Anakalypsis / Unveiling the Word
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⚙ Annotations & References ▾
Themes 8 ▾
Glory of God 1 Truth 1 Sovereignty of God 3 Idolatry 4, 8 Blessing and Curse 13, 15 Love 15 Creation 15 Heaven 16
People 1 ▾
Aaron Exodus & Wilderness 10, 12
Historic voices 11 ▾
Heidelberg Catechism 2× 1 Summa Theologica 1× 2, 11 Catechism of the Catholic Church 6× 3-5, 8, 15-16 Belgic Confession 1× 3 City of God 1× 5 Second Helvetic Confession 1× 5 Homilies on the Epistle to the Hebrews 1× 7 Homilies on the Epistle to the Romans 1× 15 John Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible 1× 1-18 Keil and Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament 1× 1, 3, 9, 15 Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary 1× 1, 9
Manuscript witnesses 5 ▾
Codex Sinaiticus Aleph c. AD 330-360 Codex Vaticanus B c. AD 300-325 Codex Alexandrinus A c. AD 400-440 Aleppo Codex (Crown of Aleppo) c. AD 930 Leningrad Codex (Codex Leningradensis) AD 1008
Cross-references 136 ▾
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What is Psalms 115 about?

Still within the Passover Hallel, this psalm answers the taunt of the nations who ask, "Where is now their God?" Glory is refused to Israel and given wholly to the LORD, whose heavens stand over against the silver-and-gold idols that have mouths but cannot speak and eyes but cannot see. Those who make them become as lifeless as they are, while Israel is called to trust the LORD as their help and shield. The dead cannot praise Him, but His covenant people will bless Him from this time forth for evermore, confessing the one true God amid a world of idols.

Historical backdrop

These are the songbook of a nation, sung across a thousand years of Israel's worship, from Moses in the wilderness to the exiles returned from Babylon. They were carried from the tabernacle to Solomon's temple to the second temple rebuilt under Persia, set to the lyre and the harp and the clash of cymbals in the courts of the LORD.

Matthew Henry on Psalms 115
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Psalms 115
The Church Fathers on Psalms 115
Cited by the confessions

Psalms 115

Psalms Chapter 115
115
1Not unto us, O Jehovah, not unto us, But unto thy name give glory, For thy lovingkindness, and for thy truth’s sake.
2Wherefore should the nations say, Where is now their God?
3But our God is in the heavens: He hath done whatsoever he pleased.
4Their idols are silver and gold, The work of men’s hands.
5They have mouths, but they speak not; Eyes have they, but they see not;
6They have ears, but they hear not; Noses have they, but they smell not;
7They have hands, but they handle not; Feet have they, but they walk not; Neither speak they through their throat.
8They that make them shall be like unto them; Yea, every one that trusteth in them.
9O Israel, trust thou in Jehovah: He is their help and their shield.
10O house of Aaron, trust ye in Jehovah: He is their help and their shield.
11Ye that fear Jehovah, trust in Jehovah: He is their help and their shield.
12Jehovah hath been mindful of us; he will bless us: He will bless the house of Israel; He will bless the house of Aaron.
13He will bless them that fear Jehovah, Both small and great.
14Jehovah increase you more and more, You and your children.
15Blessed are ye of Jehovah, Who made heaven and earth.
16The heavens are the heavens of Jehovah; But the earth hath he given to the children of men.
17The dead praise not Jehovah, Neither any that go down into silence;
18But we will bless Jehovah From this time forth and for evermore. Praise ye Jehovah.
← Chapter 114 Chapter 116 →
What is Psalms 115 about?

Still within the Passover Hallel, this psalm answers the taunt of the nations who ask, "Where is now their God?" Glory is refused to Israel and given wholly to the LORD, whose heavens stand over against the silver-and-gold idols that have mouths but cannot speak and eyes but cannot see. Those who make them become as lifeless as they are, while Israel is called to trust the LORD as their help and shield. The dead cannot praise Him, but His covenant people will bless Him from this time forth for evermore, confessing the one true God amid a world of idols.