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 ]