Psalm 115:1
Not unto us, O Lord, not unto us, But to Your name give glory, Because of Your mercy, Because of Your truth. Why should the Gentiles say, “So where is their God?” But our God is in heaven; He does whatever He pleases. Their idols are silver and gold, The work of men’s hands. They have mouths, but they do not speak; Eyes they have, but they do not see; They have ears, but they do not hear; Noses they have, but they do not smell; They have hands, but they do not handle; Feet they have, but they do not walk; Nor do they mutter through their throat. Those who make them are like them; So is everyone who trusts in them.
Nathaniel Appleton was an early American preacher and educator who passed away at age ninety, just after America won the Revolutionary War. One of his sermons is entitled “The Glory of Converting Grace to Be Given to God.” He said: “[We] must be careful to give all the glory to God. Although you ought to love and honor those that have been the means and instruments of your conversion, and may say as in Romans 10:15, ‘How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the Gospel…’ yet you must look upon them only as the means and instruments… and must look above and beyond them all to Christ, as the Author and Finisher of your faith; and to His Spirit which has wrought powerfully and effectually in all them that believe.”
The psalmist wanted to make sure we pass all the praise and glory along to the Lord for all He has done. By ourselves and within ourselves, we can accomplish nothing of eternal value. The Lord works through us to achieve His purposes. So let’s learn to say: “Not unto us, O Lord, not unto us, but to Your name give glory” (Dr. Jeremiah)
