Overwhelmed
He rules by His might forever; His eyes keep watch on the nations; Let not the rebellious exalt themselves. Selah. Psalm 66:7 NASB
Might – Okay, this is a victory poem. God will prevail over all His enemies. No one and nothing can stand against Him. Don’t be deceived, the wicked will perish. We get that, but after all the shock and awe is over, does God actually rule “by His might”? Is that why we should quake before Him and do homage to His name, because He is so powerful? Yes, we might fall before Him out of sheer terror. We might obey for fear of extermination. But is that really what He wants? If it is, then how is He different from any other sovereign dictator (although clearly He is a righteous one, not that this is any comfort to us who are sinners)? In the ancient world, power might have been reason enough to obey, but doesn’t the Scripture say, “Not by might or by power but by My spirit”? What’s really going on here? Is this claim just a product of an ancient poet, or does it have currency today?
The Hebrew word is gĕbûrât (his might). TWOT notes: “The Hebrew root is commonly associated with warfare and has to do with the strength and vitality of the successful warrior.”[1] The article goes on to demonstrate that the ancient cultures of Semitic people were very much warrior cultures, and attributing warrior characteristics to God was not unusual.
It is not surprising that in such a society God was often depicted as a warrior. God is the true prototype of the mighty man, and if an earthly warrior’s deeds are recounted, how much more should God’s be? Thus, the psalmists recount God’s mighty acts (106:8; 145:4, 11, 12; etc.) and in various places those attributes which a warrior-king might be expected to possess—wisdom, might, counsel and understanding—are attributed par excellence to God (Job 12:13; Prov 8:14). Isaiah (9:6; cf. 10:21) indicates that these will be the attributes of the Coming King, whose name is the Mighty God as well as the Prince of Peace, but he also makes it plain that justice and righteousness will accompany his might (cf. Ps 89:13–14 [H 14–15]).[2]
While the word depicts a male at the height of his power, we must take notice of the fact that righteousness and justice are an integral part of the term gābar (the root verb). This is not just power; this is power tempered with moral sensitivity and merciful concern. God doesn’t seek to overwhelm. He seeks to woo. Yes, we might find ourselves on our faces in the terror of His power. The mountain at Sinai was certainly a traumatic experience. But that isn’t the end of the story. This is the God who heals, the God who courts, the God who persuades, the God who pledges Himself to care and concern regardless of the lack of reciprocity. In a word, this is the God who loves, and perhaps that is the truly awesome power of YHVH. Not might, but the overwhelming force of intimate affection. It’s enough to scare you to death.
Topical Index: might, power, gĕbûrât, love, Psalm 66:7
[1] Oswalt, J. N. (1999). 310 גָּבַר. R. L. Harris, G. L. Archer Jr., & B. K. Waltke (Eds.), Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament (electronic ed., p. 148). Chicago: Moody Press.
[2] Ibid.
