Psalms 115:6

6 They have ears, but they shall never hear; they have noses, but they shall never smell;

Psalms 115:6 Meaning and Commentary

Psalms 115:6

They have ears, but they hear not
The makers of them have taken care to place a pair of ears to their heads, but could not convey the faculty of hearing to them; so that though their priests may cry from morning to noon, as Baal's worshippers did, saying, O Baal, hear us; and even tonight, and one day and night after another, nothing is heard, ( 1 Kings 18:26 1 Kings 18:27 ) . Indeed the image of Jupiter at Crete was made without ears; because it was thought unbecoming that he, who was prince and lord of all, should give ear to any F25: but the God of heaven and earth is a God hearing prayer; his ear is not heavy, that it cannot hear; his ears are always open to the cries of his people.

Noses have they, but they smell not;
the incense that is set before them, nor the sacrifices offered to them, ( Deuteronomy 4:28 ) , but our God smelled a sweet savour in legal sacrifices, offered up in the faith of the Messiah; and especially he smells a sweet savour in the sacrifice of his Son, and in the prayers of his saints, which are sweet odours; and particularly as they come to him perfumed with the incense of Christ's mediation, ( Genesis 8:21 ) ( Ephesians 5:2 ) ( Revelation 5:8 ) ( Revelation 8:3 Revelation 8:4 ) .


FOOTNOTES:

F25 Plutarch. de Isid. & Osir. prope finem.

Psalms 115:6 In-Context

4 Their idols are silver and gold, the work of men’s hands.
5 They have mouths, but they shall never speak; they have eyes, but they shall never see:
6 They have ears, but they shall never hear; they have noses, but they shall never smell;
7 they have hands, but they shall never touch; they have feet, but they shall never walk; they shall never speak through their throat.
8 Let those that make them become like unto them, and every one that trusts in them.
The Jubilee Bible (from the Scriptures of the Reformation), edited by Russell M. Stendal, Copyright © 2000, 2001, 2010