Psalms 115:6
They have ears, but they hear not: noses have they, but they smell not:
Psalms 115:6
Verse 6 continues the negative portrait: They have ears, but they hear not. The pattern is deliberate: the psalmist enumerates human-made idols with bodily parts that are useless. The Israelite audience would recognize the irony: possessing ears should enable hearing—yet these idols cannot hear. In the surrounding culture, listening is essential for a deity who speaks to and guides people. By negating hearing, the psalmist exposes idols as lacking the very faculties that would allow true relationship or deliverance. The rhetorical strategy strengthens the central claim: the living God is fundamentally different—he hears, responds, and acts on behalf of his people. The verse also ties into biblical motifs about hearing and obedience, foreshadowing the prophetic calls to listen to God.
This line develops the portrait of a God who is relational—he listens, responds, and intervenes. Idols, by contrast, are deaf. Theologically, it emphasizes the experiential difference between communion with the living God and futile attempts to bargain with lifeless objects. It reinforces the covenantal dynamic: God listens to his people because of his steadfast love, and his people are called to listen back in faithful obedience. The verse also serves as a corrective to human dependence on material security, reminding readers that ultimate communication and guidance come from the God who hears.
Practically, consider what you listen to each day—news feeds, social media, self-talk. Do these voices drown out the still, small voice of God that invites you into a faithful path? The verse invites you to cultivate spiritual disciplines that sharpen God-listening: regular Scripture reading, quiet listening prayer, and communal discernment. When you face hard decisions, test options by asking, “What would it look like if God spoke into this?” Create space to hear God’s guidance and then act with courage. Recognize times when you’re tempted to rely on counterfeit voices—financial security, social approval, or performance—and realign your attention to the God who hears and cares deeply. Let this verse cultivate humility and teach you to be quick to listen to God above all other voices.
Cross-References: Proverbs 20:12; Isaiah 1:15-17; Jeremiah 29:12-13; James 1:19