Psalms 115

The godly pray unto God, to keep and preserve them for his glorious Names sake, shewing the great vanity of the idols and idolaters, exhorting every one unto faith in the true God, with the assurance of his blessing.

1. Not unto us, O LORD, not unto us; [These are the words of the godly Church of the Israelites, confessing they had no ways deserved nor were worthy that God should shew them his grace and benefits, but that he did it merely for his glories sake] but unto thy Name give honour, for thy kindness, for thy truths sake.]

2. Why should the heathen [The nations lying round about us] say, Whence is now their God? [i.e. Why shouldest thou give the heathen cause to say, where is now their God? To wit, having conquered and subdued us; boasting and braving, as if thou hadst not been able to protect or deliver us: Lord do not suffer this, but protect and defend us graciously: See Psalms 79:10.]

3. Our God yet is in heaven, he doth whatsoever pleaseth him.

4. Their idols [See 1 Sam.31. the Annot.on v.9. and 2 Sam.5.21.] are silver and gold, the work of mans hands.

5. They have a mouth, but speak not; they have eyes but not.

6. Ears they have, but hear not: they have a nose but they smell not:

7. Their hands (they hand) but touch not: their feet, but go not: they give no sound through their throat.

8. Let them which make them, become like them: [Or those that make them are like, etc. To wit, so senceless and void of understanding as the gods they made of silver and gold] (and) all that trust inn them.

9. Israel, trust thou in the LORD; He is their, [viz. The Israelites] help [i.e. helper] [and their shield, [i.e. protector.]

10. Ye [Priests and Levites which are entrusted and charged with the oversight of the worship of God] house of Aaron trust in the LORD: [House stands in the singular: trust in the plural, as forasmuch as a house or family consists of many persons; and so in the sequel] he is their help and their shield.

11. Ye that fear the LORD, [i.e. all ye others whatsoever you are, that hold the LORD for you God] trust in the LORD: he is their help and their shield.

12. The LORD hath been mindful of us, he shall bless, he shall bless the house of Israel, he shall bless the house of Aaron.

13. He shall bless them that fear the LORD, the small (together) with the great. [Understand in years; or in state and condition, as Revel.11.18.]

14. The LORD shall multiply, [Heb. Add as Deut.1.11.] (the blessing) over you, over you, and over your children.

15. Be ye blessed unto the LORD, [See 2 Sam.2. the Annot.on v.5. Others, Ye are the blessed of the LORD, or from the LORD] which hath made the heaven and the earth.

16. As for the Heaven, the Heaven is the LORDS: but the earth he hath, given to the children of men. [i.e. The LORD hath taken up the Heavens for his habitation as it were, 1 Kings 8:30. for to make known from thence the supreme and sovereign Dominion which he hath over all the World: and he hath given the earth to men, to inhabited and cultivate, Gen.3. and to laud and praise him, all the time they live upon it.]

17. The dead shall not praise the LORD, [See Psalms 6:6. and 88. The Annot.on v.11.] nor those that are gone down into silence. [i.e. into the grave, See Job 3:17. and the Annot.on Psalms 94:17.]

18. But we [That live yet] shall praise the LORD, [Heb. Bless] from henceforth in Eternity.