Psalms 115

¹Not unto us, O LORD, not unto us, but unto thy name give glory, for thy mercy, and for thy truth's sake.

²Wherefore should the heathen say, Where is now their God?

³But our God is in the heavens: he hath done whatsoever he hath pleased.

Psa 115:1-18. The Psalmist prays that God would vindicate His glory, which is contrasted with the vanity of idols, while the folly of their worshippers is contrasted with the trust of God’s people, who are encouraged to its exercise and to unite in the praise which it occasions. 1-3. The vindication of God’s mercy and faithfulness (Psa 25:10; 36:6) is the “glory” of His “name,” which is desired to be illustrated in the deliverance of His people, as the implied mode of its manifestation. In view of the taunts of the heathen, faith in His dominion as enthroned in the heaven (Psa 2:4; 11:4) is avowed.

⁴Their idols are silver and gold, the work of men's hands.

⁵They have mouths, but they speak not: eyes have they, but they see not:

⁶They have ears, but they hear not: noses have they, but they smell not:

⁷They have hands, but they handle not: feet have they, but they walk not: neither speak they through their throat.

4-7. (Compare Is 40:18-20; 44:9-20).

⁸They that make them are like unto them; so is every one that trusteth in them.

8. every one that trusteth--they who trust, whether makers or not.

⁹O Israel, trust thou in the LORD: he is their help and their shield.

¹⁰O house of Aaron, trust in the LORD: he is their help and their shield.

¹¹Ye that fear the LORD, trust in the LORD: he is their help and their shield.

¹²The LORD hath been mindful of us: he will bless us; he will bless the house of Israel; he will bless the house of Aaron.

¹³He will bless them that fear the LORD, both small and great.

9-13. The repetitions imply earnestness.

¹⁴The LORD shall increase you more and more, you and your children.

14. Opposed to the decrease pending and during the captivity.

¹⁵Ye are blessed of the LORD which made heaven and earth.

¹⁶The heaven, even the heavens, are the LORD'S: but the earth hath he given to the children of men.

¹⁷The dead praise not the LORD, neither any that go down into silence.

15-17. They were not only God’s peculiar people, but as living inhabitants of earth, assigned the work of His praise as monuments of divine power, wisdom, and goodness.

¹⁸But we will bless the LORD from this time forth and for evermore. Praise the LORD.

18. Hence let us fulfil the purpose of our creation, and evermore show forth His praise.