Salmos 115
Bob Utley · You Can Understand the Bible
Salmos 115
CONTEXTUAL INSIGHTS This Psalm is about the utter futility of trusting in manmade idols. Only the One true Creator/Redeemer Deity is worthy of trust. This Psalm is characterized by repeated phrases. "not to us," repeated twice, Ps. 115:1 "they have. . .," seven IMPERFECTS, Ps. 115:5-7 "trust," four (three IMPERATIVES and one PARTICIPLE; the ancient versions such as LXX, Peshitta, and Vulgate, interpret this MT IMPERATIVE as a PERFECT), Ps. 115:8-11 "He will bless...," six (five Piel IMPERFECTS and one Qal PASSIVE PARTICIPLE), Ps. 115:12-15,18 "praise the Lord" negated, Ps. 115:17 (Piel IMPERFECT) commanded, Ps. 115:18 (Piel IMPERATIVE) Psalm 114 and 115 are combined in the Septuagint the Aleppo Hebrew MS of the 10 th century the Leningrad MS of the 11 th century (the basis of the MT)
Salmos 115:1-8
115:1-8 This strophe is about the futility of idolatry! There is only one God (cf. Jer. 10:6-10; see SPECIAL TOPIC: MONOTHEISM)! There is only one hope for "the nations." All Bible students have presuppositions about the "meta-narrative" of the Bible (i.e., its basic purpose or message). YHWH's desire for the nations to trust Him is mine (see SPECIAL TOPIC: YHWH'S ETERNAL REDEMPTIVE PLAN). 115:1 What a powerful verse. Glory (see SPECIAL TOPIC: GLORY [doxa]) belongs to YHWH alone, not any human agency or group. This is because of YHWH's lovingkindness (see SPECIAL TOPIC: LOVINGKINDNESS [hesed]) of YHWH's faithfulness (see SPECIAL TOPIC: BELIEVE, TRUST, FAITH AND FAITHFULNESS IN THE OT; also see SPECIAL TOPIC: CHARACTERISTICS OF ISRAEL'S GOD [OT]) YHWH is sovereign, Ps. 115:3 (cf. Ps. 103:19; 135:5-6) YHWH hears and acts but idols cannot, Ps. 115:4-7 (cf. Ps. 135:15-18; Deut. 4:28; Isa. 44:12-17; Jer. 10:3-5) YHWH is the creator, "maker of heaven and earth" (cf. Ps. 115:15b,16; see SPECIAL TOPIC: HEAVEN) ▣ "Your name" See SPECIAL TOPIC: "THE NAME" OF YHWH. 115:2 The question of line 2 is the theological issue. Israel was to be a kingdom of priests (cf. Exod. 19:5-6) to help the world know and understand YHWH. But because of her faithlessness the world saw only the judgment of God (cf. Ezek. 36:22-36). The very question of line 2 is repeated in Ps. 42:3; 79:10 (cf. Joel 2:17; Micah 7:10). 115:3 This focuses on the sovereignty of YHWH (cf. Ps. 135:6; Dan. 4:35). 115:4 "silver and gold" These are the precious metals that overlaid the images made from stone or wood (cf. Deut. 4:28; 28:36; 29:17). ▣ "The work of man's hands" Here is the problem (cf. 2 Kgs. 19:18; Isa. 44:9-20; Acts 17:29). 115:5-7 Idols are human productions. They are personified by the nations who made them, but they cannot see, move, hear, speak, or act! YHWH is the God who acts! 115:7b Because Ps. 115:5 mentions "speech," this may refer to some type of divination done in the name of the pagan idol. See notes at Deut. 18:10-11 online. SPECIAL TOPIC: DIVINATION 115:8 This verse acknowledges the truth that humans become like the god they worship. Oh, that believers would be more like Jesus! The goal of biblical faith is not only heaven someday only but Christlikeness now (cf. Rom. 8:28-29; 2 Cor. 3:18; 7:1; Gal. 4:19; Eph. 1:4; 4:13; 1 Thess. 3:13; 4:3,7; 5:23; 1 Pet. 1:15). Does your life reflect who you worship?
Salmos 115:9-15
115:9-15 Notice the threefold designation and command ("trust," BDB 105, KB 120, Qal IMPERATIVE). O Israel, trust YHWH, Ps. 115:9,12 (see SPECIAL TOPIC: ISRAEL [the name]) O house of Aaron, trust YHWH, Ps. 115:10,12 (i.e., Levitical priests; see (see SPECIAL TOPIC: LEVITICAL PRIESTS) You who fear/revere YHWH, trust Him, Ps. 115:11,12 (this could be a further characterization of #1 and 2, cf. Ps. 135:19-20, or a reference to non-Israelites, cf. 1 Kgs. 8:41-43; Ezra 6:21; Neh. 10:28; see SPECIAL TOPIC: YHWH'S ETERNAL REDEMPTIVE PLAN) In turn YHWH will be their help (cf. Ps. 18:2; 33:20; 70:5; 121:2; 124:8; 146:5) their shield (cf. Ps. 28:7; 59:11; 84:9,11; 119:114; 144:2) mindful of us (cf. Ps. 98:3) bless both great and small give you and your children increase (BDB 414, KB 418, lit. "add," Hiphil JUSSIVE, cf. Ps. 112:2) There are consequences in time (cf. Leviticus 26; Deuteronomy 28) and eternity for idolatry! There are consequences for personal faith and faithfulness in YHWH (cf. Ps. 115:16-18)! SPECIAL TOPIC: CONSEQUENCES OF IDOLATRY
Salmos 115:16-18
115:16a "The heavens are the heavens of the Lord" This refers to YHWH's throne (i.e., NEB, "the highest heaven," in v. 3). SPECIAL TOPIC: THE HEAVENS AND THE THIRD HEAVEN ▣ "But the earth" See SPECIAL TOPIC: HEAVEN 115:16b YHWH has given the earth for mankind's abode and control (cf. Ps. 8:6). However, it belongs to Him (cf. Deut. 10:14) because He made it (cf. Ps. 121:2; 124:8; 134:3). 115:17 "The dead" See SPECIAL TOPIC: WHERE ARE THE DEAD? 115:18 God's people will forever bless (Piel IMPERFECT) and praise (Piel IMPERATIVE) YHWH. This implies an afterlife separate from the idolatrous who "do not praise" and "go down into silence" (cf. Ps. 6:5; 30:9; 88:10-11; 94:17). ▣ "forever" See SPECIAL TOPIC: FOREVER ('olam) ▣ "Praise the Lord" As with Ps. 113:9c, the LXX moves this to the beginning of the next Psalm.