You formed the mountains by Your power, having girded Yourself with might. You formed the mountainsThe phrase "You formed the mountains" speaks to the creative power of God. The Hebrew word for "formed" is "yatsar," which implies intentionality and craftsmanship. This word is often used in the context of a potter shaping clay, suggesting that the mountains were not just spoken into existence but were carefully and purposefully crafted by God. The mountains, often seen as symbols of strength and stability, reflect God's sovereign power and His ability to shape the natural world according to His will. In the ancient Near Eastern context, mountains were also seen as places where the divine and human realms intersected, further emphasizing God's supreme authority over creation. by Your power
The term "power" in Hebrew is "koach," which denotes strength, force, and ability. This word underscores the omnipotence of God, highlighting that it is by His sheer strength and capability that the mountains were formed. In a broader scriptural context, God's power is not only creative but also sustaining, as He upholds the universe by His might. This power is a source of comfort and assurance for believers, reminding them that the same God who formed the mountains is actively involved in their lives, capable of overcoming any obstacle or challenge they may face. having girded Yourself with might
The imagery of "girding" oneself is drawn from the practice of preparing for action or battle, where one would secure their garments with a belt to ensure freedom of movement. The Hebrew word "azar" conveys the idea of equipping or arming oneself. "Might" here is translated from "geburah," which signifies strength, valor, and heroism. This phrase paints a picture of God as a divine warrior, fully equipped and ready to exercise His power. Historically, this would resonate with the Israelites, who often saw God as their protector and deliverer in times of conflict. Theologically, it reassures believers of God's readiness and ability to act on their behalf, reinforcing the notion that He is both a creator and a defender, actively involved in the world He has made. Persons / Places / Events 1. GodThe central figure in this verse, God is depicted as the Creator and Sustainer of the universe, demonstrating His power and might. 2. MountainsSymbolic of strength, stability, and permanence, the mountains represent God's creation and His ability to shape and sustain the natural world. 3. CreationThe act of forming the mountains is part of the broader account of creation, showcasing God's sovereign power over the earth. Teaching Points God's Sovereignty in CreationRecognize that God is the ultimate Creator and Sustainer of all things. The mountains, with their grandeur and stability, are a testament to His sovereign power. The Power of GodReflect on the might of God, who not only formed the mountains but also sustains them. This same power is at work in our lives, providing strength and stability. Trust in God's StrengthJust as the mountains stand firm, we can trust in God's strength and might to uphold us in times of trouble. His power is a source of comfort and assurance. Worship the CreatorLet the majesty of creation lead us to worship the Creator. The beauty and strength of the mountains should inspire awe and reverence for God. God's Might in Our LivesConsider how God's might is evident in our personal lives. Just as He formed the mountains, He is actively shaping and guiding our paths. Bible Study Questions 1. How does the imagery of God forming the mountains enhance your understanding of His power and might? 2. In what ways can the stability and strength of the mountains serve as a metaphor for God's role in your life? 3. How does recognizing God's sovereignty in creation influence your trust in Him during challenging times? 4. What other scriptures come to mind that speak of God's power and might, and how do they complement the message of Psalm 65:6? 5. How can you incorporate the awe of God's creation into your daily worship and relationship with Him? Connections to Other Scriptures Genesis 1The creation account where God speaks the world into existence, including the formation of land and mountains, highlighting His creative power. Job 38God's discourse with Job, where He questions Job about the foundations of the earth, emphasizing His unmatched power and wisdom in creation. Isaiah 40A passage that speaks of God's greatness and the insignificance of the nations compared to His power, reinforcing the theme of divine might. Romans 1Paul speaks of God's invisible qualities and divine nature being evident in creation, including the mountains, which testify to His eternal power. People David, PsalmistPlaces JerusalemTopics Armed, Established, Establishes, Establishing, Fast, Fixed, Forms, Girded, Hast, Mountains, Power, Robed, Settest, Setteth, StrengthDictionary of Bible Themes Psalm 65:6 1105 God, power of Library Sin Overcoming and Overcome
'Iniquities prevail against me: as for our transgressions, Thou shalt purge them away.'--PSALM. lxv. 3. There is an intended contrast in these two clauses more pointed and emphatic in the original than in our Bible, between man's impotence and God's power in the face of the fact of sin. The words of the first clause might be translated, with perhaps a little increase of vividness, 'iniquities are too strong for me'; and the 'Thou' of the next clause is emphatically expressed in the original, 'as …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy ScripturePraises and Vows Accepted in Zion
In fulfillment of this ancient type, we also "have an altar whereof they have no right to eat that serve the tabernacle." Into our spiritual worship, no observers of materialistic ritualism may intrude; they have no right to eat at our spiritual altar, and there is no other at which they can eat and live for ever. There is but one altar Jesus Christ our Lord. All other altars are impostures and idolatrous inventions. Whether of stone, or wood, or brass, they are the toys with which those amuse themselves …
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 17: 1871 Daily Bread.
(Harvest Thanksgiving.) PSALM lxv. 9. "Thou preparest them corn." "Come, ye thankful people, come," and let us thank God for another harvest. Once more the Father, the Feeder, has given bread to strengthen man's heart, and we turn from the corn stored in the garner, to God's own garner the Church, where He has stored up food for our souls. And first of all, my brothers, let us be honest with ourselves. Are we quite sure that we are thankful to God for the harvest? We have decorated God's House …
H. J. Wilmot-Buxton—The Life of Duty, a Year's Plain Sermons, v. 2 Prayer, Praise and Thanksgiving
"Dr. A. J. Gordon describes the impression made upon his mind by intercourse with Joseph Rabinowitz, whom Dr. Delitzsch considered the most remarkable Jewish convert since Saul of Tarsus: We shall not soon forget the radiance that would come into his face as he expounded the Messianic psalms at our morning or evening worship, and how, as here and there he caught a glimpse of the suffering or glorified Christ, he would suddenly lift his hands and his eyes to heaven in a burst of adoration, exclaiming …
Edward M. Bounds—The Essentials of Prayer Aron, Brother of Moses, 486, 487.
Abba, same as Father, [3]381; St. Paul uses both words, [4]532. Abel, [5]31, [6]252, [7]268, [8]450. Abimelech, [9]72, [10]197. Abraham, seed of, faithful Christians also, [11]148, [12]149, [13]627; servant's hand under his thigh, [14]149, [15]334; poor in midst of riches, [16]410. Absalom, David's son, [17]4, [18]5; type of Judas the traitor, [19]4, [20]20. Absolution granted by the Church, [21]500. Abyss, or deep, of God's judgments, [22]88; of man's heart, [23]136. Accuser, the devil the great, …
St. Augustine—Exposition on the Book of Psalms "O Thou, that Hearest Prayer!" --Ps. Lxv. 2
"O Thou, that hearest Prayer!"--Ps. lxv. 2. Thou, God, art a consuming fire, Yet mortals may find grace, From toil and tumult to retire, And meet Thee face to face. Though "Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord!" Seraph to seraph sings, And angel-choirs, with one accord, Worship, with veiling wings;-- Though earth Thy footstool, heaven Thy throne, Thy way amidst the sea, Thy path deep floods, Thy steps unknown, Thy counsels mystery:-- Yet wilt Thou look on him who lies A suppliant at Thy feet; And hearken to …
James Montgomery—Sacred Poems and Hymns Question of the Active Life
I. Do all Acts of the Moral Virtues come under the Active Life? II. Does Prudence pertain to the Active Life? III. Does Teaching belong to the Active or to the Contemplative Life? IV. Does the Active Life continue after this Life? I Do all Acts of the Moral Virtues come under the Active Life? S. Isidore says[407]: "In the active life all the vices are first of all to be removed by the practice of good works, so that in the contemplative life a man may, with now purified mental gaze, pass to the …
St. Thomas Aquinas—On Prayer and The Contemplative Life But in Order that we Fall not Away from Continence...
10. But in order that we fall not away from Continence, we ought to watch specially against those snares of the suggestions of the devil, that we presume not of our own strength. For, "Cursed is every one that setteth his hope in man." [1838] And who is he, but man? We cannot therefore truly say that he setteth not his hope in man, who setteth it in himself. For this also, to "live after man," what is it but to "live after the flesh?" Whoso therefore is tempted by such a suggestion, let him hear, …
St. Augustine—On Continence If, Therefore, You had not as yet Vowed unto God Widowed Continence...
23. If, therefore, you had not as yet vowed unto God widowed continence, we would assuredly exhort you to vow it; but, in that you have already vowed it, we exhort you to persevere. And yet I see that I must so speak as to lead those also who had as yet thought of marriage to love it and to seize on it. Therefore let us give ear unto the Apostle, "She who is unmarried," saith he, "is careful about the things of the Lord, to be holy both in body and spirit; but she who is married is careful about …
St. Augustine—On the Good of Widowhood. Prayer
But I give myself unto prayer.' Psa 109: 4. I shall not here expatiate upon prayer, as it will be considered more fully in the Lord's prayer. It is one thing to pray, and another thing to be given to prayer: he who prays frequently, is said to be given to prayer; as he who often distributes alms, is said to be given to charity. Prayer is a glorious ordinance, it is the soul's trading with heaven. God comes down to us by his Spirit, and we go up to him by prayer. What is prayer? It is an offering …
Thomas Watson—The Ten Commandments Malachy's Pity for his Deceased Sister. He Restores the Monastery of Bangor. His First Miracles.
11. (6). Meanwhile Malachy's sister, whom we mentioned before,[271] died: and we must not pass over the visions which he saw about her. For the saint indeed abhorred her carnal life, and with such intensity that he vowed he would never see her alive in the flesh. But now that her flesh was destroyed his vow was also destroyed, and he began to see in spirit her whom in the body he would not see. One night he heard in a dream the voice of one saying to him that his sister was standing outside in the …
H. J. Lawlor—St. Bernard of Clairvaux's Life of St. Malachy of Armagh Religion Pleasant to the Religious.
"O taste and see how gracious the Lord is; blessed is the man that trusteth in Him."--Psalm xxxiv. 8. You see by these words what love Almighty God has towards us, and what claims He has upon our love. He is the Most High, and All-Holy. He inhabiteth eternity: we are but worms compared with Him. He would not be less happy though He had never created us; He would not be less happy though we were all blotted out again from creation. But He is the God of love; He brought us all into existence, …
John Henry Newman—Parochial and Plain Sermons, Vol. VII The Sovereignty of God in Operation
"For of Him, and through Him, and to Him, are all things: to whom be the glory for ever. Amen" (Romans 11:36). Has God foreordained everything that comes to pass? Has He decreed that what is, was to have been? In the final analysis this is only another way of asking, Is God now governing the world and everyone and everything in it? If God is governing the world then is He governing it according to a definite purpose, or aimlessly and at random? If He is governing it according to some purpose, then …
Arthur W. Pink—The Sovereignty of God Psalms
The piety of the Old Testament Church is reflected with more clearness and variety in the Psalter than in any other book of the Old Testament. It constitutes the response of the Church to the divine demands of prophecy, and, in a less degree, of law; or, rather, it expresses those emotions and aspirations of the universal heart which lie deeper than any formal demand. It is the speech of the soul face to face with God. Its words are as simple and unaffected as human words can be, for it is the genius …
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament Links Psalm 65:6 NIVPsalm 65:6 NLTPsalm 65:6 ESVPsalm 65:6 NASBPsalm 65:6 KJV
Psalm 65:6 Commentaries
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