תהלים, פרק ק״ב, פסוק כ״ו

The foundation of the universe rests on a profound contrast between the eternal nature of God and the temporary, shifting reality of the physical world. At the very beginning of everything, long before the existence of matter, God stood alone [רש״י, מצודת ציון, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. He preceded the universe and brought the earth into existence from absolute nothingness [אבן עזרא, מצודת דוד]. This truth firmly rejects the philosophical idea that the world has existed forever, establishing instead that the universe is a specific creation brought forth by God at a distinct moment [רד״ק]. While the physical world had a definite start, God Himself is ancient and first without any beginning, just as He is eternal without any end.

The structure of the universe is compared to a grand building. The earth serves as the solid foundation and center, while the heavens act as the protective roof above [אבן עזרא, מלבי״ם]. Together, these two elements represent the entirety of the tangible, material world. Because this physical reality was created, it is inherently bound by the strict limits of time [מלבי״ם].

The primary approach among commentators is that there is an absolute gap between the Creator and His creations. Anything that exists within time cannot remain in a single, unchanging state. Because the earth and the heavens had a beginning, it is inevitable that they will also have an end. Even during their existence, they are caught in a constant cycle of change, decay, and the shifting of physical matter [מלבי״ם]. The specific details of the physical world are always wearing out and passing away, with only the overarching laws of nature remaining steady [אבן עזרא]. In sharp contrast to this constant decay, God exists entirely outside of these limitations. Despite the endless changes and transformations that affect the earth, the heavens, and human nations, God remains in a single, permanent, and completely unalterable state forever [אלשיך, מלבי״ם].