We place our trust in all sorts of things, people and skills every day. During this COVID crisis, for example, we’ve been trusting in our government to keep us safe and our scientists and researchers to show us how to stay healthy. So, how well are they doing? Are they completely worthy of our faith?

In Psalm 115, the psalmist mocks the statues of false gods that so many people were worshipping in his day. Sure, they had mouths, but that doesn’t mean they could tell anyone how to solve their problems. Sure, they had eyes and ears, but nothing made of wood or stone or metal could really take notice when anyone was in trouble. Sure, they had hands and feet, but could they really help anyone or come to their rescue? Of course not (vv. 4-7)!

And so many of our modern idols are just as impotent. For how many people have sought solace in a bottle or a needle, only to find their problems becoming worse and worse? How many people have thought that a new husband or wife would make them happy, only to find that they brought all their old selfish ways of living with them into their new relationships? How many people have thought they could earn or spend their way into happiness, only to find that the dollars in their bank account or the things they have bought are just as mute, just as helpless as all those ancient gold and silver statues? No, the sad truth is that those who continue to put their trust in dead things will end up the same condition (v. 8), and there’s nothing any of those idols can do about it.

So, doesn’t it make more sense to put our trust in the Lord? After all, only He is our help and our shield (vv. 9-11), because only He has provided a Savior for all who trust in Him. And because Jesus has risen from the dead and ascended into Heaven, He has all authority over anything and everything that can threaten us (v. 3). And that means we can trust Him to bless us in His own way, in His own time (vv. 12-13).

So let’s turn away from anyone and anything else in which we are tempted to put our trust today. And let’s give God all the praise and glory that He alone deserves.

Psalm 115 (NASB)

Not to us, O LORD, not to us, But to Thy name give glory Because of Thy lovingkindness, because of Thy truth.
2 Why should the nations say, “Where, now, is their God?”
3 But our God is in the heavens; He does whatever He pleases.
4 Their idols are silver and gold, The work of man’s hands.
5 They have mouths, but they cannot speak; They have eyes, but they cannot see;
6 They have ears, but they cannot hear; They have noses, but they cannot smell;
7 They have hands, but they cannot feel; They have feet, but they cannot walk; They cannot make a sound with their throat.
8 Those who make them will become like them, Everyone who trusts 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 been mindful of 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, The small together with the great.
14 May the LORD give you increase, You and your children.
15 May you be blessed of the LORD, Maker of heaven and earth.
16 The heavens are the heavens of the LORD; But the earth He has given to the sons of men.
17 The dead do not praise the LORD, Nor do any who go down into silence;
18 But as for us, we will bless the LORD From this time forth and forever. Praise the LORD!