Non Nobis Domine
The psalm begins with the famous phrase, “not to us, Oh Lord, not to us, but to Your name give glory.” The people of God are calling God to act in such a wonderful way of deliverance so as to bring glory upon Himself. They are asking God to act to magnify Himself by acting on behalf of His people because His reputation is at stake (1-3). Every believer should be able to say in every circumstance, “not to me, but to Your name receive glory.”
The God of Israel is sovereign and does exactly as He pleases (3). He has the power to fulfil His will; unlike the worthless idols of the nations. They may have mouths, eyes, ears, noses, hands, and feet; yet they cannot interact with people or even make a sound (4-7). Idolatry is rebellion against God because it reverses the created order; for men try to make gods in their own image. Idolaters become like the very things that they worship; deaf, dumb, degraded, and like their idols, in the end destined for destruction (8).
In contrast to the unbelievers trusting in their idols, God’s people trust in Him (9-11). They continually discern the blessings of the Lord as they wait and trust in Him (12-15). For the nation of Israel their physical blessings were tied covenantally (Deut 28-29) to their faithful obedience to YHWH. This side of the cross, believers have received every spiritual blessing that we need (Eph 1:3; 2 Peter 1:3) to live for Christ now.
The psalm ends with a call for God’s people to praise God forever. The idolatrous people of the earth are spiritually dead and will not give God glory. But as for us we will glorify His name forever (16-18).