Psalms 115

1 (113-9) Not to us, O Lord, not to us; but to thy name give glory.

2 (113-10) For thy mercy, and for thy truth’s sake: lest the Gentiles should say: Where is their God?

3 (113-11) But our God is in heaven: he hath done all things whatsoever he would.

4 (113-12) The idols of the Gentiles are silver and gold, the works of the hands of men.

5 (113-13) They have mouths and speak not: they have eyes and see not.

6 (113-14) They have ears and hear not: they have noses and smell not.

7 (113-15) They have hands and feel not: they have feet and walk not: neither shall they cry out through their throat.

8 (113-16) Let them that make them become like unto them: and all such as trust in them.

9 (113-17) The house of Israel hath hoped in the Lord: he is their helper and their protector.

10 (113-18) The house of Aaron hath hoped in the Lord: he is their helper and their protector.

11 (113-19) They that fear the Lord have hoped in the Lord: he is their helper and their protector.

12 (113-20) The Lord hath been mindful of us, and hath blessed us. He hath blessed the house of Israel: he hath blessed the house of Aaron.

13 (113-21) He hath blessed all that fear the Lord, both little and great.

14 (113-22) May the Lord add blessings upon you: upon you, and upon your children.

15 (113-23) Blessed be you of the Lord, who made heaven and earth.

16 (113-24) The heaven of heaven is the Lord’s: but the earth he has given to the children of men.

17 (113-25) The dead shall not praise thee, O Lord: nor any of them that go down to hell.

18 (113-26) But we that live bless the Lord: from this time now and for ever.

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.