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Psalm 68:28
Your God has commanded your strength. Strengthen, God, that which you have done for us.
26“Bless God in the congregations, even the Lord in the assembly of Israel!”
27There is little Benjamin, their ruler, the princes of Judah, their council, the princes of Zebulun, and the princes of Naphtali.
28Your God has commanded your strength. Strengthen, God, that which you have done for us.
29Because of your temple at Jerusalem, kings will bring presents to you.
30Rebuke the wild animal of the reeds, the multitude of the bulls with the calves of the peoples. Trample under foot the bars of silver. Scatter the nations who delight in war.
Notice
The turn from God’s commanded strength to a plea for more help leaves room for gratitude and dependence in the same breath.
Questions to write on. Each one opens a new entry with this verse already attached.
What work of God in your church would you ask him to strengthen?
Write on thisHow does the request for strength shape your reading of the declaration that comes before it?
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Where else Scripture says this
11 passages readers most often link with this verse, and the thread each one shares with it.
This verse's connections, by chapterThe Bible's strongest chapter linksHover or tap a book to trace it
Psalm 31:19Oh how great is your goodness, which you have laid up for those who fear you, which you have worked for those who take refuge in you, before the sons of men!Both passages acknowledge what God has done for his people: goodness worked for those taking refuge, and strength commanded for Israel.
Psalm 71:3Be to me a rock of refuge to which I may always go. Give the command to save me, for you are my rock and my fortress.God’s command anchors both prayers: one asks him to command salvation, while the other declares that he has commanded strength.
Philippians 1:6being confident of this very thing, that he who began a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.Both concern God’s continuing work: the psalm asks him to strengthen it, and Philippians expresses confidence that he will complete it.
Psalm 138:8The LORD will fulfill that which concerns me. Your loving kindness, LORD, endures forever. Don’t forsake the works of your own hands.Both prayers appeal to God concerning his own work, asking him to strengthen it or refrain from forsaking it.
Isaiah 40:31but those who wait for the LORD will renew their strength. They will mount up with wings like eagles. They will run, and not be weary. They will walk, and not …Strength comes from God in both passages: the psalm asks him for it, and Isaiah promises renewal to those who wait for him.
Psalm 90:17Let the favor of the Lord our God be on us. Establish the work of our hands for us. Yes, establish the work of our hands.Both ask God to make work endure, though Psalm 68 names God’s work and Psalm 90 names the work of human hands.
2 Corinthians 12:9–10He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Most gladly therefore I will rather glory in my weaknesses, that …Both locate strength in divine help: the psalm appeals to God, while Paul speaks of Christ’s power resting on him in weakness.
Ephesians 3:17–20that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith, to the end that you, being rooted and grounded in love,The shared thread is prayer for divine help: God strengthening his work in the psalm, and Christ dwelling in hearts through faith.
2 Thessalonians 1:11To this end we also pray always for you that our God may count you worthy of your calling, and fulfill every desire of goodness and work of faith with power,Both prayers ask God to act with power, strengthening what he has done or fulfilling goodness and the work of faith.
Acts 3:6–8But Peter said, “I have no silver or gold, but what I have, that I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, get up and walk!”The psalm locates strength in God; Peter’s command to walk rests on the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth.
John 5:8–9Jesus said to him, “Arise, take up your mat, and walk.”Command is the shared thread: God commands strength in the psalm, and Jesus commands a man to rise and walk.
Where this verse fits
Wanting a steady prayer habit. serving and tired. gratitude.
One step
Something small to carry out of this verse
Encouragement
You need not outgrow the need for God’s help. Even among Israel’s gathered princes, the prayer asks God to strengthen what he has done for his people.
Now put it in your words.
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Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY). Scripture from the World English Bible (public domain). Arc diagram after Chris Harrison and Christoph Römhild (2007).