Not to us, O Lord, not to us, But to your name give glory; For the sake of your steadfast love and faithfulness.
Why should the nations say, “Where is their God?” Our God is in the heavens, and he does as he pleases.
Their idols are silver and gold, The work of human hands; But we trust in the Lord our God.
You who fear the Lord, Trust in him, and he will be your help; He is your shield and your protection.
The Lord has been mindful of us; He will bless us and our children; He will increase our numbers and our prosperity.
Blessed be the Lord, Who has heard our prayers and shown us mercy; Praise the Lord, all you who fear him.
The emergence of Psalm 115
Psalm 115 has a rich history in both the Jewish and Christian traditions. It is a powerful prayer of trust in God and was used for centuries as an affirmation of faith and devotion.
In the Jewish tradition, Psalm 115 was recited as part of the Passover celebration. It reminded the Jews that their God was real and powerful, unlike the false idols worshipped by other nations.
For Christians, Psalm 115 became an important part of the liturgy during the Middle Ages. It was seen as an affirmation of faith in the one true God and a rejection of the false idols of the world.
During the Protestant Reformation, Psalm 115 became an important text for reformers like Martin Luther. He saw in the psalm a call to focus on faith in Christ alone, rather than on the false idols of the world.
Today, Psalm 115 is still an important part of the Catholic and Protestant liturgies. It is often used as an affirmation of faith and devotion, reminding us to trust in God alone and reject the false idols of the world.
The psalm has inspired countless hymns and other musical works, including a well-known setting by Handel. Its words have given comfort and hope to millions of people over the centuries, and it continues to be a powerful prayer of trust and devotion today.