Commentary on the Old Testament Volume 2-4, Biblical commentary 3 · Psalms · Psalm 115
PSAL. CXV.
THis Psalme is by the Vulgar Latine joyned to the former, thus making of both one Psalme; viz. according to the account followed by them that imbrace that Translation, Psal. 113. and then the first words, Not unto Vers. 1.us Lord, not unto us, but unto thy name give the praise; are referred to the wonders before spoken of, wrought for the Israelites, at their coming out of Aegypt, and for Christians at their turning from superstition and sin, to Christ; and so indeed it is to be taken, although distinguished from the former, as in the Hebrew it followeth most aptly, as the acknowledgment of the faithfull, that all these things were done, not for any merit in them, but that God might have praise and glory. And therefore, why should the Heathen say, where is now there God: That is, the God of Israel; seeing so Vers. 2.great wonders have been done by him, declaring him to be the only God that is Almighty, why should not even the Heathen, that are most a verse from the truth, yeild and acknowledge, that he is the true God, and all other Gods vanities? For their Gods are the worke of mens hands, having eyes and see not, eares and heare not: And because they are such, they are Vers. 4.like unto them that trust in them; for which cause, Israel is exhorted to Vers. 9.trust in God, and so is the house of Aaron in Israel more especially, being an house of Priests, being assured thus to be blessed: whereas they that trust in Iodols, are accursed.
The Heavens are the Lords, and the Earth is given to the Children of men. Having spoken of Gods blessings upon his people in Generall, and his increasing Vers. 16.them, now he sheweth in particular, that the blessing where with he blesseth them, and all men in this life, is very great: he hath given the Earth to the Sons of Adam, with all the benefits arising out of it, reserving to himself only praise and Glory: For he contents himself with the Heavens, as not needing any Earthly thing, but bestowing this wholly upon us, that our hearts might hereby be raised up to thankfullness to his Heavenly Majesty. And here Calvin tells how a notorious prophane man used to abuse Calvin.this place, when he was in his cups, speaking these words often, The heaven, the Heavens are the Lords, the Earth he hath given to the Children of men, in a deriding manner, against those that impugned such excesse of Riot; and how once speaking so in his presence at a Feast, he reproved him therefore, and by and by he fell into a fit of such Torment, that he cryed out, O Lord, O Lord, with a very loud noise, a long time together; thus having a tast given him of the torments to come to him, and all such as he was: for he was after this never a whit the more amended.
Here it is shewed how we should improve this consideration, that God Vers. 17. 18.hath given the Earth unto us, to praise him, that we may apply our selves so to do, whilst we live upon Earth; for when we are dead we can no more do it, as is also shewed, Psalme, 18. 17. Esa. 38. 19. not that the faithfull departing hence cease for ever after this to praise God, (For there were one Psal. 6. 5.hundred forty four thousand appearing with Harps, singing to the praise of God the Psalme of Moses, Revel: 14. 1, 2, 3.) but because this life is the time wherein God lookes, that for all his bounty towards us, we should send up our praises to Heaven unto him. It is said, The dead cannot praise thee: That is, They that have let slip the opportunity of this life, impiously passing their time without labouring to glorifie God by praising him, cannot after death do it, or any other thing to be accepted of; but must lye in the dust rotting till the day of Judgment, and then without remedy be cast into Hell fire, in those bodies wherewith they should, but did not glorifie, but dishonour him in their lives. If it be said, when the dead are spoken of that they cannot praise God, it is meant not only of the Impious, but of all sorts in common; for both David, and Hezekiah, applyed this to themselves; It is true, if we speak of uttering Gods praises with the Organs of the Body. for thus all lye a sleep till the last day, and so although pious, cease to praise Note. God: and therefore we are now to apply our selves with all earnestness unto it whilst we live, that we be not prevented by Death, and so cannot glorifie him at all; and then we shall not be glorified of him, sith this is the rule, whereby he will go; those that honour me I will honour, and those that 1 Sam. 2. 30.despise me shall be despised, and they are all such as love him not, to honour him, whilst they live here: For there is no Medium between not loving, and despising, as appeareth, Matth. 6. 24. Either he will love the one, and ba…e the other, and Command. 2. of them that hate me, and keep not. my Commandement.