115:1 Not to us The psalmist requests for God to act and protect His reputation. He emphasizes that God’s actions would not improve the reputation of Israel, but would increase God’s own fame.

your name Refers to God’s essential character and nature. See note on 91:14.

115:2 Where, pray tell, is their God The psalmist describes the nations’ assertion that Israel’s God is powerless.

115:3 our God The psalmist is not asking God to prove Himself so that Israel will remain loyal, but so that the other nations will see his power and recognize Him.

is in the heavens See note on 108:5.

115:4 Their idols See note on 96:5.

115:5 They have mouths, but cannot speak Implies that the idol does not reveal anything to those who worship it.

eyes, but cannot see Implies that the idol is not aware of anything, and will never help those who worship it (compare Exod 3:7).

115:6 ears, but cannot hear Implies that the idol cannot respond to requests, and will never help those who worship it (contrast Ps 91:15; 99:6; 102:2; 2 Chr 7:14; Isa 65:24).

noses, but cannot smell The psalmist may be mocking sacrifices being offered to idols. In contrast, Leviticus often describes sacrifices offered to God as a pleasing aroma (e.g., Lev 1:13).

115:7 hands, but they cannot feel The psalmist seems to drift into parody.

feet, but they cannot walk Compare Gen 3:8. The psalmist is probably implying that the human image of a deity cannot even do what a person does.

their throats See Ps 115:5 and note. The psalmist continues his ridicule of the idols.

115:8 become like them The psalmist implies that the people who look to powerless idols will be powerless and helpless when crisis comes upon them.

trusts in them Trusting a deity meant worshiping it and attending to its requirements.

115:9 trust The psalmist calls Israel to trust in God alone (see note on v. 8).

their shield Refers to Yahweh’s protection.

115:10 O house of Aaron Refers to the priests, the leaders of Israel’s worship. See note on 99:6.

trust in Yahweh The psalmist may be recalling Exod 32:1–6, where Aaron failed to trust God.

115:11 You who fear Yahweh Refers to a pious reverence for God. See note on Ps 90:11.

trust in Yahweh In reality, Israel’s history of trusting God was deeply inconsistent; see, for example, Exod 16–24; 32–33 and Num 11–25.

115:12 remembers us The Hebrew verb used here, zakhar, refers to a calling to mind that occurs in conjunction with some activity. See note on Exod 2:24.

he will bless Yahweh’s blessing of Israel is a continuation of the sort of blessing that is inherent in creating and sustaining the world; it is also dependent on Israel’s obedience within the context of Yahweh’s covenant. See Deut 28–30.

115:13 the small with the great An expression that means “everybody.”

115:14 May Yahweh give you increase The psalmist probably refers to offspring, though property and wealth are also possible.

you and your children The blessing has a communal emphasis. This mirrors the requirements of the covenant with God (see Ps 90:16 and note; 90:17 and note).

115:15 heaven and earth Functions like v. 13.

115:16 the children of humankind The Hebrew phrase used here, bene-adam, is a term for people that are not connected to any particular national group—here it refers to humanity in general.

115:17 descending into silence The ot understanding of the state of people after death is unclear. Many passages depict the dead descending to she’ol (a Hebrew term referring to the realm of the dead). This verse seems to depict the after-death state as a mysterious, silent underworld. Alternatively, it may depict a soundless grave holding a corpse.

Old Testament Theology of the Afterlife

115:18 until forever The praise of God will never cease. See note on Ps 111:3.

Praise Yah A common expression in the final third of the psalms. See note on 104:35.