Psalms
Psalm 115
KJV
Not unto us, O Lord, not unto us, but unto thy name give glory, for thy mercy, and for thy truth’s sake.
Wherefore should the heathen say, Where is now their God?
But our God is in the heavens: he hath done whatsoever he hath pleased.
Their idols are silver and gold, the work of men’s hands.
They have mouths, but they speak not: eyes have they, but they see not:
They have ears, but they hear not: noses have they, but they smell not:
They have hands, but they handle not: feet have they, but they walk not: neither speak they through their throat.
They that make them are like unto them; so is every one that trusteth in them.
O Israel, trust thou in the Lord: he is their help and their shield.
O house of Aaron, trust in the Lord: he is their help and their shield.
Ye that fear the Lord, trust in the Lord: he is their help and their shield.
The Lord hath been mindful of us: he will bless us; he will bless the house of Israel; he will bless the house of Aaron.
He will bless them that fear the Lord, both small and great.
The Lord shall increase you more and more, you and your children.
Ye are blessed of the Lord which made heaven and earth.
The heaven, even the heavens, are the Lord’s: but the earth hath he given to the children of men.
The dead praise not the Lord, neither any that go down into silence.
But we will bless the Lord from this time forth and for evermore. Praise the Lord.
Overview
Psalm 115 moves from a refusal of self-glory to a contrast between the living God and human-made idols, then repeats a call to trust and closes with blessing, stewardship of the earth, and praise among the living.
Setting and context
A communal hymn traditionally associated with the Hallel. It contrasts God's living sovereignty with crafted images while strengthening a worshiping community under pressure or ridicule.
Themes
Glory to God · Covenant love · Idolatry · Trust · Help and shield · Blessing · Stewardship · Praise
Reflection
Reject self-glorification and misplaced trust, but do not turn anti-idolatry language into contempt for people, religions, cultures, art, or disability. Practice trust alongside responsible action, receive blessing without entitlement, care for the earth entrusted to humanity, and continue praise in the present life.
Reading notes
The psalm critiques misplaced trust in crafted idols; it does not authorize hatred, harassment, vandalism, forced conversion, or violence. The imagery contrasts lifeless objects with the living God and must not be weaponized against disabled persons. Receiving the earth entails accountable stewardship, not ecological domination without limits. It speaks from the psalm's earthly worship perspective and should be read within the wider biblical canon rather than isolated as a complete doctrine of the dead.
Key passages
Psalm 115:1: Glory is redirected away from the community and toward God because of steadfast love and faithfulness. Psalm 115:9: Israel is called to trust the Lord as help and shield. Psalm 115:16: Human responsibility on earth is stewardship, not permission for exploitation. Psalm 115:18: The living community resolves to continue praising the Lord.
Questions readers ask
Does Psalm 115 permit destroying religious images or insulting other believers? No. Its theological critique of idols is not a license for vandalism, coercion, hatred, or violence against people. Does Psalm 115:17 deny every form of conscious existence after death? The verse emphasizes praise among the living in this psalm; broader biblical teaching about death and resurrection should not be reduced to this line alone.