Psalm 115:6

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

Psalm 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 ) .

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FOOTNOTES:

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

Psalm 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.