Charles Ellicott Commentary Psalms 115
Charles Ellicott Commentary
Psalms 115
Charles Ellicott Commentary
Psalms 115
"Not unto us, O Jehovah, not unto us, But unto thy name give glory, For thy lovingkindness, and for thy truth`s sake." — Psalms 115:1 (ASV)
Not unto us ... —This rejection of all self-praise is implied in all Hebrew poetry.
Mercy ... truth ... —Both are a distinct reference to the covenant. Both these covenanted blessings were assailed by the heathen taunt, “Where is now their God?”
It is difficult for us to reproduce in imagination the apparent triumph, which the idolater, who could point to his deity, felt he had over the worshipper of the invisible God, when outward events seemed to be going against the latter.
But we may estimate the strength of the conviction, which even under the apparent withdrawal of Divine favour, could point to the heavens as the abode of the Invisible, and to misfortune itself as a proof of the existence and power of One who could in everything do what pleased Him.
"Their idols are silver and gold, The work of men`s hands. They have mouths, but they speak not; Eyes have they, but they see not; They have ears, but they hear not; Noses have they, but they smell not; They have hands, but they handle not; Feet have they, but they walk not; Neither speak they through their throat. They that make them shall be like unto them; Yea, every one that trusteth in them." — Psalms 115:4-8 (ASV)
This passage cannot compare with the magnificent irony of Isaiah 44:9-20, but there is still a noticeable vein of sarcasm running through it, visible even more in the original than in the English. (Compare to Psalms 135:15-18.)
"They have hands, but they handle not; Feet have they, but they walk not; Neither speak they through their throat." — Psalms 115:7 (ASV)
Neither speak they. —The Hebrew implies not only the lack of articulate speech, but of any utterance at all.
"They that make them shall be like unto them; Yea, every one that trusteth in them." — Psalms 115:8 (ASV)
Every one that trusteth ... —
“Who moulds in gold or stone a sacred face
Makes not the god; but he who asks his grace.”
"O Israel, trust thou in Jehovah: He is their help and their shield." — Psalms 115:9 (ASV)
O Israel. —There is masterful art in this sudden change of address. It is like the pointed application of some general truth in a sermon. It is possible that in the liturgical use a change in the music was made here, the Levites and choir turning to the people with a loud burst of song.
He is their help and their shield. —The original form of this motto of trust appears in Psalms 33:20. Here the change of person suggests some musical arrangement. Apparently one part of the choir, or, it may be, one officiating priest, addressed successively the whole congregation with the charge, “trust in Jehovah,” and each time the full choir took up the refrain, “He is their helper and shield,” repeating to the priest the ground on which he urged confidence and loyalty. Then in Psalms 115:12-13 congregation and choir join, changing to the first person.
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