How can we see God's strength in our lives, as in Psalm 68:15? Setting the Scene Psalm 68 celebrates God’s victorious march on behalf of His people. Verse 15 places that triumph against the backdrop of imposing Mount Bashan: “Mount Bashan is a majestic mountain; high-ridged mountain is Mount Bashan.” Mount Bashan’s many peaks represent natural power and grandeur, yet God’s presence outshines even this impressive range (v. 16). The lesson: when God moves, no earthly might can rival Him. What the Mountain Teaches About Strength • Immovable stability — a mountain does not shift with every storm. • Towering height — it dominates the landscape and commands attention. • Enduring presence — it was there before us and will remain after us. God’s strength, pictured in the mountain, is: • Unshakeable (Psalm 62:6) • Exalted above all (Psalm 97:9) • Eternal (Isaiah 40:28) Seeing God’s Strength in Our Own Lives 1. Salvation Strength • “The LORD is my strength and my song, and He has become my salvation.” (Psalm 118:14) • He rescues from sin’s penalty and power, something no human effort could accomplish. 2. Strength in Weakness • “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is perfected in weakness.” (2 Corinthians 12:9) • Our inadequacy becomes the stage for His adequacy. 3. Daily Endurance • “He gives power to the faint; to him who has no might He increases strength.” (Isaiah 40:29) • Strength to parent well, work diligently, serve faithfully, resist temptation. 4. Spiritual Battle • “Be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power.” (Ephesians 6:10) • Armor works only because God supplies the force behind it. 5. Courage to Obey • “I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.” (Philippians 4:13) • Obedience often requires divine energy—He provides it. Practical Ways to Recognize His Strength • Stay in the Word — Scripture reminds us who holds the power (Psalm 119:28). • Pray dependently — asking positions us to receive (Matthew 7:7-8). • Recall past victories — testimony fuels present faith (1 Samuel 17:37). • Worship intentionally — praise magnifies the Lord’s might in our minds (Psalm 29:1-2). • Lean on fellowship — God channels strength through His people (Hebrews 10:24-25). Warning Against Self-Reliance Mount Bashan’s peaks could have boasted in their elevation, yet they still bowed to God’s chosen dwelling (Psalm 68:16). Human self-confidence is just as misplaced. “Apart from Me you can do nothing” (John 15:5). Encouraging Snapshots from Other Passages • Psalm 18:1-2 — God as rock, fortress, deliverer. • Psalm 46:1 — “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.” • Ephesians 3:16 — strength by His Spirit in the inner man. Key Takeaways • God’s strength surpasses the mightiest earthly picture. • That same strength is active in every believer’s life—saving, sustaining, empowering. • We experience it by abiding in Christ, depending on Him, and remembering His past faithfulness. |
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