worshipped. His presence and love know no boundaries! The psalmist said those who worship idols are spiritually dead and will go eternally to hell with those idols while those who worshipped the Lord would experience eternal life in His presence on the earth and in heaven (vv. 17-18). This causes him to once again “Praise the Lord”!

Questions:

1. Are there idols in your life?

2. How worthless are false gods and idols in light of the one true God?

3. Why do people worship the creation instead of the Creator?

Prayer:

Lord, help me to worship You alone! Your creation is wonderful, but I will not worship it. I worship the Creator! Show me if I am deceived and am worshipping something other than You. Only you satisfy, save, and set free. Praise the Lord. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.