We return today to Psalm 115, one of the six psalms traditionally sung at Passover. It is part of the “Hallel,” or group of praise psalms, meant to remind the Jewish people of Yahweh’s faithfulness to them when He led them out of their bondage in Egypt.

Also, in addition to being part of the Hallel, Psalm 115 is considered by many theologians to be one of three ‘psalms of communal confidence’, simply meaning they convey a sense of need as well as deep trust in the Lord's ability to take care of those needs.

Please read with me, Psalm 115:

1 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 forevermore.

Praise the LORD!

This psalm has 18 verses and several themes, two of which we discussed last week: 1) the impotence of idols, and 2) the call to fully trust in the Lord. This week, we’ll pick up on additional themes meant to encourage God’s people and focus their worship on Him alone.

The first additional theme of this psalm is evident in verses 12 through 16: the Lord is the giver of blessings. Did you notice the repetition of the words “bless” or “blessed”?

This chapter shares a threefold call to trust in the LORD – one call to the house of Israel (the Jewish people), one call to the house of Aaron (the priesthood), and one call to “those [or all] who fear the LORD.”

How beautiful to see a threefold blessing, a confident statement assuring the listener that God will bless each of those groups.

The last theme of this psalm is seemingly simple:  PRAISE THE LORD!

That makes sense because He is worthy of our praise in light of all this psalm has shown us – that He is alive and powerful, that He is deserving of our trust, and that He is generous to bless without bias.

Shepherd leader, I encourage you today to write your own psalm (or song or prayer) of praise to our Good Shepherd. Remember His faithfulness, that He is the one truly living God with the power to bless, to provide, and to protect… and let’s remember to praise Him always.

He is worthy!