Why should the nations say, “Where is their God?”

The Lord says, “Do not start following pagan religious practices. Do not be in awe of signs that occur in the sky even though the nations hold them in awe.

Everyone should revere you, O King of all nations, because you deserve to be revered. For there is no one like you among any of the wise people of the nations nor among any of their kings.

Let the nations be roused and let them go up to the valley of Jehoshaphat, for there I will sit in judgment on all the surrounding nations.

I will also shake up all the nations, and they will offer their treasures; then I will fill this temple with glory,’ says the Lord who rules over all.

The Lord demonstrates his power to deliver; in the sight of the nations he reveals his justice.

The nations’ idols are made of silver and gold, they are man-made.

All the nations are insignificant before him; they are regarded as absolutely nothing.

So the Lord said, “Hear, you nations! Be witnesses and take note of what will happen to these people.

From these the coastlands of the nations were separated into their lands, every one according to its language, according to their families, by their nations.

These are the families of the sons of Noah, according to their genealogies, by their nations, and from these the nations spread over the earth after the flood.

If you think, “These nations are more numerous than I – how can I dispossess them?”

then he will drive out all these nations ahead of you, and you will dispossess nations greater and stronger than you.

This is why the Lord permitted these nations to remain and did not conquer them immediately; he did not hand them over to Joshua.

We will be like all the other nations. Our king will judge us and lead us and fight our battles.”

Have any of the gods of the nations actually rescued his land from the power of the king of Assyria?

It is true, Lord, that the kings of Assyria have destroyed the nations and their lands.

He did evil in the sight of the Lord and committed the same horrible sins practiced by the nations whom the Lord drove out from before the Israelites.

So David became famous in all the lands; the Lord caused all the nations to fear him.

He did evil in the sight of the Lord and committed the same horrible sins practiced by the nations whom the Lord drove out ahead of the Israelites.