Mensa Otabil - Rely On God's Power

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Welcome to day number 36 of our 40 days of power. We are getting there by the grace of God, and we thank God for His strength, for His enablement that allows us to wait on Him and trust Him. Psalm 62, verses 10 and 11: Do not trust in oppression, nor vainly hope in robbery. If riches increase, do not set your heart on them. God has spoken once, twice I have heard this: that power belongs to God. Power belongs to God. That is a truth we must not only hear, but we must believe and act on-that power belongs to God.

This passage focuses on power and warns us about things we should not rely on for power. There are three things that the psalmist warns us against, then announces to us where ultimate power resides. First, the psalmist says, «Don’t rely on oppression.» Our world often sees people who control others as powerful, and sometimes, sadly, we also view our ability to control others as being powerful. Those in positions of power may use their influence to oppress and keep others down. Those who are oppressed may wish to gain power one day and also put others down. However, the psalmist is saying that power does not come from putting people down or from oppression. So that is the first warning: we should not seek power by oppressing others.

Secondly, the psalm tells us not to put our hope in robbery. Why does it equate robbery with power? Because many times we think that a person who can take anything they want is powerful. Some people brag, saying, «I can have anything I want.» There are women who believe they can have any man, and there are men who believe they can have any woman. There are people who believe they can take anything that belongs to anyone-they can take your land, your money, and everything that belongs to you. They may claim, «I am very powerful,» but the passage here says, «Don’t rely on that for power.» Your ability to bully your way through or take what belongs to others is not an affirmation of your power. Power does not come from oppressing people or randomly taking things from others with impunity.

The third warning is: don’t put your trust in riches. Most of us think that if we have enough money, we will be very powerful. Some say money can buy anything. Once I have money, I’m fine. But we’ve seen people with money who are not fulfilled. This shows that money does not provide the ultimate power you seek.

So, the warning of the psalmist is clear: do not rely on oppression, do not put your hope in robbery, and do not put your trust in riches. If these do not give us power, then where does power come from? This is where it states, «God has spoken once. Power belongs to God.» And I have heard it twice: power belongs to God. Power belongs to God.

Now, why does it say God has spoken once, and I have heard it twice? It means that God has said something, and I hear it in my ear continually. Continuously, I am reminded; I do not forget this truth, this fact, that power belongs to God. God says it once, but we must never forget the lesson that power belongs to God.

So, when God gives you riches, do not rely on them because power belongs to God. When God gives you a position, do not put others down because power belongs to God. When God gives you opportunities, do not take everything for yourself because power belongs to God. We must remind ourselves of this.

In the Bible, there are individuals who found out that power belongs to God. The Pharaoh of Egypt learned very painfully that power belongs to God when he said, «Who is the Lord God that I should listen to Him?» Eventually, he had to let God’s people go. Nebuchadnezzar learned very sadly that power belongs to God when he was reduced to the level of an animal. You do not want to be like these two men, where God has to bring you to an extreme position before you realize this single truth: power belongs to God.

Let’s pray. Say with me, «Heavenly Father, I have seen, heard, and know fully well that power belongs to You. Help me to never forget that. In Jesus' name, Amen.»