We are in chapter twenty-four of Exodus with our word for today. שָׁמַי heaven, sky, air. It is used 421 times in the Old Testament. We see our word used in the sense of the sky or air where birds fly. Genesis 1:20, 26 And God said, “Let the waters swarm with swarms of living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the expanse of הַשָּׁמָֽיִם the heavens … Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of הַשָּׁמַ֗יִם the heavens. We also see our word used in the sense of the region above the earth from beyond where birds fly to the place of the sun and stars. Joshua 10:13 The sun stopped in the midst of הַשָּׁמַ֔יִם heaven and did not hurry to set for about a whole day. Genesis 15:5 Look toward הַשָּׁמַ֗יְמָה heaven, and number the stars, if you are able to number them. Genesis 22:17 I will surely bless you, and I will surely multiply your offspring as הַשָּׁמַ֔יִם the stars of heaven and as the sand that is on the seashore.
God’s creation worships him which includes what is contained in the heavens. Psalm 69:34 Let שָׁמַ֣יִם heaven and earth praise him, the seas and everything that moves in them. Psalm 96:11-13 Let הַ֭שָּׁמַיִם the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice; let the sea roar, and all that fills it; let the field exult, and everything in it! Then shall all the trees of the forest sing for joy before the Lord. Psalm 148:4 Praise him, you שְׁמֵ֣י הַשָּׁמָ֑יִם [literally heaven of heavens which is a way to say the best of all or more likely here the highest of all the heavens that exist] highest heavens, and you waters above הַשָּׁמָֽיִם the heavens!
God not only created everything including what is in heaven but also rules over it as well. Psalm 146:5-6 Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the Lord his God, who made שָׁ֘מַ֤יִם heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them,
who keeps faith forever. Psalm 135:6 Whatever the Lord pleases, he does, בַּשָּׁמַ֥יִם in heaven and on earth, in the seas and all deeps.
Our word is also used in the sense of where God and angels live. Genesis 21:17 And God heard the voice of the boy, and the angel of God called to Hagar from הַשָּׁמַ֔יִם heaven and said to her, “What troubles you, Hagar? Fear not, for God has heard the voice of the boy where he is. Psalm 68:32-33 O kingdoms of the earth, sing to God; sing praises to the Lord, to him who rides בִּשְׁמֵ֣י in the heavens, the ancient שְׁמֵי heavens; behold, he sends out his voice, his mighty voice. This is exactly how our word is used in our chapter today. Exodus 24:10 And they saw the God of Israel. There was under his feet as it were a pavement of sapphire stone, like the very הַשָּׁמַ֖יִם heaven for clearness.
Even though God is described as existing in heaven in a certain sense he is not limited to this area because he is everywhere present. This is referred to when David wanted to build a house for God and when Solomon dedicated the temple. I’ll close with this amazing truth about the greatness of our God. 1 Kings 8:22-23, 27 Then Solomon stood before the altar of the Lord in the presence of all the assembly of Israel and spread out his hands toward הַשָּׁמָֽיִם heaven, and said, “O Lord, God of Israel, there is no God like you, בַּשָּׁמַ֣יִם in heaven above or on earth beneath, keeping covenant and showing steadfast love to your servants who walk before you with all their heart … But will God indeed dwell on the earth? Behold, הַשָּׁמַ֜יִם וּשְׁמֵ֤י הַשָּׁמַ֙יִם֙ heaven and the highest heaven cannot contain you; how much less this house that I have built!
