Rabbi Roodyn

ה) כִּי כָּל אֱלֹהֵי הָעַמִּים אֱלִילִים וַה’ שָׁמַיִם עָשָׂה:

For all the gods of the peoples are nought, but the Hashem made the heavens.

The Malbim explains that the nations of the world ascribe divine powers to natural forces, thinking that they are truly independent beings.

However, in  truth they are nothing but אלילים, limited finite forces. Their limitations are clearly defined for them by their Creato. The heavens that the nations of the world revere and worship is not independent, rather וה’ שמים עשה, Hashem made them and they depend on Him.

This pasuk is traditionally read every morning with a slight pause, between the words אלילים and ה’. Otherwise one could erroneously read the pasuk as saying ‘for all the gods of the peoples are nought and Hashem …. The pause allows us to draw a distinction between Hashem and the other gods. This pause offers us the opportunity for a moment of reflection, to think about how nothing in the world can compare to Hashem’s awesome power. When we tap in to that and realise that Hashem is the source of all our strength too, we become invigorated and filled with a desire to tap into His power.