Psalms 115

1 Not to us, ADONAI, not to us, but to your name give glory, because of your grace and truth.

2 Why should the nations ask, "Where is their God?"

3 Our God is in heaven; he does whatever pleases him.

4 Their idols are mere silver and gold, made by human hands.

5 They have mouths, but they can't speak; they have eyes, but they can't see;

6 they have ears, but they can't hear; they have noses, but they can't smell;

7 they have hands, but they can't feel; they have feet, but they can't walk; with their throats they can't make a sound.

8 The people who make them will become like them, along with everyone who trusts in them.

9 Isra'el, trust in ADONAI! He is their help and shield.

10 House of Aharon, trust in ADONAI! He is their help and shield.

11 You who fear ADONAI, trust in ADONAI! He is their help and shield.

12 ADONAI has kept us in mind, and he will bless. He will bless the house of Isra'el; he will bless the house of Aharon;

13 he will bless those who fear ADONAI, great and small alike.

14 May ADONAI increase your numbers, both yours and those of your children.

15 May you be blessed by ADONAI, the maker of heaven and earth.

16 Heaven belongs to ADONAI, but the earth he has given to humankind.

17 The dead can't praise ADONAI, not those who sink down into silence.

18 But we will bless ADONAI from now on and forever. Halleluyah!

Psalms 115 Commentary

Chapter 115

Glory to be ascribed to God. (1-8) by trusting in him and praising him. (9-18)

Verses 1-8 Let no opinion of our own merits have any place in our prayers or in our praises. All the good we do, is done by the power of his grace; and all the good we have, is the gift of his mere mercy, and he must have all the praise. Are we in pursuit of any mercy, and wrestling with God for it, we must take encouragement in prayer from God only. Lord, do so for us; not that we may have the credit and comfort of it, but that they mercy and truth may have the glory of it. The heathen gods are senseless things. They are the works of men's hands: the painter, the carver, the statuary, can put no life into them, therefore no sense. The psalmist hence shows the folly of the worshippers of idols.

Verses 9-18 It is folly to trust in dead images, but it is wisdom to trust in the living God, for he is a help and a shield to those that trust in him. Wherever there is right fear of God, there may be cheerful faith in him; those who reverence his word, may rely upon it. He is ever found faithful. The greatest need his blessing, and it shall not be denied to the meanest that fear him. God's blessing gives an increase, especially in spiritual blessings. And the Lord is to be praised: his goodness is large, for he has given the earth to the children of men for their use. The souls of the faithful, after they are delivered from the burdens of the flesh, are still praising him; but the dead body cannot praise God: death puts an end to our glorifying him in this world of trial and conflict. Others are dead, and an end is thereby put to their service, therefore we will seek to do the more for God. We will not only do it ourselves, but will engage others to do it; to praise him when we are gone. Lord, thou art the only object for faith and love. Help us to praise thee while living and when dying, that thy name may be the first and last upon our lips: and let the sweet savour of thy name refresh our souls for ever.

Chapter Summary

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.