Psalms 115:3

115:3 Our God is in heaven!

He does whatever he pleases! ¹ 

Psalms 115:16

115:16 The heavens belong to the Lord, ² 

but the earth he has given to mankind. ³ 

Ecclesiastes 5:2

5:2 Do not be rash with your mouth or hasty in your heart to bring up a matter before God,

for God is in heaven and you are on earth!

Therefore, let your words be few.

Isaiah 57:15

57:15 For this is what the high and exalted one says,

the one who rules ⁴  forever, whose name is holy:

“I dwell in an exalted and holy place,

but also with the discouraged and humiliated, ⁵ 

in order to cheer up the humiliated

and to encourage the discouraged. ⁶ 

Isaiah 66:1

66:1 This is what the Lord says:

“The heavens are my throne

and the earth is my footstool.

Where then is the house you will build for me?

Where is the place where I will rest?

[115:3]  ¹ sn He does whatever he pleases. Such sovereignty is characteristic of kings (see Eccl 8:3).

[115:16]  ² tn Heb “the heavens [are] heavens to the Lord.”

[115:16]  ³ tn Heb “to the sons of man.”

[57:15]  ⁴ tn Heb “the one who dwells forever.” שֹׁכֵן עַד (shokhen ’ad) is sometimes translated “the one who lives forever,” and understood as a reference to God’s eternal existence. However, the immediately preceding and following descriptions (“high and exalted” and “holy”) emphasize his sovereign rule. In the next line, he declares, “I dwell in an exalted and holy [place],” which refers to the place from which he rules. Therefore it is more likely that שֹׁכֵן עַד (shokhen ’ad) means “I dwell [in my lofty palace] forever” and refers to God’s eternal kingship.

[57:15]  ⁵ tn Heb “and also with the crushed and lowly of spirit.” This may refer to the repentant who have humbled themselves (see 66:2) or more generally to the exiles who have experienced discouragement and humiliation.

[57:15]  ⁶ tn Heb “to restore the lowly of spirit and to restore the heart of the crushed.”