Psalms 115:3-11

3 Our God is in heaven; he does whatever pleases him.
4 But their idols are silver and gold, made by human hands.
5 They have mouths, but cannot speak, eyes, but cannot see.
6 They have ears, but cannot hear, noses, but cannot smell.
7 They have hands, but cannot feel, feet, but cannot walk, nor can they utter a sound with their throats.
8 Those who make them will be like them, and so will all who trust in them.
9 All you Israelites, trust in the LORD— he is their help and shield.
10 House of Aaron, trust in the LORD— he is their help and shield.
11 You who fear him, trust in the LORD— he is their help and shield.

Psalms 115:3-11 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO PSALM 115

This psalm is by the Septuagint, Vulgate Latin, Syriac, Arabic, and Ethiopic versions, joined to the former, and makes one psalm with it: and Kimchi says, that in some books the psalm does not begin here; but in the best and correct copies of the Hebrew, and in the Targum, it stands a distinct psalm; and the different subject matter or argument shows it to be so. It is ascribed to various persons; by some to Moses and the Israelites, when pursued by Pharaoh: by others to the three companions of Daniel, cast into the fiery furnace: by others to Mordecai and Esther, when Haman distressed the Jews: by others to the heroes at the times of Antiochus and the Maccabees; so Theodoret: by some to Jehoshaphat, when a numerous army came against him; and by others to David, which is more probable; though on what occasion is not easy to say: some have thought it was written by him, when insulted by the Jebusites, 2Sa 5:6. The occasion of it seems to be some distress the church of God was in from the Heathens; and the design of it is to encourage trust and confidence in the Lord; and to excite the saints to give him the glory of all their mercies, and to expose the vanity of idols.

Cross References 8

  • 1. Ezra 5:11; Nehemiah 1:4; Psalms 103:19; Psalms 136:26; Matthew 6:9
  • 2. Psalms 135:6; Daniel 4:35
  • 3. Revelation 9:20
  • 4. Deuteronomy 4:28; S 2 Kings 19:18; S 2 Chronicles 32:19; Jeremiah 10:3-5; Acts 19:26
  • 5. Jeremiah 10:5
  • 6. Psalms 37:3; Psalms 62:8
  • 7. Exodus 30:30; Psalms 118:3
  • 8. Psalms 22:23; Psalms 103:11; Psalms 118:4
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