Psalms 86:10
For you are great and do wondrous things; you alone are God.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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Psalms 86:10
For you are great and do wondrous things; you alone are God.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This page isn't yet indexed by search engines.
What's easily missed here is that God's "wondrous things" aren't just about spectacular miracles, but also the profound realities of His ordinary, constant work. This verse grounds the Psalmist's awe not just in the extraordinary, but in the very nature of God's singular, unique existence, which is the source of all that's truly wonderful.
In this plea, David has just affirmed that there is no one like God among all the gods, and that no works compare to His. He now declares that God alone is great and performs wondrous deeds, establishing His unique divinity and power. This declaration serves as the foundation for his prayer for guidance and steadfastness, leading into his fervent desire to walk in God's truth.
What makes God truly 'great'? It's not just His power, but His unique ability to do the impossible.
The psalmist proclaims God is "great" and does "wondrous things." This isn't just about His size or might, but about His unique capacity to act in ways beyond human understanding or capability. The original language for "wondrous things" points to extraordinary, miraculous deeds that set Him apart. These aren't just random events, but intentional acts that reveal His character and power.
Beyond Human Ability
Think about the sheer scale of creation or the intricate workings of life. These aren't things we could ever engineer. God's wonders are His signature, demonstrating His supreme authority and creative genius. They are meant to evoke awe and point us to Him.
In a world with many 'gods,' why is there only ONE true God?
The declaration, 'you alone are God,' is powerful. It's not just stating a fact; it's a bold assertion against any other claimants to divinity. The ancient world was filled with deities, but the psalmist insists that only Yahweh possesses the true attributes and power of God.
No Rivals Allowed
This 'aloneness' means God is unique in His nature, His power, and His authority. There are no gods equal to Him, nor are there any who can perform the works He does. This truth is foundational to monotheism – the belief in one God. It means our worship, trust, and ultimate allegiance belong to Him and Him alone.
Understand the original words
pele · Hebrew Noun
Extraordinary, miraculous, or marvelous acts that surpass human capability. They demonstrate God's sovereignty, power, and intervention in history.
This passage echoes the sentiment of God's greatness and uniqueness, stating 'Who is like you, O LORD, among the gods? Who is like you, majestic in holiness, awesome in glorious deeds, doing wonders?' This directly parallels the psalmist's declaration of God's wondrous works and singular divinity.
Deuteronomy 32:39Moses declares, 'See now that I, even I, am he, and there is no god beside me; I kill and I make alive; I wound and I heal; and there is none that can deliver out of my hand.' This emphatically reinforces the psalmist's 'you alone are God' by highlighting God's exclusive power over life and death, a profound 'wondrous thing'.
Isaiah 44:24The prophet exclaims, 'I am the LORD, who made all things, who alone stretched out the heavens, who spread out the earth by myself.' This passage strongly resonates with Psalm 86:10 by asserting God's solitary creative power and uniqueness, emphasizing that He 'alone' accomplished these great feats.
2 Kings 19:15In a prayer of desperation, Hezekiah says, 'O LORD, God of Israel, enthroned between the cherubim, you are the God, you alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth...'. This mirrors the psalmist's affirmation of God's singular sovereignty over all creation, particularly in contrast to the 'gods' of other nations.
John 1:3pulpitPsalms 86:10: "For thou art great, and doest wondrous things: thou art God alone."
Verse 10. - For thou art great, and doest wondrous things. The" greatness" of God, in reality most clearly manifested by the facts of his ordinary providence, seems to men in general, as it seemed to this psalmist, especially indicated by the "wonders," or "miracles" - נפלאות - which he wrought (comp. Exodus 15:11; Psalm 72:18; Psalm 77:14). Thou art God alone (see 2 Kings 19:15; Isaiah 37:16; Isaiah 44:6, 8).
cambridgePsalms 86:10: "For thou art great, and doest wondrous things: thou art God alone."
10 . Cp. Psalm 77:13-14 ; Psalm 72:18 ; Psalm 83:18 ; and Exodus 15:11 ; Exodus 34:10 .
What's easily missed here is that God's "wondrous things" aren't just about spectacular miracles, but also the profound realities of His ordinary, constant work. This verse grounds the Psalmist's awe not just in the extraordinary, but in the very nature of God's singular, unique existence, which is the source of all that's truly wonderful.
In this plea, David has just affirmed that there is no one like God among all the gods, and that no works compare to His. He now declares that God alone is great and performs wondrous deeds, establishing His unique divinity and power. This declaration serves as the foundation for his prayer for guidance and steadfastness, leading into his fervent desire to walk in God's truth.
In this plea, David has just affirmed that there is no one like God among all the gods, and that no works compare to His. He now declares that God alone is great and performs wondrous deeds, establishing His unique divinity and power. This declaration serves as the foundation for his prayer for guidance and steadfastness, leading into his fervent desire to walk in God's truth.
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The New Testament echoes this singular divine power, stating, 'All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.' This highlights the foundational role of God, through Christ, in all creation, underscoring His greatness and the wondrous nature of His work.
"For you are great and do wondrous things; you alone are God." — What's easily missed here is that God's "wondrous things" aren't just about spectacular miracles, but also the profound realities of His ordinary, constant work. This verse grounds the Psalmist's awe…