Not to us, O Lord, but to your name give the glory.
Psalm 115:1-4, 15-16. May 8, 2023 - Monday, Fifth Week of Easter
The question, “Where is their God?”, the Gentiles could ask seeing the miserable situation of Israel after the Babylonia exile. But this question is often raised in theological discussions. Prophet Isaiah once stated that Israel’s God tends to hide himself (Is 45:15) and this presents a problem for many. The idols of the Gentiles could be seen in their human-made images but the God of the Bible cannot be represented by any carved image. Isaiah’s statement reveals the mystery of God that infinitely surpasses our understanding. But many misunderstood it and take it as evidence that He either does not exist or cannot help those who believe in him.
The psalmist is aware of this theological problem that only God can solve. He calls upon God to reveal himself to the nations by acting on behalf of his people. “Not to us, O LORD, not to us but to your name give glory” (Ps 115:1). God’s holy name is at stake here. By saving his people from tragic situations, the Lord will show his power and mercy. Jesus included a similar request in his prayer when he taught us to pray for the holiness of God’s name (see Matt 6:9).
The statement of the psalmist that “our God is in heaven” presents yet another contrast with idols that are on earth. Those idols cannot do anything for their worshippers. But “our God [who] is in heaven” exercises sovereignty over the entire creation and the history of humanity. The Church teaches that God’s Providence is “concrete and immediate”: “God cares for all, from the least things to the great events of the world and its history” (CCC, 303). This statement is a call to trust. Since God is in control, Israel, the priests, and all those who fear the Lord should trust in the Lord who is “their help and shield” (see Ps 115:9-11). We find the same call to trust in the providence of the Father who knows what we need in the New Testament (see Matt 6:31-33).
The final contrast between the God of Israel and the idols of the Gentiles is the statement that the Lord made heaven and earth while the idols were made by people. Moreover, the Lord created and assigned the earth to humans (see Gen 1:27-29). We are God’s representative and our lives should glorify God’s name.
I think that this psalm presents a challenge for us. We have become so great in mastering the earth that we now trust more in ourselves than in God. Moreover, we have turned our technological tools created by our handiwork into idols. We tend to believe that with the advance of technology, we can solve most if not all of our problems. And so God is less and less mentioned in our discussion and we seldom take him into account. But somewhere, unnoticed by social media, there remains a group of those who still fear the Lord, trust in his providence and pray with the words of the psalmist: “Not to us, O Lord, but to your name give the glory” (Ps 115:1).