When God works powerfully in our lives, do we give Him the credit, or do we gradually begin to rely on our own strength and accomplishments?
Key Verse
“The God of Israel Himself gives strength and power to the people. Blessed be God!” — Psalm 68:35 (NASB)
Background Context
Psalm 68 celebrates YHWH as the mighty King who rises against His enemies, protects the vulnerable, leads His people, and carries their burdens. In the earlier sections, David recalled God’s victories and His faithfulness to Israel, calling the people to praise Him for His power and deliverance.
In Psalm 68:28–35, the psalm concludes by looking beyond Israel’s immediate victories. David calls upon YHWH to display His strength, envisions rulers bringing tribute to Jerusalem, and summons the kingdoms of the earth to sing praises to God.
The closing verses remind us that YHWH’s authority extends over every nation and that the strength His people possess ultimately comes from Him.
(Continued and expanded after scripture.)
28Your God has commanded your strength;
Show Yourself strong, O God, who have acted on our behalf.
29Because of Your temple at Jerusalem
Kings will bring gifts to You.
30Rebuke the beasts in the reeds,
The herd of bulls with the calves of the peoples,
Trampling under foot the pieces of silver;
He has scattered the peoples who delight in war.
31Envoys will come out of Egypt;
Ethiopia will quickly stretch out her hands to God.
32Sing to God, O kingdoms of the earth,
Sing praises to the Lord,
33To Him who rides upon the highest heavens, which are from ancient times;
Behold, He speaks forth with His voice, a mighty voice.
34Ascribe strength to God;
His majesty is over Israel
And His strength is in the skies.
35O God, You are awesome from Your sanctuary.
The God of Israel Himself gives strength and power to the people.
Blessed be God!
Reflection on Psalm 68:28–35:
David begins this final section by calling upon God to demonstrate the strength He has already exercised on behalf of His people. He remembers what YHWH has done and asks Him to continue working with that same power.
This is an important pattern in prayer. Remembering God’s past faithfulness should strengthen our confidence in Him when we face new challenges. David does not assume that yesterday’s victory means Israel can now succeed independently. Instead, he continues looking to YHWH as the source of strength.
We can fall into the opposite pattern. When facing a difficult situation, we may pray earnestly and depend upon God. But after the difficulty passes, we can begin to take credit for the outcome or assume that our own abilities will be sufficient for whatever comes next.
David’s prayer reminds us that dependence upon YHWH is not something we outgrow as we become more experienced or successful.
The psalm then describes kings bringing gifts and nations acknowledging God’s authority. David calls for the rebuke of hostile powers, using the imagery of wild beasts to describe those who delight in conflict and threaten others. His prayer looks toward a world in which human pride and aggression are brought under the authority of YHWH.
There is a broader lesson here about how we view earthly power. Nations may possess armies, wealth, influence, and impressive leaders, but none of these things places them beyond God’s authority. The same is true of individuals. Whatever position, resources, or abilities we possess, they should never become reasons to imagine that we are independent of Him.
David then calls upon the kingdoms of the earth to sing praises to God, describing Him as the One who rides upon the highest heavens and whose voice is mighty.
This is not merely a celebration of Israel’s national strength. David recognizes that YHWH’s glory and authority extend far beyond Israel. The God who delivered His people is worthy of worship from every nation.
That theme appears throughout Scripture. Isaiah 45:22 declares, “Turn to Me and be saved, all the ends of the earth; for I am God, and there is no other.”
YHWH’s purpose has never been limited to receiving praise from one nation while the rest of the world remains outside His concern. His work through Israel is part of His larger purpose to make Himself known among the nations.
The psalm ends by returning to the relationship between God’s power and His people. David declares that God is awesome from His sanctuary and that He gives strength and power to Israel.
Notice the direction of that relationship. God does not become powerful because His people are strong. His people receive strength because He is powerful.
This should shape both our confidence and our humility.
We can face difficult responsibilities knowing that YHWH is not limited by our weaknesses. At the same time, when He enables us to accomplish something meaningful, we should resist the temptation to take His provision for granted or claim the glory for ourselves.
Paul expresses a similar principle in 2 Corinthians 12:9, where the Lord tells him, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.”
Our limitations do not prevent God from working through us. In fact, recognizing those limitations can help us depend more fully upon Him rather than upon ourselves.
Psalm 68 began with God arising and His enemies being scattered. It ends with the nations called to acknowledge His majesty and His people receiving strength from Him.
Throughout the psalm, the message remains consistent: YHWH is the One who delivers, sustains, protects, and empowers His people.
Our proper response is to trust Him, depend upon Him, and give Him the glory.
Application
- Remember YHWH’s past faithfulness when facing new challenges, and continue depending upon Him rather than assuming you can succeed on your own.
- Give God the credit for the strength, abilities, opportunities, and victories He provides.
- Keep earthly power and influence in perspective, remembering that every nation and ruler remains under YHWH’s authority.
- Let your worship extend beyond gratitude for personal blessings to praise for who YHWH is and His authority over all creation.
Closing Prayer
Father, thank You for being the source of strength and power for Your people. Help me remember Your faithfulness and continue depending upon You, even when life seems to be going well. Guard my heart against pride and the temptation to take credit for what You have enabled me to accomplish. Remind me that every nation and every ruler remains under Your authority, and that You alone are worthy of the highest praise. Strengthen me to serve You faithfully, and may my life bring glory to Your name. In Yeshua’s name, Amen.
May the grace and peace of our Lord, Yeshua, be with you.
John Golda
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