Psalm 115:16

¹⁶ The heaven, even the heavens, are the Lord’s;
But the earth He has given to the children of men.

HEAVEN(s)

Biblical definition of Heaven

In the Bible, “heaven” primarily refers to God’s dwelling place, a realm of peace, love, and worship. For believers, it is the ultimate destination of eternal life, where they will live in God’s presence, free from suffering. 

Biblical definition of Heavens

“Heavens” has multiple meanings, referring to the sky with the sun, moon, and stars, the dwelling place of God and His angels, and the ultimate spiritual realm of eternal bliss and the abode of the redeemed.

In the above verse the Psalmist is pointing God’s position. In other words what belongs to God, no man can dare visit. There’s no way a man can enter into heavens using his knowledge.

We see today in this world, man’s quest to seek knowledge has grown to leaps and bounds. He has being trying to step into unfamiliar territories and especially into the space origins. Man has no understanding of what’s out there in the space and beyond.

You see God has given man limited understanding of what is in the space. For example the Sun is 0.0000158 light-years away from Earth on average, a tiny fraction of a light-year that highlights why light-years are used for much larger, interstellar distances. This distance is more commonly expressed as about 8.3 light-minutes or approximately 93 million miles (150150150 million km), which is defined as one astronomical unit (AU). 

As human beings, God has delegated us to be responsible of the things of the earth: “But the earth He has given to the children of men” (V16b)

1. God entrusted the earth to us
   • From the beginning, God said, “Let them have dominion” (Genesis 1:26–28).
   • Humanity was given the earth not for exploitation, but for stewardship — to care for, cultivate, and manage it under God’s authority.
2. We are caretakers, not owners
   • Psalm 24:1 says, “The earth is the Lord’s, and the fullness thereof.”
   • Everything we have — resources, time, talents — are gifts to be used for His glory.
   • When we misuse creation, oppress others, or ignore justice, we betray the trust God has given.
3. The earth is a place of purpose
   • God gave us this world to fulfill His mission: to reveal His kingdom on earth as it is in heaven.
   • Our work, worship, and witness should reflect His heavenly will.

Application:
Be faithful with what God has placed in your hands — your home, your job, your community, your ministry. You are managing part of God’s world.

Conclusion:

Psalm 115:16 calls us to balance reverence and responsibility:

• Heaven reminds us of who God is — sovereign, holy, and eternal.
• Earth reminds us of who we are — stewards, servants, and witnesses.

Let us not forget:
Heaven belongs to God — worship Him!
Earth is entrusted to us — serve Him faithfully!

Closing Prayer:

“Lord, You reign in the heavens, and You have entrusted the earth to our care. Teach us to honor You in all we do on this earth. Help us to be faithful stewards of Your creation, obedient servants of Your will, and living reflections of heaven’s glory. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”

Maranatha! Come Lord Jesus!