"O God, thou art terrible out of thy holy places: the God of Israel is He that giveth strength and power unto His people. Blessed be God."
Psalm 68:35
Part 3
Yesterday:
“The God of Israel”
Today: God’s Power For God’s Child
“Is He that giveth strength and power unto His people.”
“Is He that giveth”
The God of Israel is the one who is generous in giving strength to His own. That is to each believer as is needed.
“The LORD will give strength unto his people; the LORD will bless his people with peace” (Psalm 29:11).
Paul’s prayer for the Ephesian believers is for God the Father,
“That He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might by His Spirit in the inner man” (Ephesians 3:16).
Paul’s prayer for the Colossian believers is,
“That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God; Strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness” (Colossians 1:10).
The God of the Old Testament that gave His people strength is the same God, who in the New Testament supplies the believer’s power! Paul could say,
“I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me” (Philippians 4:13).
No wise believers will dare to attempt God’s work without God’s power. To do so is foolish, and the work can only fail and come to nothing of eternal value. We can never accomplish anything of lasting spiritual worth without God’s strength in us, the power of the Holy Spirit.
As David did, we ought to say,
“Thy God hath commanded thy strength: strengthen, O God, that which thou hast wrought for us” (Psalm 68:28).
“Blessed be God.”
What else can be said?
“His name shall endure for ever: His name shall be continued as long as the sun: and men shall be blessed in Him: all nations shall call Him blessed. Blessed be the LORD God, the God of Israel, who only doeth wondrous things. And blessed be his glorious name for ever: and let the whole earth be filled with his glory; Amen, and Amen” (Psalm 72:17-19).
Amen!
Quote: “God uses chronic pain and weakness, along with other afflictions, as his chisel for sculpting our lives. Felt weakness deepens dependence on Christ for strength each day. The weaker we feel, the harder we lean. And the harder we lean, the stronger we grow spiritually, even while our bodies waste away. To live with your ‘thorn’ uncomplainingly — that is, sweet, patient, and free in heart to love and help others, even though every day you feel weak — is true sanctification. It is true healing for the spirit. It is a supreme victory of grace” (J. I. Packer). [1]
[1] Packer’s quote Downloaded: Wednesday, October 28, 2020. From: https://www.azquotes.com/quotes/topics/power-of-god.html.