Psalms 115:1-3. Not unto us, O LORD, not unto us, but unto thy name give glory, for thy mercy, and for thy truth’s sake. Wherefore should the heathen say, Where is now their God? But our God is in the heavens: he hath done whatsoever he hath pleased.
It was very natural that the heathen should say, "Where is their God?" because they had no outward emblem, no visible image, no tangible token; whereas the heathen had their gods many, such as they were, made of wood and stone; so that they asked, "Where is their God?" I think that when that question is suggested, it is a good sign, for it proves the purity of the faith which has cleansed itself from outward symbolism. May men often have to ask of us, "Where is their God?"
But I fear that the people of Israel were brought into so low a state, at times, that this question was also asked in scorn and derision, "Where is now their God?" "He was with them when they came out of Egypt; he was with them when they captured Canaan; he has been with them in many a terrible battle, turning to flight the armies of the aliens; but where is now their God?" It is a cutting question under such circumstances. It was so with the psalmist when be said, "As with a sword in my bones, mine enemies reproach me; while they say daily unto me, Where is thy God?" "But our God is in the heavens where their gods never were. He hath done whatsoever be hath pleased:" the gods of the heathen have done nothing; they cannot do anything.
Psalms 115:1-3. Not unto us, O LORD, not unto us, but unto thy name give glory, for thy mercy, and for thy truth’s sake. Wherefore should the heathen say, Where is now their God? But our God is in the heavens: he hath done whatsoever he hath pleased.
It was very natural that the heathen should say, "Where is their God?" because they had no outward emblem, no visible image, no tangible token; whereas the heathen had their gods many, such as they were, made of wood and stone; so that they asked, "Where is their God?" I think that when that question is suggested, it is a good sign, for it proves the purity of the faith which has cleansed itself from outward symbolism. May men often have to ask of us, "Where is their God?"
But I fear that the people of Israel were brought into so low a state, at times, that this question was also asked in scorn and derision, "Where is now their God?" "He was with them when they came out of Egypt; he was with them when they captured Canaan; he has been with them in many a terrible battle, turning to flight the armies of the aliens; but where is now their God?" It is a cutting question under such circumstances. It was so with the psalmist when be said, "As with a sword in my bones, mine enemies reproach me; while they say daily unto me, Where is thy God?" "But our God is in the heavens where their gods never were. He hath done whatsoever be hath pleased:" the gods of the heathen have done nothing; they cannot do anything.