It is not possible now to ascertain on what occasion this psalm was
composed, or who was its author. It has been generally believed that
it was written in the later periods of the Jewish history, and after
the captivity in Babylon. There is no improbability in the
supposition, though there is nothin... [ Continue Reading ]
NOT UNTO US, O LORD, NOT UNTO US, BUT UNTO THY NAME GIVE GLORY - This
apparently abrupt commencement of the psalm was undoubtedly in
reference to some circumstances which would be well understood at the
time when the psalm was composed, but which cannot be definitely
ascertained now. It seems to hav... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEREFORE SHOULD THE HEATHEN SAY - The nations; they who worshipped
idols, and who claimed that those idols were true gods. Why should we,
thy people, be so left, so forsaken, so afflicted, as to lead these
idolaters to suppose that we worship a false God, or that the God whom
we adore is destitute... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT OUR GOD IS IN THE HEAVENS - The Septuagint adds, “and in the
earth.” This is not, however, in the Hebrew. The idea is, Our God
really exists. He is the true God. He reigns in heaven. His plans are
such as are and should be formed in heaven: lofty, vast,
incomprehensible. But he is still our God;... [ Continue Reading ]
THEIR IDOLS - Their gods - the gods which they worship, as contrasted
with the God whom we adore. The design of this description Psalms
115:4 is to show the utter vanity of trusting in such gods, and to
lead the people of Israel to put their trust in the true God - in
Yahweh.
ARE SILVER AND GOLD - M... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY HAVE MOUTHS ... - They are shaped like people, but have none of
the attributes of intelligent beings.... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY THAT MAKE THEM ARE LIKE UNTO THEM - Stupid; senseless;
irrational. See the notes at Isaiah 44:9.
SO IS EVERYONE THAT TRUSTETH IN THEM - People who do this show that
they are destitute of all the proper attributes of reason, since such
gods cannot help them. It is most strange, as it appears to... [ Continue Reading ]
O ISRAEL, TRUST THOU IN THE LORD - This exhortation is founded in a
great measure on what had been just said in regard to idols. They had
no power. There was no reason why they should be confided in. They
could not help in the day of trouble; and as people need a god, and as
the idols cannot be to t... [ Continue Reading ]
O HOUSE OF AARON ... - Ministers of religion; descendants of Aaron.
His family was consecrated to the various services of the sanctuary.... [ Continue Reading ]
YE THAT FEAR THE LORD ... - All the people that reverence God; all his
true worshippers.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE LORD HATH BEEN MINDFUL OF US - This would be especially
appropriate if the psalm was written, as is commonly supposed, after
the return from the captivity of Babylon. In such circumstances it
would be every way proper to bring before the mind of the people the
fact that God had remembered them a... [ Continue Reading ]
HE WILL BLESS THEM THAT FEAR THE LORD - Compare Psalms 115:11.
BOTH SMALL AND GREAT - Margin, as in Hebrew, with. The little with the
great; children and grown persons; the poor and the rich; the ignorant
and the learned; those of humble rank, and those of most exalted birth
and condition.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE LORD SHALL INCREASE YOU MORE AND MORE - He will increase your
numbers and your power. We may suppose that the people were greatly
diminished by the captivity, and that on their return to their country
their number was comparatively small. This promise of a great increase
was in accordance with t... [ Continue Reading ]
YE ARE BLESSED OF THE LORD - Blessed in your present comforts and
mercies; blessed in his promises in regard to the time to come;
blessed in the prospects which are before you.
WHICH MADE HEAVEN AND EARTH - The true God; the great Creator of all
things. It was not the blessing of a creature - man o... [ Continue Reading ]
THE HEAVEN - Hebrew, “The heavens.”
EVEN THE HEAVENS ARE THE LORD’S - A more literal and correct
rendering of this would be, “The heavens are heavens for Jehovah.”
That is, he has reserved the heavens as a home for himself, or as his
special possession and home. Compare Isaiah 66:1; Matthew 5:34; A... [ Continue Reading ]
THE DEAD PRAISE NOT THE LORD - The meaning of this is, that as those
who are dead cannot praise God, or cannot worship him, this should be
done while we are in the land of the living. This opportunity, like
all other opportunities, will be cut off in the grave, and hence, we
should be faithful in th... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT WE WILL BLESS THE LORD ... - While life lasts; now and ever
onward. Our lives are spared; and while those lives shall be continued
they shall be spent in praise. We will transmit the praise to future
times; and when we are dead, the voice of praise shall be prolonged by
those who come after us.... [ Continue Reading ]