Psalm 115:1-8
1 Not to us, Lord, not to us but to your name be the glory, because of your love and faithfulness.
2 Why do the nations say, “Where is their God?”
3 Our God is in heaven; he does whatever pleases him.
4 But their idols are silver and gold, made by human hands.
5 They have mouths, but cannot speak, eyes, but cannot see.
6 They have ears, but cannot hear, noses, but cannot smell.
7 They have hands, but cannot feel, feet, but cannot walk, nor can they utter a sound with their throats.
8 Those who make them will be like them, and so will all who trust in them. [1]
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What struck me in these verses this morning is the deceptiveness of idolatry. The psalmist points to the lies that are at the core of the attraction of idolatry. They give the impression of being able to speak, hear and see, but in fact cannot.
No idol can deliver on the promises it makes. This is as true today with our contemporary idols as it was when this psalm was written. Whether we are considering an idol of gold or gold as an idol, the promise of happiness, fulfillment and security falls short. The idols of popularity, pleasure and possessions can’t deliver as advertised. Even relationships, family and friends, when they become idols cannot provide for us what only God can.
It is interesting that the psalm begins with deflecting glory from ourselves and directing it to God. The most persistent and most deceptive idol is ego. It’s an idol we struggle to run from because we carry it with us wherever we go.
Our hope is in Christ alone. Nowhere else.
So my prayer today is for the strength to give Christ the glory alone. I pray for the Spirit’s leading that I may reject idolatry in all its forms as it crosses my path today.
What is the Word leading you to pray about today?
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[1] The New International Version. (2011). (Ps 115:1–8). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.
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