Dumb Idols and the Living God of the Exodus

This hymnic praise psalm celebrates “that our Lord is greater than all gods” (v. 5) and evidences this confession by his saving acts in the exodus-settlement period. Its opening and closing calls to worship imply a liturgical use. The voice of the liturgist is heard particularly in verse 5 (“I know”; cf. “our God” in v. 2). Many of its verses are closely paralleled elsewhere (vv. 1–2 = 113:1; 134:1; v. 4 = Deut. 7:6; 14:2; Exod. 19:5; for v. 5 cf. Exod. 18:11; v. 6 = 115:3; v. 7 = Jer. 10:13; 51:16; v. 13 = 102:12; cf. Exod. 3:15; v. 14 = Deut. 32:36a; vv. 15–18 = 115:4–8; vv. 19–20 = 115:12–13). Because it appears to be an anthological composition and because some of these parallels are found in postexilic psalms (Pss. 102, 115, 134), its origins…