Psalms 115:1

PSALM 115

GOD'S INFINITE EXCELLENCE ABOVE HEATHEN IDOLS

Although the date and occasion of this psalm cannot be certainly determined, the scholarly guesses on the subject are of interest. "Weiser favored a pre-exilic date," but McCullough thought that the evidence, "Favors the period of the Second Temple."[1] According to Leupold, "The time of composition was shortly after the return from Babylon."[2] Briggs identified the psalm, "With the Greek Period."[3] McCaw rejected the later dates, declaring that, "It is altogether simpler to see here the congregation assembled for worship at one of the great festivals in monarchic days."[4] The simple truth of the matter is that, "Nobody knows"!

This psalm is a part of the Hallel of Egypt. (See my discussion in Psalms 113.) Most writers agree that the psalm is liturgical, despite the fact that the exact usage of it in the worship is not clear. As noted earlier, this is one of the psalms sung at the end of the Passover celebration (and also other occasions), being therefore among the possible hymns used by Jesus and his disciples on the night of the Last Supper.

The divisions of the psalm according to Rawlinson are: (1) God's aid invoked (Psalms 115:1-3); (2) God contrasted with idols (Psalms 115:4-8); (3) Israel entreated to trust in the Lord (Psalms 115:9-13); and (4) God's blessing invoked (Psalms 115:14-18).[5]

Psalms 115:1-3

NOT UNTO US ... NOT UNTO US

"Not unto us, O Jehovah, not unto us,

But unto thy name give glory,

For thy lovingkindness, and for thy truth's sake.

Wherefore should the nations say,

Where is now their God?

But our God is in the heavens:

He hath done whatsoever he pleased."

The occasion here could have been one of several after which Israel had been shamefully humiliated or defeated. The loss of King Josiah in battle, the first conquest of Jerusalem, or the return from Babylon - any of these could have been the time. One thing is clear. Israel was suffering taunts from their heathen neighbors who mistakenly judged the misfortunes of Israel to have resulted from the weakness of Israel's God. That is the background of these three verses in which the .psalmist prays that God will glorify himself by exposing in some dramatic fashion the false notions of the heathen.

"Where is now their God?" (Psalms 115:2). "Such remarks, of course, were an indictment against the glory of God."[6] They show how desperate the situation in Israel must have been at that time.

"But our God is in the heavens; he hath done whatsoever he pleased" (Psalms 115:3). This is the psalmist's reply to the taunting question of the pagans. It says, in effect, that what has happened to Israel, "Was not evidence that God had forsaken them, but was proof that He is sovereign."[7]

"He hath done whatsoever he pleased" (Psalms 115:3). We agree with Leupold's criticism of our version here which, as he says, "Does not make this say enough. It removes the situation into the past."[8] It applies also to the present time and to all the future. "His divine sovereign will knows no restrictions or restraints."[9]