Psalms115
New Living Translation
1 Not to us, O Lord, not to us, but to your name goes all the glory for your unfailing love and faithfulness.
2 Why let the nations say, “Where is their God?”
3 Our God is in the heavens, and he does as he wishes.
4 Their idols are merely things of silver and gold, shaped 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, and throats but cannot make a sound.
8 And those who make idols are just like them, as are all who trust in them.
9 O Israel, trust the Lord! He is your helper and your shield.
10 O priests, descendants of Aaron, trust the Lord! He is your helper and your shield.
11 All you who fear the Lord, trust the Lord! He is your helper and your shield.
12 The Lord remembers us and will bless us. He will bless the people of Israel and bless the priests, the descendants of Aaron.
13 He will bless those who fear the Lord, both great and lowly.
14 May the Lord richly bless both you and your children.
15 May you be blessed by the Lord, who made heaven and earth.
16 The heavens belong to the Lord, but he has given the earth to all humanity.
17 The dead cannot sing praises to the Lord, for they have gone into the silence of the grave.
18 But we can praise the Lord both now and forever! Praise the Lord!
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Psalms 115Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Psalms 115. The full AI study guide (summary, themes, context) has its own page.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: Glory to be ascribed to God. (1–8). by trusting in him and praising him. (9–18).
vv1-8
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.
vv9-18
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.
Key Words
לֹא: not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
כִּי: (by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed
שֵׁם: an appellation, as amark or memorial of individuality; by implication honor, authority, character
נָתַן: to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.)
כָּבוֹד: properly, weight, but only figuratively in a good sense, splendor or copiousness
עַל: above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
חֵסֵד: kindness; by implication (towards God) piety; rarely (by opposition) reproof, or (subject.) beauty
אֶמֶת: stability; (figuratively) certainty, truth, trustworthiness
מָה: properly, interrogative what? (including how? why? when?); but also exclamation, what! (including how!), or indefinitely what (including whatever, and even relatively, that which); often used with prefixes in various adverbial or conjunctive senses
גּוֹי: a foreign nation; hence, a Gentile; also (figuratively) a troop of animals, or a flight of locusts
Cross References
Psalms 115Calvin identifies this as the covenant promise where God states He acts for His own sake, not ours.
Supported by John Calvin
Virtually identical liturgical description and mockery of the vanity of dumb heathen idols.
Supported by Matthew Poole, John Calvin
Direct textual parallel stating that idol makers and worshippers become spiritually dead like their creations.
Supported by Matthew Poole, John Calvin
Reinforces God's absolute sovereignty to do whatever pleases Him in heaven and earth.
Supported by Matthew Poole, John Calvin
Classic prophetic exposure of the utter folly and blindness of crafting and worshipping idols.
Supported by JFB
Identical lament regarding the mocking heathen question, 'Where is their God?' during times of distress.
Supported by John Calvin, JFB
Parallel sentiment that the dead in the grave cannot praise or celebrate God's truth.
Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB
Identical threefold liturgical division calling Israel, the house of Aaron, and God-fearing Gentiles to trust Him.
Supported by JFB
Echoes the specific dual formulation of Jehovah as the believer's 'help and shield.'
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole
Parallel assertion that the highest heavens belong to the Lord, yet He chose the earth.
Supported by Matthew Poole