Sharper Iron — Time in the Psalms: Trust in the LORD, Not Stupid Idols

Rev. Zelwyn Heide, pastor at St. Peter Lutheran Church in Hannover, ND and Zion Lutheran Church in New Salem, ND, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Psalm 115.

In Psalm 115, the people of God pray that He alone would have the glory in the face of all idols. Though the nations may taunt the true God, their idols are seen to be absolutely nothing. As the work of human hands, idols have absolutely no power, and worshiping makes people stupid. The people of the true God, therefore, have every reason to trust in Him. He has remembered His people in the past and will continue to bless them into the future. As He grants to His people eternal life, they praise Him forever.

Join Sharper Iron during the month of July to study selected Psalms. In the Psalter, God speaks His Word to us and teaches us how to speak back to Him in prayer. Even in the great variety of the Psalms, each one points us to our Savior, Jesus Christ.

Sharper Iron, hosted by Rev. Timothy Appel, looks at the text of Holy Scripture both in its broad context and its narrow detail, all for the sake of proclaiming Christ crucified and risen for sinners. Two pastors engage with God’s Word to sharpen not only their own faith and knowledge, but the faith and knowledge of all who listen.

Sharper Iron is underwritten by Lutheran Church Extension Fund, where your investments help support the work of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. Visit lcef.org.

Psalm 115

To Your Name Give Glory

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!

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

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

⁹O Israel,^[a] trust in the Lord!
    He is their help and their shield.
¹⁰O house of Aaron, trust in the Lord!
    He is their help and their shield.
¹¹You who fear the Lord, trust in the Lord!
    He is their help and their shield.

¹²The Lord has remembered us; he will bless us;
    he will bless the house of Israel;
    he will bless the house of Aaron;
¹³he will bless those who fear the Lord,
    both the small and the great.

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

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

Footnotes

Psalm 115:9 Masoretic Text; many Hebrew manuscripts, Septuagint, Syriac O house of Israel

Rev. Timothy Appel

Although a mathematics degree may not be incredibly helpful to (proudly born-and-raised Texan) Rev. Timothy Appel while hosting Sharper Iron, his love of CFW Walther and the season of Easter will come in handy. His Call is shepherding the flock at Faith Lutheran Church in Godfrey, Illinois, and he’s also husband to wife Kristin and dad to their growing basketball team of children. When he’s not carrying out pastoral duties, you may find him reading “The Lord of the Rings,” snacking on Reese’s peanut butter cups, playing dominoes with his boys, or studying up on Texas history (including Sam Houston, of course).