Psalm 115:1-150

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Psalms 115:1-8

Sufficient care is here taken to answer both the pretensions of self and the reproaches of idolaters. I. Boasting is here for ever excluded, Ps. 115:1. Let no opinion of our own merits have any room either in our prayers or in our praises, but let both centre in God's glory. 1. Have we received any mercy, gone through any service, or gained any success? We must not assume the glory of it to ourselves, but ascribe it wholly to God. We must not imagine that we do any thing for God by our own... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Psalms 115:9-18

In these verses, I. We are earnestly exhorted, all of us, to repose our confidence in God, and not suffer our confidence in him to be shaken by the heathens? insulting over us upon the account of our present distresses. 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 do trust in them, a help to furnish them with and forward them in that which is good, and a shield to fortify them against and protect them from every... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 115:1

Not unto us, O Lord, not unto us, but unto thy name give glory ,.... There is no glory due to men; no, not to the best of men, not to be given them on any account whatever; neither on account of things natural, civil, and temporal, nor on account of things spiritual and eternal; but all to be given to the Lord: for, as for their beings and the preservation of them, with all the mercies of life, food, raiment, &c.; they are not of themselves, but of the Lord; and so are the salvation of... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 115:2

Wherefore should the Heathen say ,.... The nations about Israel, the nations of the world; the Gentiles in any age; the Papists in ours, sometimes called the Heathen, Psalm 10:16 . The church expostulates with the Lord why those should be suffered to say, in a reproachful, insulting, manner, and by way of triumph, where is now their God ? that they have boasted of would help them; in whom they have put their trust and confidence; why does not he help them, as he has promised, and they... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 115:3

But our God is in the heavens ,.... His habitation is in the heavens, as the Targum; the Septuagint and Arabic versions add, "and in earth": he is in both, and fills both with his presence; and cannot be contained in either. He is the Maker and Possessor of heaven and earth; the one is his throne, and the other is his footstool: he dwells in the highest heaven, and overlooks all persons and things on earth, and overrules all; he is higher than the highest, and his kingdom ruleth over all. ... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 115:4

Their idols are silver and gold ,.... The idols of the Gentiles; so the Septuagint, Vulgate Latin, Syriac, Arabic, and Ethiopic versions. The gods they serve and worship are not in the heavens; but the matter of which they are made is dug out of the earth: and this is the greatest excellency and value that there is in them; and such as are made of these are of the greatest worth, and yet only for the matter of them, otherwise useless and inanimate statues; such are the idols of the Papists, ... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 115:5

They have mouths, but they speak not ,.... These idols are carved with mouths, but they make no use of them; if any cry to them for they cannot answer them, nor save them from their troubles. Baal's priests cried to their idol, but was no voice heard, nor answer returned; they are rightly called dumb idols, Habakkuk 2:18 , 1 Kings 18:26 , but our God in the heavens, when his people cry to him, he answers them, and sends them relief; and tells them his grace is sufficient for them, and so... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible 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 . Indeed the image of Jupiter at Crete was made without ears; because it was thought unbecoming that he, who was prince and lord... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 115:7

They have hands, but they handle not ,.... So as to feel any thing that is put into their hands; they cannot make use of their hands to stretch them out, and receive anything from their worshippers; nor can they give anything to them: but our God receives and accepts the sacrifices of his people, their prayers and their praises; and opens his hand, and liberally supplies their wants, both in providence and grace. Feet have they, but they walk not ; cannot stir from the place where they... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 115:8

They that make them are like unto them ,.... As stupid as the matter of which they are made; as sottish and as senseless as the idols themselves, see Isaiah 44:9 . Aben Ezra and Kimchi interpret it as a petition, "let them that make them be like unto them"; and so the Targum, the Septuagint, Vulgate Latin, Syriac, Arabic, and Ethiopic versions: they liked not to retain God in their knowledge, let them be given up to a reprobate mind, to a mind void of all sense and judgment; and which... read more

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