Wherefore should the heathen say, Where is now their God?
Psalm 115:2 asks why the heathen should be given occasion to reproach the God of Israel. The psalm has already refused glory to men and directed it wholly to Jehovah: “Not unto us, O LORD, not unto us, but unto thy name give glory, for thy mercy, and for thy truth’s sake” (v.1). Verse 2 then introduces the taunt of the nations, and verse 3 immediately answers it: “But our God is in the heavens: he hath done whatsoever he hath pleased.” The question is not whether God exists or rules. The heathen speak from ignorance; Israel answers from faith.
“Wherefore.” The psalmist asks why such reproach should be allowed to continue. He is concerned for more than Israel’s comfort or reputation. Verse 1 has already fixed the great issue: God’s name, mercy, and truth. If His people appear forsaken, the heathen use their condition to speak against Him. Moses prayed with the same concern when Israel sinned: “Wherefore should the Egyptians speak, and say, For mischief did he bring them out, to slay them in the mountains, and to consume them from the face of the earth?” (Exodus 32:12). A saint should care deeply when circumstances give wicked men occasion to dishonour the name of God.
This does not mean God must arrange providence so that unbelievers never mock. He often permits His people to suffer, and enemies may interpret patience or chastening as weakness in God. Israel’s own sins could also give occasion for His name to be reproached. Paul wrote, “For the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles through you, as it is written” (Romans 2:24). Therefore the question should search God’s people as well as comfort them. We should never live in a way that supplies the enemies of truth with just cause to speak evil of the God we profess.
“Should the heathen say.” The heathen are the nations outside Israel, surrounded by idols of their own making. The verses that follow expose their religion: “Their idols are silver and gold, the work of men’s hands” (v.4). Their gods have mouths but cannot speak, eyes but cannot see, ears but cannot hear, hands but cannot handle, and feet but cannot walk (vv.5-7). Their question about Israel’s God is therefore full of irony. They demand evidence of the living God while trusting gods that cannot move.
Unbelief often speaks boldly where it understands least. The heathen judge Jehovah by visible circumstances because their own religion is built upon visible idols. Israel may be afflicted, scattered, or chastened, and they conclude that Israel’s God is absent or powerless. But outward circumstances do not measure divine dominion. Verse 3 answers them from heaven: Jehovah is not an idol confined to a shrine, carried by men, or dependent upon human hands. He reigns above them and does according to His own pleasure.
“Where is now.” The word “now” sharpens the taunt. The heathen may acknowledge stories of former deliverance while mocking present distress. Where is the God who divided the sea, overthrew Pharaoh, fed Israel in the wilderness, and gave them Canaan? If He acted then, why does He not act now? The same reproach appears elsewhere: “Wherefore should the heathen say, Where is their God?” (Psalm 79:10). Wicked men take delay as evidence against God.
Faith must resist that conclusion. God’s past works remain true even when present help is not yet visible. His delay may involve chastening, testing, patience toward enemies, or purposes His servants do not yet understand. None of these make Him absent. “For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry” (Habakkuk 2:3). God’s appointed time is not governed by the impatience of mockers.
“Their God.” The taunt itself admits the relationship. Jehovah is Israel’s God. The nations may mock the possessive word, but Scripture glories in it. “Happy is that people, that is in such a case: yea, happy is that people, whose God is the LORD” (Psalm 144:15). He chose Israel, redeemed them, gave them His word, and called them His people. Their failures did not turn Him into an idol, nor did their troubles cancel His dominion. Covenant relationship gave them reason to answer mockery with trust.
Yet this privilege also demands faithfulness. If He is “their God,” then they must trust Him rather than imitate the idols of the nations. The psalm soon commands, “O Israel, trust thou in the LORD: he is their help and their shield” (v.9). The proper answer to the heathen is therefore not argument alone but confidence in Jehovah. Israel must live as a people who truly believe their God is in heaven and does whatsoever He pleases.
The reproach reaches its highest expression at the cross of Jesus Christ. His enemies mocked the very trust He placed in God: “He trusted in God; let him deliver him now, if he will have him: for he said, I am the Son of God” (Matthew 27:43). To unbelieving eyes the crucified Christ appeared abandoned and defeated. But the Father raised Him from the dead, and the apparent triumph of His enemies became the means of their defeat. God answered reproach not by avoiding the cross, but by turning the cross into redemption and resurrection glory.
This gives the church strong confidence when the world asks where its God is. He is not measured by the present strength or weakness of His people. He is in the heavens, Christ is risen and reigning, and His counsel cannot fail. The idols of men perish; Jehovah does whatsoever He pleases.
Do not give the heathen just cause to reproach His name. When they mock because God’s help seems delayed, answer by trusting Him. “But our God is in the heavens: he hath done whatsoever he hath pleased” (v.3). Live so that your confidence declares where your God is.
Wherefore should the heathen say, Where is now their God?
Psalm 115:2 asks why the heathen should be given occasion to reproach the God of Israel. The psalm has already refused glory to men and directed it wholly to Jehovah: “Not unto us, O LORD, not unto us, but unto thy name give glory, for thy mercy, and for thy truth’s sake” (v.1). Verse 2 then introduces the taunt of the nations, and verse 3 immediately answers it: “But our God is in the heavens: he hath done whatsoever he hath pleased.” The question is not whether God exists or rules. The heathen speak from ignorance; Israel answers from faith.
“Wherefore.” The psalmist asks why such reproach should be allowed to continue. He is concerned for more than Israel’s comfort or reputation. Verse 1 has already fixed the great issue: God’s name, mercy, and truth. If His people appear forsaken, the heathen use their condition to speak against Him. Moses prayed with the same concern when Israel sinned: “Wherefore should the Egyptians speak, and say, For mischief did he bring them out, to slay them in the mountains, and to consume them from the face of the earth?” (Exodus 32:12). A saint should care deeply when circumstances give wicked men occasion to dishonour the name of God.
This does not mean God must arrange providence so that unbelievers never mock. He often permits His people to suffer, and enemies may interpret patience or chastening as weakness in God. Israel’s own sins could also give occasion for His name to be reproached. Paul wrote, “For the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles through you, as it is written” (Romans 2:24). Therefore the question should search God’s people as well as comfort them. We should never live in a way that supplies the enemies of truth with just cause to speak evil of the God we profess.
“Should the heathen say.” The heathen are the nations outside Israel, surrounded by idols of their own making. The verses that follow expose their religion: “Their idols are silver and gold, the work of men’s hands” (v.4). Their gods have mouths but cannot speak, eyes but cannot see, ears but cannot hear, hands but cannot handle, and feet but cannot walk (vv.5-7). Their question about Israel’s God is therefore full of irony. They demand evidence of the living God while trusting gods that cannot move.
Unbelief often speaks boldly where it understands least. The heathen judge Jehovah by visible circumstances because their own religion is built upon visible idols. Israel may be afflicted, scattered, or chastened, and they conclude that Israel’s God is absent or powerless. But outward circumstances do not measure divine dominion. Verse 3 answers them from heaven: Jehovah is not an idol confined to a shrine, carried by men, or dependent upon human hands. He reigns above them and does according to His own pleasure.
“Where is now.” The word “now” sharpens the taunt. The heathen may acknowledge stories of former deliverance while mocking present distress. Where is the God who divided the sea, overthrew Pharaoh, fed Israel in the wilderness, and gave them Canaan? If He acted then, why does He not act now? The same reproach appears elsewhere: “Wherefore should the heathen say, Where is their God?” (Psalm 79:10). Wicked men take delay as evidence against God.
Faith must resist that conclusion. God’s past works remain true even when present help is not yet visible. His delay may involve chastening, testing, patience toward enemies, or purposes His servants do not yet understand. None of these make Him absent. “For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry” (Habakkuk 2:3). God’s appointed time is not governed by the impatience of mockers.
“Their God.” The taunt itself admits the relationship. Jehovah is Israel’s God. The nations may mock the possessive word, but Scripture glories in it. “Happy is that people, that is in such a case: yea, happy is that people, whose God is the LORD” (Psalm 144:15). He chose Israel, redeemed them, gave them His word, and called them His people. Their failures did not turn Him into an idol, nor did their troubles cancel His dominion. Covenant relationship gave them reason to answer mockery with trust.
Yet this privilege also demands faithfulness. If He is “their God,” then they must trust Him rather than imitate the idols of the nations. The psalm soon commands, “O Israel, trust thou in the LORD: he is their help and their shield” (v.9). The proper answer to the heathen is therefore not argument alone but confidence in Jehovah. Israel must live as a people who truly believe their God is in heaven and does whatsoever He pleases.
The reproach reaches its highest expression at the cross of Jesus Christ. His enemies mocked the very trust He placed in God: “He trusted in God; let him deliver him now, if he will have him: for he said, I am the Son of God” (Matthew 27:43). To unbelieving eyes the crucified Christ appeared abandoned and defeated. But the Father raised Him from the dead, and the apparent triumph of His enemies became the means of their defeat. God answered reproach not by avoiding the cross, but by turning the cross into redemption and resurrection glory.
This gives the church strong confidence when the world asks where its God is. He is not measured by the present strength or weakness of His people. He is in the heavens, Christ is risen and reigning, and His counsel cannot fail. The idols of men perish; Jehovah does whatsoever He pleases.
Do not give the heathen just cause to reproach His name. When they mock because God’s help seems delayed, answer by trusting Him. “But our God is in the heavens: he hath done whatsoever he hath pleased” (v.3). Live so that your confidence declares where your God is.