Psalm 115:8 KJV,ASV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Psalms 115:1-8

Sufficient care is here taken to answer both the pretensions of self and the reproaches of idolaters. I. Boasting is here for ever excluded, Ps. 115:1. Let no opinion of our own merits have any room either in our prayers or in our praises, but let both centre in God's glory. 1. Have we received any mercy, gone through any service, or gained any success? We must not assume the glory of it to ourselves, but ascribe it wholly to God. We must not imagine that we do any thing for God by our own... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 115:8

They that make them are like unto them ,.... As stupid as the matter of which they are made; as sottish and as senseless as the idols themselves, see Isaiah 44:9 . Aben Ezra and Kimchi interpret it as a petition, "let them that make them be like unto them"; and so the Targum, the Septuagint, Vulgate Latin, Syriac, Arabic, and Ethiopic versions: they liked not to retain God in their knowledge, let them be given up to a reprobate mind, to a mind void of all sense and judgment; and which... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 115:8

Verse 8 8They who make them shall be like unto them. Many are of opinion that this is an imprecation, and hence translate the future tense in the optative mood, may they become like unto them But it will be equally appropriate to regard it as the language of ridicule, as if the prophet should affirm that the idolaters are equally stupid with the stocks and stones themselves. And he deservedly severely reprehends men naturally endued with understanding, because they divest themselves of reason... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 115:1-11

True and false worship. In strong, nervous language we have here presented to us— I. THE MAJESTY AND THE POWER OF GOD . ( Psalms 115:3 .) The heathen, in their ignorance, want to know where Jehovah is ; they cannot see him. The reply is that he does not dwell in temples made with hands; that he is not confined to one building, larger or smaller; that no earthly trappings or grandeurs in any sacred city give any notion of his state. " Our God is in the heavens;" he... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 115:1-18

Metrically, the psalm falls into four stanzas or strophes—the first of three verses ( Psalms 115:1-3 ), and the other three of five verses each ( Psalms 115:4-8 ; 9-13; 14-18). read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 115:1-18

The heathen taunt, and what came of it. To Israel, recently returned from exile, that taunt still seemed to sound in their ears. In this psalm, apparently a liturgical one, and used at high festivals in the service of the second temple, the mocking question of those who had held them in captivity—"Where is now their God?" was yet audible, through the keenness with which it was remembered. The sting and anguish of it still rankled in their hearts; and this psalm is the result of it.... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 115:1-18

The honor due to God. A call to the God of Israel, the living God, to rescue the honor of his Name from the reproach of the heathen. I. GOD IS WORTHY OF THE HIGHEST HONOR . In contrast to heathen idols. 1. Because of his loving-kindness or mercy . ( Psalms 115:1 .) 2. Because of his truth or faith fullness . ( Psalms 115:1 .) Emphatically "truth and grace came by Jesus Christ." 3. Though invisible , he reigns and rules from the exalted heaven ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 115:4-8

The scorn of the heathen is retaliated. They scoff at the God of Israel. What, then, are their own gods? Silver and gold indeed ( Psalms 115:4 ), but the work of human hands. Fashioned into a human shape, as if they were sentient being—but absolutely devoid of all sense and intelligence. The satire is somewhat roughly worked out ( Psalms 115:5-7 ), but idolatry provokes rough speaking; and the tone here adopted is imitated in Psalms 135:15-18 , and echoed in Isaiah 44:9-20 . The... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 115:8

They that make them are like unto them. Equally vain, futile, and power less (comp. Isaiah 44:9 ; Jeremiah 2:5 ). So is every one that trusteth in them. To "trust" in an idol is an almost inconceivable folly. Yet there is abundant proof that the heathen actually did so trust (see Herod; 5:80; 8:64, 83). read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 115:8

They that make them are like unto them - Stupid; senseless; irrational. See the notes at Isaiah 44:9-20.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 us, that the worshippers of idols did not themselves see this; but this is in reality no more strange than that sinners do not see the folly of their course of sin; that people do not see the folly... read more

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Psalms 115:1-8

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 115:8

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 115:8

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 115:1-11

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 115:1-18

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 115:1-18

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 115:1-18

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 115:4-8

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 115:8

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 115:8

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