What does "mountain of Bashan" symbolize in the context of God's power? Key passage “ ‘A mountain of God is the mountain of Bashan; a mountain of many peaks is the mountain of Bashan. Why do you gaze in envy, O mountain of many peaks? This is the mountain God desired for His dwelling, where the LORD will dwell forever.’ ” (Psalm 68:15-16) Geography in view • Bashan lay east of the Jordan, rising into the lofty, multi-peaked range that includes Mount Hermon (over 9,000 ft). • Its rugged height, fertile slopes, and famed strength (Deuteronomy 3:11) made it a natural symbol of power and grandeur in the ancient Near East. Symbolic meaning in Psalm 68 • Physical impressiveness that dwarfs surrounding hills. • Earthly strength, size, and security that seem unassailable. • A proud, self-confident “mountain of many peaks” standing in sharp contrast to the far smaller Mount Zion, which God selects for His dwelling. How the picture magnifies God’s power • God’s choice, not human criteria, determines where His glory rests—His presence makes low Zion higher than sky-scraping Bashan. • Even the most imposing natural stronghold can only “gaze in envy” (v. 16); it lacks the one thing that matters—God Himself. • The scene showcases divine sovereignty: the Creator is never impressed by created grandeur (Isaiah 40:15-17). • By dwelling on Zion, the LORD establishes that spiritual reality outranks physical might: “Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit” (Zechariah 4:6). Other Scriptures reinforcing the theme • Psalm 20:7—“Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God.” • Psalm 46:2-3—Though mountains “quake” and “fall into the heart of the sea,” God’s city stands firm. • 1 Corinthians 1:27—God chooses the weak to shame the strong. • Habakkuk 3:6—When God “shakes the nations,” the mountains themselves crumble. Take-home truths • No height, achievement, or earthly security can rival the presence of God. • Places (or people) the world overlooks become exalted when God dwells there. • Believers can face towering challenges knowing every “mountain of Bashan” is already subject to the King who reigns from Zion. |
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