One of the psalms that really challenges me is Psalm 20. David is about to go to war. Before heading out, as was normal for a king, he offers sacrifices to God. Meanwhile, the congregation blesses David in prayer: "May the LORD answer you...May he send you help...May he remember all your sacrifices."
It's one of those moments that brings to mind the preparations for battle in movies like The Lord of the Rings. All is quiet, but you know the battle is coming and you're filled with anticipation. You can almost hear and feel the battle that's about to begin.
But then the psalm says something surprising:
Some trust in chariots and some in horses,
but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.
(Psalm 20:7)
Nice thought - unless you're actually about to do battle. It's one of those things that's easy to say until it's not a theory anymore. Remember that the setting of this psalm is before a real, actual armies were about to clash.
Chariots and horses were not just figures of speech. They represented the most powerful military resources at that time. Israel, however, was told not to accumulate large numbers of horses, presumably so they wouldn't depend on military might (Deuteronomy 17:16). Their strength was to come from God, not from a horse.Two questions:
- Should we be limiting our accumulation of horses - "best practices" that we are tempted to accumulate but that will make us think that the secret to success is in these resources and skills? Maybe we need to stop reading books and chasing after things that give us the impression that we need to depend on God less than we already do. What would it look like for us to limit our accumulation of horses? Fewer conferences, books, strategies?
- How can we avoid passivity but still, by our actions, show that we're depending on God? David still had to get ready for battle. He didn't just sit there waiting for a miracle. At the same time, the victory had to come from God, not his preparations. How do we do the same?
If it looks like I have the answers to these questions, I don't. But I'm chewing on them. As I say, this is a psalm that continues to challenge me.
"Should we be limiting our accumulation of horses - "best practices" that we are tempted to accumulate but that will make us think that the secret to success is in these resources and skills? " Answer: yes
"How can we avoid passivity but still, by our actions, show that we're
depending on God?"
Answer: How about we begin with genuine prayer asking God to reveal to us what we ought to do to reach out to a lost and dying world. In prayer we ask Him how we can take His truth and communicate it in such a way that His Spirit can use it in the lives of the people we reach out to. We could also do some serious reflecting on Romans 109 that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. 11 For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.”[f] 12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him. 13 For “whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved.”[g]
14 How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? 15 And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written:
“ How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace,[h]
Who bring glad tidings of good things!”[i]
It's pretty clear, we have to tell people the truth of the Gospel. Think that could be a good start Darryl?
Wow Darryl,
Thanks for this. Great post and excellent thoughts. God bless you for it.
This is my favourite Psalm and the one I read more to people in hospitals, and in various crises, than I read anything else.
I am not sure that the mark of not trusting in chariots is to burn them all. To whom much is given, much shall be required, which seems to say that if God supplies the chariot, you better use it. But don't fall prey to thinking that your strength lies in the chariot. But how do we know? One of the things I try to do is ask myself "what thing that I have would make me panic if I lost it?" If I say "I must have this thing (conference, strategy, library ...) in order to win the battle (keeping the metaphor used in the Psalm) then maybe that is a sign I am trusting it. If people say "this thing (plan, programme, vision ...) is indispensable for winning the battle then they have forsaken God for the thing God supplies. If it is said "this worked for us and it will work for you too" then the trust is in the chariot.
I heard Warren Wiersbe say that G Campbell Morgan came to the conclusion that he was trusting his own writings too much, so burned all his sermons. Would I do that? Maybe then I am trusting in them.
Be thankful for what God supplies, and use them. But do not trust the gift more than the Giver.
Just a thought.
George: That would be a good start.
Ken: Good thoughts. What do you think is behind the Deuteronomy passage - "he must not acquire many horses for himself"?
Darryl:
I certainly don't have it figured out either, but I relish the opportunity to think and wrestle it through with others. It is not an easy question (#1) and there is not an easy answer (contrary to what George has written).
This much I know: the same Spirit that inspired the words you cited (Ps 20.7) also was behind Ps 18.34, where David notes that God trains his hands for battle. There is a balance, of course, between preparing ourselves and seeking excellence in our ministry efforts, on the one hand, and trusting in them, on the other.
In my counseling practice, for example, I strive to keep abreast of whatever tools, techniques, resources, and support that might be helpful. I seek to stay aware of my own issues so that I do not allow them to intrude upon or influence my work with an individual. I evaluate my comments, timing, lack of comment, silence, and plan. I read and read - Scripture, primarily, but also literature in the field - to broaden or deepen my knowledge of the complexities of emotional health and, especially, dysfunction and/or sin.
Regardless of how much training or information I might have, however, I do not trust in it to effect change in the people with whom I work. I pray for and trust in the Holy Spirit in me and (when it obtains) the other person to do the work. I am only attempting to facilitate or to create an environment in which He can work; I know who brings about change and it isn't me. It also isn't my skill or knowledge - or even my winsome and wonderful personality!
To employ a different metaphor, He can do surgery better when the scalpel is sharp; it is my job to keep it sharp and clean. I may not need to have the newest, fanciest, or most popular scalpel available - although there is nothing wrong with that - but I do need to keep it sharp. Even then, though, my trust is not in my incisions but in Him who brings about healing. Whatever you have or use, stay sharp.
While it may be true that God doesn't need our training and knowledge, I don't think he needs our ignorance, either. Although, as Mark Twain said, I'd rather have my ignorance than someone else's knowledge 'cause I've got so much more of it.
I just read this today from Warren Wiersbe in his book Life Sentences, "The church of Jesus Christ has a great deal of knowledge these days, and many of our evangelical schools are known for academic excellence. But much knowledge without wisdom -knowing how to use knowledge - is a dangerous thing. Paul's admonition 'Continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling' was written to a church (Phil 2:12), and it was a reminder that the churches must not imitate other churches but seek God's specific will for their own congregation. Instead of running from one conference or seminar to another and borrowing ideas and programs that might not be biblical, church leaders today would do well to get alone with God, search the Word and pray, and seek to determine His will.
I think Warren Wiersbe is a wise man.
Darryl,
Doing a study about horses?? Re: Deuteronomy 17:16 - Kind of the OT version of "Lay not up for yourselves treasure upon the earth..." The next verse says he should have many wives lest he be led astay by them. I would think the same principle applies in this verse. The accumulation of many of anything is opening ourselves to be led astray. Easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle...
So, in terms of the topic before us - do not be enslaved by anything. Have a vision, plan, conference ... but do not make those things the indispensible thing for carrying out your mission. Every king needs some horses, but he should not make it the goal of his life to collect horses, the very kind of thing Solomon fell prey to with both riches and wives, and God was gracious enough to rescue him from them as Ecclesiastes testifies.
Did I address your point?
oops! That should have read "... he should NOT have many wives..." (Whew)
Ken: I'm still wondering if you couldn't have come up with a better rhyming word for ram the other day. But back to horses - yes, this makes lots of sense.
Everyone: This has been helpful. George, great quote. Dr. Fin, excellent thoughts as well. Still a challenging psalm!
I can't think of a single word that rhymes with "ram". Drat!! ;)
Ken:
You obviously never watched the Flintstones. Bam! ;)
If you own a horse farm like I do then you wouldn't put down horses like this. They are a very loyal and loving animal worthy of more trust than people at times. I personally "accumulate horses" on purpose first because I love them and second because I make money off them to feed my family. If I idolized them then I wouldn't sell them for a living. Why don't you go ride a horse before you trash them next time.
Gus:
Horses are amazing creatures. I think you may have misunderstood what I was trying to say in this post.