Psa 115:18 | KingComments | STEP | He Who made heaven and earth ( ) has given a purpose to both ( ). He creates and rules sovereignly over what He has made. By mentioning “the heavens” twice, it is emphatically stated that the heavens are His. That is where He is enthroned. The earth, of course, also belongs to Him, “but the earth He has given to the sons of men” ( ). That is where they belong, that is where they live and work and that is where their future lies. That the LORD “has given the earth to the sons of men” makes it clear that we are here on Jewish ground. The Jewish people are an earthly people and have specific earthly blessings. For us Christians, it is exactly the other way around. God has come to dwell on earth in the Holy Spirit ( ; ) and we, humans, He has placed in Christ in heaven ( ). He has not given us specific earthly blessings and the earth. He has given us heaven and specific heavenly blessings ( ). For an Old Testament believer applies that he cannot praise the LORD when he has died ( ; ). They do not know that the believers who have died live in the presence of the Lord Jesus ( ). For them, praising the LORD is connected to life on earth. Their expectation is, however, that one day they will rise and enjoy the blessing of fellowship with the LORD ( ; ). “The dead” are those who are killed in the great tribulation. All “who go down into silence” are all those who have died in faith. The “we” in are the living redeemed. In connection with the previous verse, we can also think of those who have risen. Praising the LORD is done by those who have risen from the dead. This applies to those who will rise from the dead at the coming of the Lord Jesus. It already applies to all who are spiritually resurrected, who have new life. Therefore, it can be said that praising the LORD happens “from this time forth”, that is from the moment of final redemption, “and forever”. The psalmist concludes the psalm with “hallelujah”, “praise the LORD!” As noted above, as New Testament believers, that is as members of the church, we are not connected to earth but to heaven. Yet our life on earth should also already have this great feature, namely, that it is a continual praise of the glory of the Lord Jesus ( ; ). We may begin on earth with something that we will continue to all eternity, and that is to “worship the Father in spirit and truth” ( ).

‏ Psalms 115:18

The Living Praise the LORD

He Who made heaven and earth (Psa 115:15) has given a purpose to both (Psa 115:16). He creates and rules sovereignly over what He has made. By mentioning “the heavens” twice, it is emphatically stated that the heavens are His. That is where He is enthroned. The earth, of course, also belongs to Him, “but the earth He has given to the sons of men” (Psa 115:16). That is where they belong, that is where they live and work and that is where their future lies.

That the LORD “has given the earth to the sons of men” makes it clear that we are here on Jewish ground. The Jewish people are an earthly people and have specific earthly blessings. For us Christians, it is exactly the other way around. God has come to dwell on earth in the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:1-4; Eph 2:22) and we, humans, He has placed in Christ in heaven (Eph 1:3 ; Eph 2:6). He has not given us specific earthly blessings and the earth. He has given us heaven and specific heavenly blessings (Eph 1:3).

For an Old Testament believer applies that he cannot praise the LORD when he has died (Psa 115:17; Isa 38:18-19). They do not know that the believers who have died live in the presence of the Lord Jesus (Lk 23:43). For them, praising the LORD is connected to life on earth. Their expectation is, however, that one day they will rise and enjoy the blessing of fellowship with the LORD (Job 19:25-27; Psa 17:15). “The dead” are those who are killed in the great tribulation. All “who go down into silence” are all those who have died in faith.

The “we” in Psa 115:18 are the living redeemed. In connection with the previous verse, we can also think of those who have risen. Praising the LORD is done by those who have risen from the dead. This applies to those who will rise from the dead at the coming of the Lord Jesus. It already applies to all who are spiritually resurrected, who have new life. Therefore, it can be said that praising the LORD happens “from this time forth”, that is from the moment of final redemption, “and forever”. The psalmist concludes the psalm with “hallelujah”, “praise the LORD!”

As noted above, as New Testament believers, that is as members of the church, we are not connected to earth but to heaven. Yet our life on earth should also already have this great feature, namely, that it is a continual praise of the glory of the Lord Jesus (Heb 13:15; 1Pet 2:5). We may begin on earth with something that we will continue to all eternity, and that is to “worship the Father in spirit and truth” (Jn 4:23).