Horsepower, Manpower and Godpower
On Friday, I came across an infomercial made by Teddy Daniels. He spoke of an “official” but restricted document, revealing the next level of modern warfare. Being developed by China and North Korea, it would knock out all of America’s power grids, rendering everything electronic completely useless. At best, this information is unsettling and unnerving. At worse, it could scare you silly.
On Saturday, I read Psalm 147 from the Passion translation (2020), and I laughed out loud after reading verse ten.
I stopped. When was the last time that reading from the Bible made me laugh? Never?
So, I got another modern version, the Christian Standard (2017), read the same verse, and didn’t laugh.
Therefore, I give you both versions here. Both of them combat the fear that the infomercial prompts. (Thank God for that.) But which made me laugh? Which makes you laugh? Which one strengthens your faith in our all-powerful God?
He is not impressed by the strength of a horse, He does not value the power of a warrior.
His people don’t find security in strong horses, for horsepower means nothing to Him. Manpower is even less impressive.
Whether or not you chuckled, may Psalm 147:10 encourage you in this time of uncertainty and change. It is for such a time as this that we believers have been appointed to live.
Have you echoed Paul’s prayer? “That I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being made conformable to His death.” (KJV)
I think of “power” as it relates to natural objects. I relate strength to God and to humans. But God’s Word sees it differently.
I realize that both are of God and come from Him.
I appreciate your considerations of “power.” Thanks for replying. Could we get together on either April 24th or May 1st?
I think of “power” as it relates to natural objects. I relate strength to God and to humans. But God’s Word sees it differently. I realize that both are of God and come from Him.
Ooops–a repeat.
Yes, Linda, I received your encouraging email.
Thanks for letting me know that you received my message. I value your support.
I loved the second version and Paul’s prayer!
While reading His Word, I’ve laughed in disgust many times at mens’ (and my) foolishness and then again with joy (i.e., just imaging the shepherd’s reactions in Bethlehem’s fields when the angels arrived with such glorious news) etc. But in this world of extremes, I simply pray and rest in Him with no fear ~.
Matthew 19:26 “…Jesus…said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible”.
II Corinthians 4:7 “But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us”.
and
“Psalm 115:3: “Our God is in the heavens; He does all that He pleases”.
Daniel 4:35: “All the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing, and He does according to His will among the host of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth; and none can stay His hand or say to Him, ‘What have you done?'”.
Isaiah 46:9–10: “…I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like Me, declaring the end from the beginning… saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all My purpose’”.
Job 42:2: “I know that You can do all things, and that no purpose of Yours can be thwarted”.