Three times, the Psalmist says, "trust the LORD! He is your helper; He is your shield." It makes the Psalm lyrical, as a song, but also, it emphasizes how important our trust in Him is, and why. He is here to help us through trouble, and protect us from evil.
These are words to pen onto my heart. I am terrible at memorizing scripture. But this is a phrase that I could definitely call up any time.
Blessings to you,
Lili
Psalm 115
1Not to us, O LORD, but to you goes all the glory for your unfailing love and faithfulness.2Why let the nations say, "Where is their God?"3For our God is in the heavens, and he does as he wishes.4Their idols are merely things of silver and gold, shaped by human hands.5They cannot talk, though they have mouths, or see, though they have eyes!6They cannot hear with their ears, or smell with their noses,7or feel with their hands, or walk with their feet, or utter sounds with their throats!8And those who make them are just like them, as are all who trust in them.9O Israel, trust the LORD! He is your helper; he is your shield.10O priests of Aaron, trust the LORD! He is your helper; he is your shield.11All you who fear the LORD, trust the LORD! He is your helper; he is your shield.12The LORD remembers us, and he will surely bless us. He will bless the people of Israel and the family of Aaron, the priests.13He will bless those who fear the LORD, both great and small.14May the LORD richly bless both you and your children.15May you be blessed by the LORD, who made heaven and earth.16The heavens belong to the LORD, but he has given the earth to all humanity.17The dead cannot sing praises to the LORD, for they have gone into the silence of the grave.18But we can praise the LORD both now and forever! Praise the LORD!
(the following is from matthew Henry's Concise Commentary -- www.christnotes.org)
"Chapter Contents
Glory to be ascribed to God. (1-8) by trusting in him and praising him. (9-18)
Commentary on Psalm 115:1-8
Let no opinion of our own merits have any place in our prayers or in our praises. All the good we do, is done by the power of his grace; and all the good we have, is the gift of his mere mercy, and he must have all the praise. Are we in pursuit of any mercy, and wrestling with God for it, we must take encouragement in prayer from God only. Lord, do so for us; not that we may have the credit and comfort of it, but that they mercy and truth may have the glory of it. The heathen gods are senseless things. They are the works of men's hands: the painter, the carver, the statuary, can put no life into them, therefore no sense. The psalmist hence shows the folly of the worshippers of idols.
Commentary on Psalm 115:9-18
It is folly to trust in dead images, but it is wisdom to trust in the living God, for he is a help and a shield to those that trust in him. Wherever there is right fear of God, there may be cheerful faith in him; those who reverence his word, may rely upon it. He is ever found faithful. The greatest need his blessing, and it shall not be denied to the meanest that fear him. God's blessing gives an increase, especially in spiritual blessings. And the Lord is to be praised: his goodness is large, for he has given the earth to the children of men for their use. The souls of the faithful, after they are delivered from the burdens of the flesh, are still praising him; but the dead body cannot praise God: death puts an end to our glorifying him in this world of trial and conflict. Others are dead, and an end is thereby put to their service, therefore we will seek to do the more for God. We will not only do it ourselves, but will engage others to do it; to praise him when we are gone. Lord, thou art the only object for faith and love. Help us to praise thee while living and when dying, that thy name may be the first and last upon our lips: and let the sweet savour of thy name refresh our souls for ever."
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