A Song About Trust in God’s Glorious Name

Sermon Summary

Psalm 115 contrasts the living, invisible God with lifeless idols, calling us to give glory to His name above all else. While idols are powerless and lead their worshipers to spiritual death, the invisible God works for His people, protects them, and offers true blessing and life through trust in Him. As followers of Christ, we are called to flee from idols, trust in God's steadfast love and faithfulness, and worship Him with joy, knowing He alone gives eternal life.

Sermon Outline:

1. His Name is Glorious  (Psalm 115:1-3) – The psalmist calls us to glorify God’s name because of His steadfast love and faithfulness, surpassing all idols.

2. We Become What We Worship (Psalm 115:4-8) – Idols are lifeless, and those who trust them reflect their emptiness, but God calls us to worship Him and reflect His life and holiness.

3. He Is Trustworthy (Psalm 115:9-11) – Unlike idols, God is our help and shield, deserving our full trust even in times of waiting.

4. He Blesses Those Who Trust in His Name (Psalm 115:12-18) – God remembers His promises, blessing His people with life and joy, so they can praise Him now and forever.

Sermon Text: Psalm 115:1-18

115 Not to us, O Lord, not to us, but to your name give glory,
    for the sake of your steadfast love and your faithfulness!

² Why should the nations say,
    “Where is their God?”
³ Our God is in the heavens;
    he does all that he pleases.

⁴ Their idols are silver and gold,
    the work of human hands.
⁵ They have mouths, but do not speak;
    eyes, but do not see.
⁶ They have ears, but do not hear;
    noses, but do not smell.
⁷ They have hands, but do not feel;
    feet, but do not walk;
    and they do not make a sound in their throat.
⁸ Those who make them become like them;
    so do all who trust 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 remembered 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,
    both the small and the great.

¹⁴ May the Lord give you increase,
    you and your children!
¹⁵ May you be blessed by the Lord,
    who made heaven and earth!

¹⁶ The heavens are the Lord's heavens,
    but the earth he has given to the children of man.
¹⁷ The dead do not praise the Lord,
    nor do any who go down into silence.
¹⁸ But we will bless the Lord
    from this time forth and forevermore.
Praise the Lord!

Discussion Questions:

1. What keeps us from trusting God's name?

2. In what ways have you seen that we become what we worship?

3. How have idols proven themselves to be dead in your life?

4. How have you seen God work for His people?

5. When you have to wait, do you trust in God? How do we know we can trust Him in waiting?

6. How does Exodus 14 demonstrate that God is trustworthy?

7. How has worshiping God's name changed your life?

8. How does Philippians 2:9-11 help us know that we can trust in God's name?