Yes that “string” of three little words is found twice in the Bible, “heaven of heavens.”
Once in the context of Psalm 68. Here’s a bit of it … “Sing unto God, ye kingdoms of the earth; O sing praises unto the Lord; Selah: to him that rideth upon the HEAVEN OF HEAVENS, which were of old; lo, he doth send out his voice, and that a mighty voice. Ascribe ye strength unto God: his excellency is over Israel, and his strength is in the clouds.” Verses 32-34 of that Psalm.
God “rides” there! God “speaks” there! With a mighty Voice, in fact.
In Hebrew, I am told, any term that doubles itself (Lord of Lords, Holy of Holies, etc.) is a Semitic was of expressing a “superlative!” (There’s no King like our King, the Lord Jesus Christ! He excels them all!)
Thus, of all the “heavens” (there are at least three, Paul says in 2 Corinthians 2:12) God is at home in the “greatest, highest, oldest” of them!
Wow!
Our “string” occurs again (for the second and last time in the Scripture) in Psalm 148. Which begins … “Praise ye the LORD. Praise ye the LORD from the heavens: praise him in the heights. Praise ye him, all his angels: praise ye him, all his hosts. Praise ye him, sun and moon: praise him, all ye stars of light. Praise him, ye HEAVENS OF HEAVENS, and ye waters that be above the heavens. Let them praise the name of the LORD: for he commanded, and they were created.” Verses 1-5 of the Book of Psalm’s antepenultimate Poem.
Here all who inhabit (presumably saints and angels) the “heaven of heavens” (a created place) are exhorted (actually commanded) to “praise the LORD!”
As are the sun, moon, stars of light, etc.
Notice that in the Psalm’s first Lines the “heavens” and the “heights” are already under a mandate to praise Him! Now this spirit of worship, spirit of adoration, has reached the apex of creation! The very “heaven of heavens!”
Makes me wonder if He is not also in some way being praised in the abyss (translated “bottomless pit” in the King James Bible) … the lowest place in His Creation! Notice how I said it, “makes me wonder.”
After all, Psalm 1389:8 thunders, at least proving God’s Omnipresence … “If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in HELL, behold, thou art there.” Pretty low!
Have I said anything meaningful this morning?
If so, surely this. If God is in control way up there (heaven of heavens) and in every place else … if God is being praised way up there (heaven of heavens) and elsewhere … SHOULD HE NOT BE RIDING HIS GLORIOUS CHARIOT IN MY LITTLE HEART? SHOULD HE NOT BE THE OBJECT OF VOCAL PRAISE IN MY LITTLE LIFE?
Surely, that is the case!
In fact, the Book of Psalms concludes with that sentiment … “Let every thing that hath breath praise the LORD.”
Amen!
— Dr. Mike Bagwell
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