From Self-Glory to God's Glory: A Comprehensive Guide to Psalm 115
Baxter's Directory: Wise and Godly Counsel from a Shepherd of Souls
Dear fellow pilgrim of the narrow path,
Welcome to today’s meditation where we’ll explore the precious truths of Psalm 115. As we begin this journey together, I pray these reflections will deepen your walk with Christ and strengthen your resolve to live for his glory alone. If you find these thoughts beneficial, please consider sharing them with others who might be encouraged in their own spiritual journey.
The Crisis of Glory in Our Time
The psalmist begins with words that cut against the grain of our self-focused age: “Not to us, O LORD, not to us, but to your name give glory” (Psalm 115:1). This humble confession emerges from Israel’s experience of being mocked by the nations, who tauntingly asked, “Where is their God?” It’s a situation many believers find themselves in today, as our secular age increasingly dismisses faith as irrelevant or even delusional.
The challenge we face isn’t merely intellectual but deeply spiritual. When mockers ask, “Where is your God?” they’re really questioning whether our faith has any practical significance in the real world. They observe our lives, looking for evidence of divine power and presence, much as the nations did in the psalmist’s time.
The Human Condition: Our Deep-Seated Idolatry
The human heart is an idol factory, as John Calvin so aptly observed. We’re constantly manufacturing new objects of worship, even if we don’t carve them from wood or cast them in gold. Our contemporary idols are more sophisticated but no less demanding. They take the form of:
Achievement and career success
Social media influence and personal branding
Technological dependence and digital distraction
Relationship idealization and romantic fantasies
Physical appearance and bodily perfection
Financial security and material abundance
Political ideologies and cultural movements
Like the silver and gold idols the psalmist describes, these modern gods promise everything but deliver nothing. They have mouths but cannot speak truth into our lives, eyes but cannot see our real needs, ears but cannot hear our desperate cries, and hands but cannot deliver us from our troubles.
The Biblical Response: Living God vs. Dead Idols
The Scripture presents a magnificent contrast between the true God and false idols that speaks directly to our contemporary situation. Our God is in the heavens; he does all that he pleases (v.3). This is no mere theological abstraction but a living reality that shapes every aspect of our existence.
Consider the attributes of God revealed in this psalm:
His sovereign freedom (“He does all that he pleases”)
His active engagement with his people (“He is their help and shield”)
His faithful remembrance (“The LORD has remembered us”)
His generous blessing (“He will bless those who fear the LORD”)
In stark contrast, idols are characterized by their:
Earthbound nature (they are “the work of human hands”)
Complete impotence (they can neither speak, see, hear, smell, feel, nor walk)
Dehumanizing influence (those who make them become like them)
The Christian Theological Framework
The psalm’s theology anticipates what would later be fully revealed in Christ. The incarnation answers the mocking question “Where is their God?” in the most stunning way imaginable - God became flesh and dwelt among us. This reality transforms how we understand both divine glory and human dignity.
The early church fathers, particularly Athanasius, emphasized that we become like what we worship. If we worship dead idols, we become spiritually dead. But if we worship the living God revealed in Christ, we are transformed into his image from glory to glory (2 Corinthians 3:18).
The Psychology of Idolatry and Divine Glory
Modern psychological insights can help us understand the destructive nature of idolatry while affirming the psalm’s wisdom. When we attempt to find ultimate meaning in created things rather than the Creator, we experience what psychologists call “cognitive dissonance” - the mental stress that comes from trying to maintain faith in something we deep down know cannot bear the weight of our worship.
The symptoms of idolatry in our psychological life include:
Chronic anxiety about maintaining our idol’s approval
Depression when our idol fails to deliver promised satisfaction
Compulsive behavior in service to our idol
Defensive anger when our idol is threatened
Emotional exhaustion from constant striving
Baxter’s Key Principles for Our Time
Drawing from this psalm and broader biblical wisdom, we can establish several key principles for navigating our idol-prone age:
1. True joy comes through self-forgetfulness in God’s praise
2. Divine glory and human flourishing are not competing interests
3. Community worship strengthens individual faith
4. Active trust in God produces genuine security
5. Regular self-examination prevents idol attachment
Practical Applications
To make these truths actionable in daily life, consider these specific practices:
Morning Practices:
Begin each day with the declaration “Not to us, O LORD, not to us”
Review your calendar and commitments through the lens of God’s glory
Pray for grace to recognize and resist idol worship throughout the day
Throughout the Day:
Set regular times to pause and redirect praise to God
Practice gratitude for specific evidences of God’s faithfulness
Look for opportunities to point others to God’s sufficiency
Evening Practices:
Examine your day’s activities and attitudes for idol-serving patterns
Confess areas where you’ve sought your own glory
Thank God for specific ways he’s shown himself better than idols
Community Practices:
Participate regularly in corporate worship
Share with trusted believers about your struggles with idolatry
Encourage others by testifying to God’s faithfulness
Modern Application Through Ancient Wisdom
In our digital age, the temptation to idolatry has taken on new forms that Baxter’s contemporaries could never have imagined. Yet the underlying spiritual dynamics remain the same. Consider these modern scenarios and their biblical solutions:
Social Media Idolatry:
The temptation: Seeking validation through likes and follows
The truth: Our worth is established in Christ’s love
The practice: Regular digital fasts and reality checks
Career Idolatry:
The temptation: Finding identity in professional success
The truth: Our calling is primarily to glorify God
The practice: Sabbath-keeping and work boundaries
Questions for Personal Reflection
1. Identity and Glory:
How does your desire for recognition and appreciation reveal potential idol worship?
In what specific ways have you experienced the emptiness of seeking your own glory?
What would it look like to truly live for God’s glory in your current situation?
2. Trust and Security:
Where do you find yourself turning first in times of crisis?
How has God proven himself faithful when idols have failed you?
What specific fears drive you to trust in things other than God?
3. Worship and Transformation:
How has your character been shaped by what you most deeply admire and trust?
In what ways do you see yourself becoming like the God you worship?
What changes in your worship habits would help you focus more on God’s glory?
4. Community and Witness:
How does your life display the difference between serving the living God and dead idols?
In what ways does your church family help you resist idolatry?
How can you help others see the superiority of God over modern idols?
5. Practice and Progress:
What specific steps can you take this week to redirect praise from yourself to God?
How will you respond differently to life’s challenges if you truly believe “Not to us?”
What practices need to change in your life to better align with God’s glory?
In Christ’s service and yours,
Richard Baxter
Dear friend, thank you for joining me in this meditation on Psalm 115. If you’ve found these reflections helpful in your own walk with Christ, I warmly encourage you to share them with others who might benefit from these insights. Remember, there are additional resources available weekly that don’t go out via email. For more devotionals, Bible studies, and other resources to help you walk faithfully with Christ as his disciple, please visit our Walking Points website.