GENESIS 1:6
Then God said, “Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters.” [Genesis 1:6 NKJV]
And God said, “Let there be an expanse between the waters, to separate the waters from the waters.” [Genesis 1:6 BSB]
Bible Teacher:
When God spoke the Firmament into being, He assigned the place and the purpose for the Firmament in the midst of the waters He wanted partitioned. Both the emergence and the assignment of the Firmament were in the Word that created it. The Firmament was not given a being without a place, neither was the Firmament given a place without a purpose.
★ Dividing the waters was the call for the creation of the Firmament, and,
★ Ruling the midst of the waters was the domain for the Firmament.
Commentaries:
[Psalms 33:6-7] — By the word of the Lord the heavens were made, and all the stars by the Breath of His Mouth. He piles up the waters of the sea; He puts the depths into storehouses.
Bible Teacher:
God already created the heavens above the waters when God spoke of this other heaven called firmament, expanse or sky. There were heavens of heavens even before there were waters above the heavens.
[Psalms 148:4-5 NKJV] — Praise Him, you heavens of heavens, And you waters above the heavens! Let them praise the name of the Lord, For He commanded and they were created.
Commentaries:
Does God plant heaven inside where there was no heaven before? Obviously, God planted the Firmament of heaven inside the midst of the waters where there was no heaven or firmament before. Yes, God does plant heavens.
[Isaiah 51:16] — "And I have put My words in your mouth, and I have covered you in the shadow of My Hand, that I may plant the heavens, and lay the foundations of the earth, and say to Zion, You are My people."
Bible Teacher:
According to this Word of God above, a firmament that was not existing before was predestined or foreordained to both occupy the midst of the ancient waters and to divide or split the waters from the waters. Such ordinance required great Power to be given to the ordained firmament above the existing powers and bonds that held the waters together in the beginning. Thus, the power of the firmament (heaven) must be greater than the binding powers of the waters that existed before it, for the firmament to practically displace and split the binding powers of the waters and establish its domain or kingdom in the midst of the waters.
Behold both the Word and the Power of God that were partakers in making the firmament of heaven. God said it, and the firmament of heaven became entitled to receive the Power of God to divide, separate the waters asunder, and to create its own Space (Rooms) where there was none existing or easy for it. The firmament of heaven was to be equiped for that battle or purpose, and to divided its spoils (waters) and to create its space and heaven that now exists by the Word of God. The Firmament of Heaven is an evidence of the Power of the Word of God, and also an evidence that true Power may keep Expanding as the Firmament of Heaven expands.
[Psalms 150:1] — "Praise the LORD. Praise God in His sanctuary; praise Him in the expanse [firmament] of His power."
Commentaries:
Hell enlarged itself (Isaiah 5:4, Habakkuk 2:5), but the Firmament of Heaven expands and enlarges itself far more than hell could ever do.
Bible Teacher:
There were more opportunities and more goodworks to be done in the midst of the waters than presented over the face of the waters, but only when room (firmament) for independent movements is made for the living to walk, move and have being in their midst. Thus, the Word of God had to make room for the Spirit and for life (movement) inside the midst of those waters, and made room large enough to become realms among the waters. The firmament is also the Room, which is now a heaven.