In Psalm 123:1 God is addressed as “O You who are enthroned in the heavens.” Jesus taught His disciples to pray “Our Father who is in heaven” (Matt. 6:9). What are we told by this emphasis on our God being in heaven?

First, we are taught about God’s sovereignty. God rules over all the things on earth. This aspect of God’s reign is particularly emphasized in Psalm 2. Psalm 2:1-3 pictures the nations in their insane and self-destructive rebellion against God and His Anointed. What is God’s response to this? “He who sits in the heaven laughs, the LORD scoffs at them” (v. 4). The LORD does not laugh because man’s sin is amusing to Him. The LORD laughs because people whom He created are no challenge to His rule. God is in the heavens, and He rules over all.

Second, God’s sovereignty demands our reverence for Him. “Do not be hasty in word or impulsive in thought to bring up a matter in the presence of God. For God is in heaven and you are on the earth: therefore, let your words be few” (Eccl. 5:2). Since God is so much greater than us and higher than us, we must guard our steps carefully in His house and draw near Him to listen to Him (Eccl. 5:1). When we come before God we are coming before one infinitely greater than we are. The utmost reverence is demanded before this awesome God.

Third, God ruling in the heavens reminds us how infinitely greater His wisdom is than ours. “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your thoughts” (Is. 55:9). God knows all things about all things. Therefore, we are creatures who admittedly are limited in knowledge, we must defer to His wisdom and listen to His word (1 Sam. 3:10). God knows all about us and we stand in awe of such knowledge (Ps. 139:1-6). This infinite knowledge of us terrifies the guilty (Ps. 11:4-6; Jer. 23:23-24), but it is an assurance to those who love Him (Ps. 139:7-12; John 21:17).

Fourth, God being in the heavens tells us how His love for us is beyond our ability to measure. “Your lovingkindness, O LORD, extends to the heavens. Your faithfulness reaches to the skies” (Ps. 36:5). “For Your lovingkindness is great to the heavens and Your truth to the clouds” (Ps. 57:10). “For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is His lovingkindness toward those who fear Him” (Ps. 103:11). We cannot measure God’s love as we cannot measure the distance between heaven and earth.