Our God is in heaven; He does as He pleases.
Parallel translations
- WEB But our God is in the heavens. He does whatever he pleases.
- KJV But our God is in the heavens: he hath done whatsoever he hath pleased.
- NKJV But our God is in heaven; He does whatever He pleases.
- NASB But our God is in the heavens; He does whatever He pleases.
- NLT Our God is in the heavens, and he does as he wishes.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Unlike absent idols, the true God reigns in heaven and does whatever he pleases. It matters because God's sovereignty is the firm answer to the world's scoffing.
Overview
The reply to the nations is God's transcendence and freedom: he is enthroned in heaven and accomplishes all his will. This is a foundational confession of divine sovereignty cherished in the Reformed tradition. Far from being distant, this sovereign God draws near in Christ, who came to do the Father's pleasing will perfectly (John 6:38).
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 11
- Ps 135:6The LORD does all that pleases Him in the heavens and on the earth, in the seas and in all their depths.
- Dan 4:35All the peoples of the earth are counted as nothing, and He does as He pleases with the army of heaven and the peoples of the earth. There is no one who can restrain His hand or say to Him, ‘What have You done?’”
- Isa 46:10I declare the end from the beginning, and ancient times from what is still to come. I say, ‘My purpose will stand, and all My good pleasure I will accomplish.’
- Eph 1:11In Him we were also chosen as God’s own, having been predestined according to the plan of Him who works out everything by the counsel of His will,
- Ps 103:19The LORD has established His throne in heaven, and His kingdom rules over all.
- Rom 9:19One of you will say to me, “Then why does God still find fault? For who can resist His will?”
- Ps 2:4The One enthroned in heaven laughs; the Lord taunts them.
- Ps 123:1A song of ascents. I lift up my eyes to You, the One enthroned in heaven.
- Matt 6:9So then, this is how you should pray: ‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name.
- 1 Chr 16:25For great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised; He is to be feared above all gods.
- Ps 68:4Sing to God! Sing praises to His name. Exalt Him who rides on the clouds—His name is the LORD—and rejoice before Him.
Resources, by level
Commentaries & study tools
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Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
Christ at the center
The Psalms are Christ's own prayer book and a gallery of his portraits — the suffering one of Psalm 22, the risen Lord of Psalm 16, the priest-king of Psalm 110, the Son to whom the nations are given.
How Psalms 115:3 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.