Psalm 115:2

Translations

Modern

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

Traditional

Wherefore should the heathen say, Where is now their God?

Literal

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

Latin

…super misericordia tua et veritate tua; nequando dicant gentes: Ubi est Deus eorum?

Original

Hebrew

English

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

Notes

Psalms 115:2–3

Where is their God?: People question God's presence or power when he does not act as they expect (compare Psalms 14:1; 42:3, 10). However, God is in the heavens. He has all power, authority, and knowledge. He does as he wishes, not what people think he should do. He carries out his plans according to his will (Ephesians 1:11) and acts in his own time and ways.

Psalms 115:1–3

The community confesses their faith that God will rescue them for the glory of his name.

Psalms 115:1–18

This is a song of thanksgiving for God's blessings. The community gives all glory to the Lord, the true source of hope and blessing. Those who trust in idols feel great disappointment. The Creator's blessing extends to future generations (Psalm 115:14), especially to the priests (115:12).

Psalms 113:1–118:29

These psalms are called the Egyptian Hallel. Hallel means “praise.” Jewish people use these psalms during Passover, which began when God brought Israel out of Egypt in the exodus. The people recite Psalms 113–114 before the Passover meal, and Psalms 115–118 are recited afterward.

Psalms 111:1–117:2

The word Hallelujah! is repeated throughout this group of psalms.

Theme notes and profiles

God’s Inscrutable Purposes in History

Related verses

Psalm 79:10
Why should the nations ask, “Where is their God?” Before our eyes, make known among the nations Your vengeance for the bloodshed of Your servants.
Psalm 42:3
My tears have been my food both day and night, while men ask me all day long, “Where is your God?”
Psalm 42:10
Like the crushing of my bones, my enemies taunt me, while they say to me all day long, “Where is your God?”
Exodus 32:12
Why should the Egyptians declare, ‘He brought them out with evil intent, to kill them in the mountains and wipe them from the face of the earth’? Turn from Your fierce anger and relent from doing harm to Your people.
Numbers 14:15–16
If You kill this people as one man, the nations who have heard of Your fame will say,
Deuteronomy 32:26–27
I would have said that I would cut them to pieces and blot out their memory from mankind,
Joel 2:17
Let the priests who minister before the LORD weep between the portico and the altar, saying, “Spare Your people, O LORD, and do not make Your heritage a reproach, an object of scorn among the nations. Why should they say among the peoples, ‘Where is their God?’”
2 Kings 19:10–19
“Give this message to Hezekiah king of Judah: ‘Do not let your God, in whom you trust, deceive you by saying that Jerusalem will not be delivered into the hand of the king of Assyria.

Psalm 115:2

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Parallels?

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Translations

Original

Notes

Related verses

Parallels

Glossary

Topics