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Matthew Henry

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 115:8

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

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 115:9

O Israel, trust thou in the Lord ,.... Or, "the house of Israel hath trusted in the Lord": so the Septuagint, Vulgate Latin, Syriac, Arabic, and Ethiopic versions: the Targum is, "Israel trusteth in the Word of the Lord;' in distinction from the Heathens, that trust in their idols. But it is better rendered as an imperative, trust thou; it being an exhortation to Israel to trust in the Lord, in opposition to idols; and may be understood of Israel, literally taken, who were God's chosen... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 115:10

O house of Aaron, trust in the Lord ,.... The family of the tribe of Levi, that was separated from the rest, to minister in the priest's office, to offer gifts and sacrifices for the people, and to bless them; and therefore ought to trust in the Lord, and set a good example to others: as ministers of the word should, who are intrusted with much by the Lord, and should trust in him for much; for every supply of gifts and grace; and the rather, as they are to be examples of faith to the... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 115:10

O house of Aaron - All the different classes of the priesthood. read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 115:8

Verse 8 8They who make them shall be like unto them. Many are of opinion that this is an imprecation, and hence translate the future tense in the optative mood, may they become like unto them But it will be equally appropriate to regard it as the language of ridicule, as if the prophet should affirm that the idolaters are equally stupid with the stocks and stones themselves. And he deservedly severely reprehends men naturally endued with understanding, because they divest themselves of reason... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 115:9

Verse 9 9O Israel! trust thou in Jehovah The prophet again resumes the doctrinal point, that the genuine worshippers of God have no cause to fear that he will forsake or frustrate them in the time of need; because he is as much disposed to provide for their safety as he is furnished with power to do it. He proceeds, in the first place, to exhort all the Israelites generally to place their confidence in God; and, secondly, he addresses the house of Aaron in particular; and, thirdly, he sets down... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 115:1-11

True and false worship. In strong, nervous language we have here presented to us— I. THE MAJESTY AND THE POWER OF GOD . ( Psalms 115:3 .) The heathen, in their ignorance, want to know where Jehovah is ; they cannot see him. The reply is that he does not dwell in temples made with hands; that he is not confined to one building, larger or smaller; that no earthly trappings or grandeurs in any sacred city give any notion of his state. " Our God is in the heavens;" he... read more

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