Job 33:14
For God speaketh once, yea twice, yet man perceiveth it not.

Job 40:5
Once have I spoken; but I will not answer: yea, twice; but I will proceed no further.

power.

Psalm 68:34,35
Ascribe ye strength unto God: his excellency is over Israel, and his strength is in the clouds…

Isaiah 26:4
Trust ye in the LORD for ever: for in the LORD JEHOVAH is everlasting strength:

Matthew 6:13
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.

I have heard this twice:
The repetition here signifies certainty and importance. In Hebrew literature, repetition is a common device to emphasize a point. This mirrors the practice in the wisdom literature, such as Proverbs, where repetition is used to ensure understanding and retention. The phrase suggests that the psalmist has internalized the message, indicating a deep, personal conviction. It also reflects the Jewish tradition of oral transmission, where hearing and repeating were key to learning and preserving God's word.

that power belongs to God,
This declaration affirms God's omnipotence, a central theme throughout Scripture. It connects to other biblical passages such as Job 12:13 and Isaiah 40:29, which speak of God's unmatched strength and ability to accomplish His purposes. In the historical context, Israel often faced powerful enemies, and this truth served as a reminder of God's ultimate control over all nations and events. Theologically, it points to God's role as the ultimate ruler and judge, a theme that culminates in the New Testament with the authority of Jesus Christ, who is described as having all power in heaven and on earth (Matthew 28:18). This phrase reassures believers of God's ability to protect and deliver, reinforcing trust in His divine plan.

- David anchors everything on the certainty of God’s word. When the LORD declares something, it is settled (Isaiah 55:11; Numbers 23:19).

- Because His character is flawless, a single utterance is entirely sufficient. Hebrews 6:18 reminds us “it is impossible for God to lie,” so one statement from Him carries absolute authority.

- This opening phrase also contrasts human chatter with divine clarity; where people need to repeat and revise, God’s word stands fixed (Psalm 33:9).

- Hebrew poetry often uses repetition to underscore importance; the idea is that David has grasped the message so fully it echoes in his soul. Job 33:14 notes that “God speaks in one way and in another,” urging us to pay attention.

- The phrase hints at personal experience: the psalmist not only read or heard doctrine, he internalized it. Like the Bereans who “received the word with great eagerness” (Acts 17:11), David listens carefully.

- It also signals confirmation. By Mosaic law, “every matter must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses” (2 Corinthians 13:1). Hearing it “twice” meets that standard: God’s power is beyond dispute.

- Here is the truth God proclaims and David absorbs: all power—authority, strength, ability—resides in the LORD alone. 1 Chronicles 29:11 echoes, “Yours, O LORD, is the greatness, the power and the glory.”

- In context, the psalm warns against trusting oppression or riches (Psalm 62:9-10). Only God is a reliable refuge; human strength is fleeting.

- The New Testament reaffirms this exclusive sovereignty: Jesus is seated “far above all rule and authority and power and dominion” (Ephesians 1:21). Even earthly rulers can act only as heaven permits (Daniel 4:35; John 19:11).

- For believers, this means:

• We rest, not in our resources, but in His omnipotence (Psalm 62:5-8).

• We pray confidently, knowing He is able (Ephesians 3:20).

• We live humbly, remembering any strength we possess is delegated, not inherent (1 Peter 4:11).

God utters a single, sufficient word, and the attentive heart hears it again and again: “Power belongs to God.” Because His authority is unmatched and unchanging, we can abandon self-reliance, reject worldly props, and trust the Almighty who speaks once yet resonates forever.