Psalms 20:7-8
”Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God. They are brought to their knees and fall, but we rise up and stand firm.“
Psalms 20:7-8 NIV
What a confidence giving, faith boosting, encouraging verses. You look around at the world and you see all kinds of things that you might be tempted to put your trust in, like your job, your income, people around you, even good people that you love that you’re tempted to trust in.
For people in the modern world, trusting in chariots and horses may seem like a pleasant metaphor. But remember, these were prime examples of human power and might in the ancient world. Therefore, I wonder how David would have written these verses today. Some trust in doctors. Some trust in science. Some trust in politicians. Some trust in their 401k, investments or retirement. Some trust in the economy.
What or who are we trusting to get us through the chaos in our world and right here in our nation. Well, in one sense, we are trusting in human power. If we're sick, we trust in a doctor to provide care. If our business is struggling to make ends meet, we trust in a bank to provide loans. If we lose our jobs, we trust in the government for unemployment. And most trusted in doctors, scientists, and epidemiologists to create and keep creating a vaccine for Covid.
There is nothing inherently wrong with this kind of trust. I am sure that David placed a certain kind of trust in his horses and mighty men of war. But he knew not to place his ultimate trust in human might and wisdom. That's why he says that those who trust in chariots and horses will collapse and fall. But those “who trust in the name of the Lord” will "rise and stand upright".
In other words, placing our ultimate trust in human beings does not work. So in this current state of our nation and the world, we can place limited trust in doctors, bankers, politicians, and epidemiologists.
But thankfully, our ultimate trust is in the Lord God Almighty who will never fail. This is why we do not put trust in anything in this world because our God is greater than everything in this world.
In the United States, all our money is stamped or marked with the phrase, “In God we trust.” But I am afraid that statement is not true for most people in this country. We put our trust in many things ahead of God. A strong national defense, the money in our bank accounts, our own abilities, and many other things. Even those of us who follow the Lord are often guilty of misplaced trust.
That makes the words here an excellent reminder to us concerning where we place our trust. Some trust in chariots and horses and are brought to their knees. Others trust in the name of the LORD and rise up, standing firm. The strength of nations comes and goes. Bank accounts and stock portfolios can easily be lost. There is nothing in this world that is guaranteed to keep us secure.
But we can trust in the name of the Lord our God. When our trust is in Him, above everything else, we can stand firm regardless of what may come our way. Our God is the only true reliable ultimate source of trust. Our God is the only one who is worthy of all of our trust, all of our hopes, all of our plans, all of our dreams can be trusted with God.
All of our lives, our families, our work, everything we have, everything we are, we can trust God with them. His Name is worthy of our trust.
Father, thank You for this day and for Your amazing grace. Lord, open the floodgates of heaven and pour out Your abundant blessings over my friend and family today. Lord, we pray that we deliberately, today, turn aside from trusting anyone or anything in this world but You. Know that as long as our trust is in You, we can never be moved because you are all powerful, you are all wise, you are all good, you are all loving, and you are totally worthy of all of our trust. Lord, help us to trust You fully, completely, and wholeheartedly today, even with things in our lives right now that we don’t understand why this or that is happening. Lord, use my friend to be the light of Your love to all today.
Father, we love You. Amen
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