Psalms 115

King James Version

Full text for Psalms Chapter 115

1¶ Not unto us, O LORD, not unto us, but unto thy name give glory, for thy mercy, [and] for thy truth's sake.

2Wherefore should the heathen say, Where [is] now their God?

3But our God [is] in the heavens: he hath done whatsoever he hath 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 are like unto them; [so is] every one that trusteth in them.

9¶ O Israel, trust thou in the LORD: he [is] their help and their shield.

10O house of Aaron, trust in the LORD: he [is] their help and their shield.

11Ye that fear the LORD, trust in the LORD: he [is] their help and their shield.

12The LORD 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 the LORD, [both] small and great.

14The LORD shall increase you more and more, you and your children.

15Ye [are] blessed of the LORD which made heaven and earth.

16The heaven, [even] the heavens, [are] the LORD'S: but the earth hath he given to the children of men.

17The dead praise not the LORD, neither any that go down into silence.

18But we will bless the LORD from this time forth and for evermore. Praise the LORD.

AI Analysis

AI Summaries

Short Summary

The psalm begins by attributing all glory to the Lord, not to man, emphasizing His mercy and truth. It contrasts the living God, who is in the heavens and does as He pleases, with the lifeless idols of the heathen, which are mere works of men's hands. Therefore, Israel, the house of Aaron, and all who fear the Lord are exhorted to trust in Him, for He is their help and shield. The chapter concludes with a call for the living to bless the Lord forevermore.

Medium Summary

Psalms 115 opens with a fervent plea for God's glory to be magnified, not man's, acknowledging His mercy and truth, and challenging the taunt of the heathen concerning the whereabouts of Israel's God. It declares that the Lord resides in the heavens and exercises sovereign will, contrasting Him sharply with the impotent idols. These idols, though made of precious metals, are described as having mouths that speak not, eyes that see not, and other sensory organs that function not, rendering them utterly useless. The psalm asserts that those who create and trust in these lifeless images become like them in their futility. Consequently, a threefold exhortation is given to Israel, the house of Aaron, and all who fear the Lord to place their trust in Him, for He is their unfailing help and shield. The psalmist then affirms that the Lord is mindful of His people and promises to bless them, increasing them and their children, as they are blessed by the Creator of heaven and earth. The chapter concludes by stating that the dead cannot praise the Lord, but the living will bless Him from this time forth and for evermore.

Long Summary

Psalms 115 commences with a humble declaration, redirecting all glory to the Lord alone, not to humanity, for His steadfast mercy and truth. It addresses the rhetorical question of the heathen, 'Where is now their God?', by asserting that the God of Israel is in the heavens and executes His will without hindrance. The psalm then meticulously details the futility of idols, describing them as mere artifacts of silver and gold, fashioned by human hands. These false gods are characterized by their inability to speak despite having mouths, to see despite having eyes, to hear despite having ears, to smell despite having noses, to handle despite having hands, and to walk despite having feet, nor can they utter a sound through their throat. A profound theological statement is made that those who craft and place their confidence in these inanimate objects become as lifeless and ineffectual as the idols themselves. Following this stark contrast, the psalm issues a tripartite call to trust: first to Israel, then to the house of Aaron, and finally to all who fear the Lord, reiterating that He is their help and their shield. The psalmist then expresses confidence in the Lord's remembrance of His people, promising blessings upon the house of Israel, the house of Aaron, and all, both small and great, who revere Him. These blessings include an increase in number for them and their children, affirming their status as blessed by the Lord, the Creator of heaven and earth. The psalm distinguishes between the Lord's dominion over the heavens and His gift of the earth to humanity. It further emphasizes that the dead cannot offer praise to the Lord, nor can those who descend into silence. Therefore, the living are called to bless the Lord continually, from the present moment and into eternity, concluding with an emphatic 'Praise the LORD.'

Core Concepts

  • Divine GloryThe psalm begins by asserting that all glory belongs solely to the Lord, not to humanity, due to His mercy and truth, in contrast to the self-aggrandizement of man.
  • Sovereignty of GodGod is declared to be in the heavens, doing whatsoever He pleases, demonstrating His supreme power and control over all things, unlike the limited and non-existent power of idols.
  • Futility of IdolsIdols are extensively described as lifeless objects made of silver and gold by human hands, possessing sensory organs but lacking any ability to speak, see, hear, smell, handle, or walk. Those who make and trust them become like them in their impotence.
  • Trust in the LordA repeated exhortation is given to Israel, the house of Aaron, and all who fear the Lord to place their trust in Him, for He is presented as their unfailing help and shield.
  • Divine BlessingThe Lord is affirmed to be mindful of His people and promises to bless them, including the house of Israel, the house of Aaron, and all who fear Him, both small and great, increasing them and their children.
  • Praise of the LivingThe psalm emphasizes that the dead cannot praise the Lord, but the living are called to bless Him continually, from the present moment and for evermore, as an act of worship and gratitude.