Psalms Chapter 115
1 Not to us, LORD, not to us, but to your name give glory, for your loving kindness, and for your truth's sake.
2 Why should the nations say, "Where is their God, now?"
3 But our God is in the heavens. He does whatever he pleases.
4 Their idols are silver and gold, the work of men's hands.
5 They have mouths, but they don't speak. They have eyes, but they don't see.
6 They have ears, but they don't hear. They have noses, but they don't smell.
7 They have hands, but they don't feel. They have feet, but they don't walk, neither do they speak through their throat.
8 Those who make them will be like them; yes, everyone who trusts in them.
9 Israel, trust in the LORD! He is their help and their shield.
10 House of Aaron, trust in the LORD! He is their help and their shield.
11 You who fear the LORD, trust in the LORD! He is their help and their shield.
12 The LORD remembers us. He will bless us. He will bless the house of Israel. He will bless the house of Aaron.
13 He will bless those who fear the LORD, both small and great.
14 May the LORD increase you more and more, you and your children.
15 Blessed are you by the LORD, who made heaven and earth.
16 The heavens are the LORD's heavens, but he has given the earth to the children of men.
17 The dead don't praise the LORD, neither any who go down into silence;
18 but we will bless the LORD, from this time forward and forever more. Praise the LORD!
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Psalms Chapter 115 Guide
This third psalm in the Hallel is born of passion for the glory of the name of Jehovah. That is its opening note, and all that follows must be explained thereby. The singer’s distress is heard in the cry:
"Wherefore should the nations say, Where is now their God?"
Not first for the welfare of the people does he care, but for the vindication of his god. This is a deep note, and all too rare in our music. We are ever in danger of putting the welfare of man before the glory of God.
The song having uttered its keynote proceeds in a passage of fine scorn for idols and idol worshippers. These idols have form without power, appearance without life, and the effect of worshipping them is that the worshippers become insensate as they are.
Following this there is a fine appeal to the people of God to trust in Him, with a confident assurance that He will help. There then pass before the mind of the singer the heavens, God’s own habitation; the earth, entrusted to men; and Sheol, the place of silence. All ends with a declaration that sounds the note of triumph even over death, for the praise of His people is to continue for evermore.
And again the thought reverts to the upper room, and the Singer Whose deepest passion was ever the will of God and the glory of His name; to the One Who was soon going into the silence where no note of praise would be heard; and yet to the One Who would turn the silence into song for evermore.
From "An Exposition of the Whole Bible" by G. Campbell Morgan.
Psalms Chapter 115 Commentary
Chapter Outline
- 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.
From the "Concise Commentary on the Bible" by Matthew Henry.