Psalms 115:13

[Bible] 113:21. He hath blessed all that fear the Lord, both little and great. 113:22. May the Lord add blessings upon you: upon you, and upon your children. 113:23. Blessed be you of the Lord, who made heaven and earth. 113:24. The heaven of heaven is the Lord's: but the earth he has given to the children of men. 113:25. The dead shall not praise thee, O Lord: nor any of them that go down to hell. 113:26. But we that live bless the Lord: from this time now and for ever. Psalms Chapter 114 Dilexi. The prayer of a just man in affliction, with a lively confidence in God. Alleluia. 114:1. I have loved, because the Lord will hear the voice of my prayer. 114:2. Because he hath inclined his ear unto me: and in my days I will call upon him. 114:3. The sorrows of death have compassed me: and the perils of hell have found me. I met with trouble and sorrow: 114:4. And I called upon the name of the Lord. O Lord, deliver my soul. 114:5. The Lord is merciful and just, and our God sheweth mercy. 114:6. The Lord is the keeper of little ones: I was humbled, and he delivered me. 114:7. Turn, O my soul, into thy rest: for the Lord hath been bountiful to thee. 114:8. For he hath delivered my soul from death: my eyes from tears, my feet from falling. 114:9. I will please the Lord in the land of the living. Psalms Chapter 115 Credidi. This in the Hebrew is joined with the foregoing psalm, and continues to express the faith and gratitude of the psalmist. Alleluia. 115:10. I have believed, therefore have I spoken; but I have been humbled exceedingly. 115:11. I said in my excess: Every man is a liar. 115:12. What shall I render to the Lord, for all the things that he hath rendered to me? 115:13. I will take the chalice of salvation; and I will call upon the name of the Lord. 115:14. I will pay my vows to the Lord before all his people: 115:15. Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints. 115:16. O Lord, for I am thy servant: I am thy servant, and the son of thy handmaid. Thou hast broken my bonds:

There is a great deal of emphasis in this verse: several words are redoubled to make the subject the more affecting. I give a literal translation: - Psalms 115:12 "The Lord has been mindful of us he will bless the house of Israel; she will bless the house of Aaron. Psalms 115:13 He will bless them that fear Jehovah, the small with the great. Psalms 115:14 Jehovah will add upon you, upon you and upon all your children. Psalms 115:15 Blessed are ye of the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. Psalms 115:16 The heavens of heavens are the Lord's: but the earth he hath given to the sons of Adam." Jehovah is absolute Master of the universe. He has made the heavens of heavens, and also the earth; and this he gives to the children of Adam. When he exiled him from paradise, he turned him out into the earth, and gave it to him and his sons for ever, that they might dress, till, and eat of its produce all their days. PSALM 115: 13 He will bless those who fear the LORD, both small and great. PSALM 115: 14 May the LORD increase you more and more, you and your children. PSALM 115: 15 Blessed are you by the LORD, who made heaven and earth. PSALM 115: 16 The heavens are the heavens of the LORD; but the earth has he given to the children of men.

Psalms 115:11 All and every one of you who worship the true God, not only Aaronites and Israelites, but even Gentile proselytes, who are said to come to trust under the wings of the God of Israel, Rth_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. ## Psalms 115:12 Hath been mindful of us 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. Psalms 115:13 Either in age or condition, of whatsoever quality, high and low, rich and poor; for he is no respecter of persons. ## Psalms 115:14 Shall increase you 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. Psalms 115:15 Who therefore can bless you indeed in spite of all your enemies curses and oppositions; and not of an impotent idol, that can do you neither good nor hurt. ## Psalms 115:16 Are the Lord ’ s, 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 a

Feb. 21 BLESSING ON LITTLENESS "He will bless them that fear the Lord, both small and great" Psalms 115:13 This is a word of cheer to those who are of humble station and mean estate. Our God has a very gracious consideration for those of small property, small talent, small influence, small weight. God careth for the small things in creation, and even regards sparrows in their lighting upon the ground. Nothing is small to God, for He makes use of insignificant agents for the accomplishment of His purposes. Let the least among men seek of God a blessing upon his littleness, and he shall find his contracted sphere to be a happy one. Among those who fear the Lord there are little and great. Some are babes, and others are giants. But these are all blessed. Little faith is blessed faith. Trembling hope is blessed hope. Every grace of the Holy Spirit, even though it be only in the bud, bears a blessing within it. Moreover, the Lord Jesus bought both the small and the great with the same precious blood, and He has engaged to preserve the lambs as well as the full-grown sheep. No mother overlooks her child because it is little; nay, the smaller it is, the more tenderly does she nurse it. If there be any preference with the Lord, He does not arrange them as "great and small," but as "small and great. Feb. 22 PAST DELIVERANCE BEGETS FAITH

Feb. 20 CONTINUAL GUIDANCE "The Lord shall guide thee continually" Isaiah 58:11 What aileth thee? Hast thou lost thy way? Art thou entangled in a dark wood, and canst thou not find thy paths? Stand still, and see the salvation of God. He knows the way, and He will direct thee in it if thou cry unto Him. Every day brings its own perplexity. How sweet to feel that the guidance of the Lord is continual! If we choose our own way, or consult with flesh and blood, we cast off the Lord's guidance; but if we abstain from self-will, then He will direct every step of our road, every hour of the day, and every day of the year, and every year of our life. If we will but be guided, we shall be guided. If we will commit our way unto the Lord, He will direct our course so that we shall not lose ourselves. But note to whom this promise is made. Read the previous verse: "If thou draw out thy soul to the hungry." We must feel for others, and give them, not a few dry crusts, but such things as we ourselves would wish to receive. If we show a tender care for our fellow-creatures in the hour of their need, then will the Lord attend to our necessities, and make Himself our continual Guide. Jesus is the Leader, not of misers, nor of those who oppress the poor, but of the kind and tender-hearted. Such persons are pilgrims, who shall never miss their way. Feb. 21 BLESSING ON LITTLENESS "He will bless them that fear the Lord, both small and great" Psalms 115:13

[Reformed Biblical] cian, of Lily, if your lives and courses be not consonant to the rules and laws of Christianity? to have knowledge of the creatures when you are ignorant of the Creator? to have learned that whereby you may live a while here, and neglect that whereby you may live eternally hereafter? Learn to fear God, to serve God, and then God will bless you; for "He will bless them that fear him, both small and great." Psalms 115:13. Thomas Gataker's "David's Instructor, "1637. Verse 12. It is no great matter to live long, or always, but to live happily. That loyal prayer, "Let the king live" (in every language) imports a prosperous state. When the psalmist saith, "Who is the man that would see life?" he explains himself presently after by "good days." Vivere among the Latins is sometimes as much as valere, to live is as much as to be well; and upon this account it is that, on the one hand, the Scripture calls the state of the damned an eternal death, because their life is only a

[Hymns] 6 Ye mountains great, wherefore was it that ye did skip like rams? And wherefore was it, little hills, that ye did leap like lambs? 7 O at the presence of the Lord, earth, tremble thou for fear, While as the presence of the God of Jacob doth appear: 8 Who from the hard and stony rock did standing water bring; And by his pow'r did turn the flint into a water-spring. Psalm 115 1 Not unto us, Lord, not to us, but do thou glory take Unto thy name, ev'n for thy truth, and for thy mercy's sake. 2 O wherefore should the heathen say, Where is their God now gone? 3 But our God in the heavens is, what pleas'd him he hath done. 4 Their idols silver are and gold, work of men's hands they be. 5 Mouths have they, but they do not speak; and eyes, but do not see; 6 Ears have they, but they do not hear; noses, but savour not; 7 Hands, feet, but handle not, nor walk; nor speak they through their throat. 8 Like them their makers are, and all on them their trust that build. 9 O Isr'el, trust thou in the Lord, he is their help and shield. 10 O Aaron's house, trust in the Lord, their help and shield is he. 11 Ye that fear God, trust in the Lord, their help and shield he'll be. 12 The Lord of us hath mindful been, and he will bless us still: He will the house of Isr'el bless, bless Aaron's house he will. 13 Both small and great, that fear the Lord, he will them surely bless. 14 The Lord will you, you and your seed, aye more and more increase.

[Hymns] 13 Both small and great, that fear the Lord, he will them surely bless. 14 The Lord will you, you and your seed, aye more and more increase. 15 O blessed are ye of the Lord, who made the earth and heav'n. 16 The heav'n, ev'n heav'ns, are God's, but he earth to men's sons hath giv'n. 17 The dead, nor who to silence go, God's praise do not record. 18 But henceforth we for ever will bless God. Praise ye the Lord. Psalm 116 1 I love the Lord, because my voice and prayers he did hear. 2 I, while I live, will call on him, who bow'd to me his ear. 3 Of death the cords and sorrows did about me compass round; The pains of hell took hold on me, I grief and trouble found. 4 Upon the name of God the Lord then did I call, and say, Deliver thou my soul, O Lord, I do thee humbly pray. 5 God merciful and righteous is, yea, gracious is our Lord. 6 God saves the meek: I was brought low, he did me help afford. 7 O thou my soul, do thou return unto thy quiet rest; For largely, lo, the Lord to thee his bounty hath exprest. 8 For my distressed soul from death deliver'd was by thee: Thou didst my mourning eyes from tears, my feet from falling, free. 9 I in the land of those that live will walk the Lord before. 10 I did believe, therefore I spake: I was afflicted sore. 11 I said, when I was in my haste, that all men liars be. 12 What shall I render to the Lord for all his gifts to me? 13 I'll of salvation take the cup, on God's name will I call: 14 I'll pay my vows now to the Lord before his people all.

for you, and be to you, he will be that, and he will do that. The woman who marries a prince expects he will do for her as a prince would do: that she may live in a suitable estate, and have a corresponding dowry. The man who has a king for his father or as a friend, expects he will do for him like a king. Alas! The kings and monarchs of the earth, who are so far above you, are like painted butterflies among the rest of their kind, or like the pretty coloured caterpillar among the rest of the worms, if they are compared with God. Because he infinitely exceeds the glory and power of his glittering dust, so God will exceed in doing for his favorites whatever princes can do for theirs, beyond all proportion. He will give you grace and glory and withhold no good thing from you. Psalms 84:11 He will take you for his sons and daughters, and make you heirs of his promises; Hebrews 6:17 and establish his everlasting covenant with you. Jeremiah 32:40 210 He will justify you from all that law, conscience, and Satan can charge you with. Romans 8:33-34 He give you free access into his presence, and he accepts you and receives your prayers. 214 He will abide in you, and make you his confidants; he will hold a constant and friendly communion with you. 215 His ear will be opened, his door opened, and his store will be open to you at all times. His blessing will rest on you. He will make your enemies serve you, and work all things for your good. Psalms 115:13; Romans 8:28

## [48] Asfalezath, certissima scientia. Remembrance is attributed to God, sometimes in good part, signifying that he will give help and relief unto men after hard calamities, in which he seemed to forget them, as Genesis 8:1 ,"And God remembered Noah, and every beast or living thing:" upon which Luther in his comment, says, "Although it be true, that God always remembers his, even when he seems to forsake them, yet Moses here signifies, that he was mindful of them, even with respect to sense, that is, so far as to make a signal and manifest discovery thereof, which before by his Word and Spirit he had promised. See Genesis 30:22; Exodus 2:24; 1 Samuel 1:11,19 , and several other places. ## Divine remembrance towards men denotes the benevolence, affection, grace, and good will of Jehovah towards them, Psalms 115:12; 136:23; Nehemiah 5:19; 13:22,31; Luke 23:42; Acts 10:4 . After the same manner, the remembrance of his covenant is attributed to God, by the sight of which he becomes a gracious Benefactor to men, Genesis 9:15-16; 6:5 , "And the remembrance of his mercy," Psalms 25:6 , "Of his word," Psalms 119:49.