That You May Believe - Study Guide

Week 7 - February 14th, 2021

Psalm 115:3

3 Our God is in the heavens; he does all that he pleases.

Context: Psalm 115 is a hymn urging God’s people to worship the LORD alone as God. The author compares the God of Israel to the idols of surrounding nations, noting that idolaters become as useless as their idols. In contrast, the LORD is the God of Israel and He makes His people great and prosperous. He is their strength and supply.

Meaning: The meaning of this verse is found by comparing it to vv. 4-11. Unlike the gods of the Canaanite nations who merely inhabit a temple with a statue, the God of Israel is enthroned in the very heavens. While the Canaanite gods are mute, blind, deaf, and powerless, the LORD God does all that He pleases! The Psalmist urges his readers to “Trust in the LORD” because He is the only God who can be trusted.

Life Application: When our world seems to be careening out of control, our God is seated in the heavens. When we find ourselves in the lap of prosperity, our God is seated in the heavens. Whatever may pass and whatever lies before, our God is seated in the heavens and He does all that He pleases. Let this be a source of comfort and security. The God in the heavens is firmly in control and He will not do what does not please Him.

For Further Study: This same language, that God is sovereign and does whatever He pleases, is taken up by foreign nations in the face of God’s judgement. Compare the responses of the Assyrian King in Jonah 1:14 and Nebuchadnezzar in Daniel 4:35 with the call of Psalm 115. What connections do you find between the responses of these foreign kings and the response the Psalmist calls for?