Bible Commentaries
Psalms 115

Verses 1-18

Psalms 115:0

Psalms 115:16 The heaven, even the heavens, are the LORD'S: but the earth hath he given to the children of men.

Psalms 115:16 Comments - The Lord had delegated authority for mankind to rule the earth in Genesis 1:26-31. However, in the Garden of Eden man yielded his authority to Satan. Therefore, we know that God allows bad things to happen on earth because the earth has been given to man. It is now man's role to exercise authority to over good and evil. We are the body of Christ that God works through to fulfill His will on this earth.

God has given the earth to man in order to dominate it, but the heavens haven been reserved for Himself. Although man may explore these heavens, he is not destined to dwell in them during this dispensation. This verse in Psalms set the bounds of man’s domination.

When man fulfills his commandment to take dominion on this earth, he may be allowed by God to overcome these outer reaches of space. But even the Scriptures do not offer this promise. Man may see space by exploration, but he cannot yet possess it by domination, as with the earth.

The purpose of the heavens, therefore, is to declare God’s glory (Psalms 19:1).

Psalms 19:1, “To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork.”

The more that scientists explore the deep reaches of space, the closer they are driven to the conclusion that there must be a God. For the heavens stretch beyond man’s understanding. The heavens were created in order to declare this fact to mankind, both sinner and saint. God’s dwelling place is the heavens, and thus, it declares His glory, just as man’s dwelling place is on earth, which declares either man’s glory or his shame, depending upon how man answers his divine call to dominate this earth.