Psalm 115:1-8

1 To you alone, O Lord, to you alone, and not to us, must glory be given because of your constant love and faithfulness.

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

3 Our God is in heaven; he does whatever he wishes.

4 Their gods are made of silver and gold, ¹ formed by human hands.

5 They have mouths, but cannot speak, and eyes, but cannot see.

6 They have ears, but cannot hear, and noses, but cannot smell.

7 They have hands, but cannot feel, and feet, but cannot walk; they cannot make a sound.

8 May all who made them and who trust in them become like the idols they have made.

Psalm 115:1-8 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

• 1. 115.4-8Psalms 135.15-18;+2 LetJeremiah 4-73; +1Rev 9.20.

Footnotes

• [a] May all . . . become; [or] All who made them and who trust in them will become.