Matthew Poole and continuators on Psalms 115

1 NOt unto us, O LORD, not unto us, but unto thy Name give glory , for thy mercy, and for thy truths sake.

As we intreat thy favour and aid, and that thou wouldst work gloriously on our behalf to bring us out of our present straits and extremities, so we do not desire this out of a vainglorious humor, as usually men do in such cases, that we may get renown by the conquest of our proud and mighty enemies, but that thy honour may be vindicated from all their contempts and blasphemies; and if thou wilt deliver us, we will not arrogate the praise and glory of it to our own worth or valour, but onely to thy mercy and truth, as it follows.

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

Why dost thou suffer them, or give them any colour or occasion to say or think so, by conniving at their wickedness, and by giving thy people into their hands?

He is no where, he is lost or at a loss either unable or unwilling or not at leisure to save them.

Who hath undertaken to be their God and Saviour, and whom they onely worship, and of whom they use to boast and insult over us and over our Gods.

Marginal references: Psal. 423. 10, & 79. 10. Joel 2. 17.

3 But our God is in the heavens , he hath done whatsoever he pleased .

Whom, notwithstanding your reproaches, we are not ashamed to owne for our God.

Although he have no visible shape nor bodily presence with us here upon earth, as your Idols have, which is a certain proof of their baseness and weakness, yet he hath a certain and a glorious place where he resideth, even the highest heavens, where he is cloathed with infinite Power and Majesty, and from whence he beholdeth and governeth this lower world, and all that is in it.

Or, he doth, &c. By his onely will and pleasure all things were at first made, and are still disposed, and without this nothing cometh to pass. And therefore all your insolencies and injuries and successes against us do not come from an invincible power in you or in your Idols, nor from any defect of strength or goodness in our God, but onely from hence, that it pleased him for many wise and holy reasons to afflict us, and to give you prosperity for a time.

Marginal references: Psal. 135. 6.

4 Their idols are silver and gold , the work of mens hands .

Thus glorious and powerful is our God, O ye heathens, of whom you so boldly ask, who and where he is: but as for your Gods or Idols, they have no power nor worth in them, but what is taken from their materials.

As their matter is wholly from the earth, so their form or figure they have from the art of man; and therefore they should rather, if it were possible, worship man, as their Creator and Lord than be worshipped by him.

Marginal references: Deut. 4. 28. Psal. 135. 15. Jer. 10. 3, &c.

5 They have mouths, but they speak not , eyes have they, but they see not.

For although the blind Heathen are by their Idolatrous Priests made to believe otherwise concerning their Idols, in regard of the Spirits which they pretend to dwell in them, yet this is the truth of the matter, and confirmed by long and constant experience, that they are but vain and senceless things, they can neither speak in answer to your prayers or inquiries, nor see what you do or what you want; nor hear your petitions; nor smell your incenses and sacrifices; nor handle or use their hands either to take any thing from you, or to give any thing to you; nor so much as mutte[illegible: 1+ letters], or give the least signification of their apprehension of your condition and concerns.

7 They have hands, but they handle not; feet have they, but they walk not; neither speak they through their throat.

Or, mutter, or make a noise, as this word signifies Isa. 13. 14. They are so far from speaking with their throat and other instruments of speech, as men do, that they cannot make such an inarticulate and senceless sound with them, as the beasts do.

8 They that make them are like unto them ; so is every one that trusteth in them.

Or, they that observe or worship them. For the Psalmists quarrel was not so much with those few Artists who formed the Images, as with all the adorers of them. And the word here rendred make doth sometimes signifie to worship, as some understand it, not without probability, Exod. 32. 35. because they made (i. e. worshipped) the calf which Aaron made, and as in other Languages words answering to this do signifie, as hath been oft observed by learned men; and it oft signifies to observe; as when men are said to make (as it is in the Hebrew) the Sabbath, Deut. 5. 15. and the release, and the Passover, and the feast of weeks, as Deut. 15. 1. & 16. 1. 10.

This is a sharp reflection, either 1. upon the Idols, whose highest preferment it is to be made like unto man, a mortal, weak and miserable creature, infinitely inferiour to the true God. Or, 2. to the makers or worshippers of them, who by this absurd and foolish action, shew that they are as ignorant and stupid and void of all sence and reason as their Images.

Marginal references: Heb. let them be like unto them. So Gr.

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

Do not thou follow the example of these brutish Idolaters, but serve the Lord onely.

Who trust in God, as he now required. Or, their is put for your by a change of persons, which is most frequent in Scripture, and especially in these Books.

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

You Priests and Levites proceeding from Aaron, or related to him, who have special reason and many obligations to do it, who have a more distinct knowledge of God, which is the foundation of trust, Psal. 9. 10. and who are to be both instructers of and examples to the people in this as well as in other duties.

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

All and every one of you who worship the true God, not onely Aaronites and Israelites, but even Gentile-proselytes, who are said to come to trust under the wings of the God of Israel, Ruth 2. 12. And such there were many at this time in the Church of Israel, whom therefore he fitly invites to trust God, because he is no less their, than the Israelites, help and shield, as it follows.

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

In our former straits and calamities, and therefore we trust he will still bless us, &c. as it follows. Or, is or will be mindful of us. Though he hath chastened us sore, yet he hath not yet cast us out of the care of his providence.

13 He will bless them that fear the LORD, both small and great .

Either in age or condition, of whatsoever quality, high and low, rich and poor; for he is no respecter of persons.

Marginal references: Heb. with.

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

In number, notwithstanding all the attempts of your enemies to diminish and destroy you. Or, shall add to you, to wit, further and greater blessings.

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

Who therefore can bless you indeed in spight of all your enemies curses and oppositions; and not of an impotent Idol that can do you neither good nor hurt.

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

To wit, in a peculiar manner, where he dwelleth in that light and glory to which no man can approach, and whence he beholdeth and disposeth all persons and things upon earth.

For their habitation, possession and use. But these words may be and are thus rendred by others, and the earth which (which particle is very oft understood) he hath given, &c. And then as the foregoing verse declared that God was the Creator of Heaven and Earth, v. 15. so this asserts that he is also their Lord and Governor to dispose of all men and things as he pleaseth.

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

Such as we shall suddenly be, if thou dost not succour us.

Into the place of silence, the grave.

Marginal references: Psal. 88. 10, 11, 12. Isa[illegible: 1+ letters]. 38. 18.; Psal. 94. 17.

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

But we hope for better things, that notwithstanding our present and urgent danger, yet thou wilt deliver us, and so give us occasion to bless thy Name; whereby thou wilt have the praise and glory of our deliverance.

Marginal references: Dan. 2. 20.