“We have heard with our ears, O God; our fathers have told us what you did in their days, in days long ago. With your hand you drove out the nations and planted our fathers; you crushed the peoples and made our fathers flourish. It was not by their sword that they won the land, nor did their arm bring them victory; it was your right hand, your arm, and the light of your face, for you loved them. You are my King and my God, who decrees victories for Jacob…I do not trust in my bow, my sword does not bring me victory; but you give us victory over our enemies, you put our adversaries to shame. In God we make our boast all day long, and we will praise your name forever.”
Psalm 44:1-8 (NIV)
It is the Lord that decrees victory for His people, in all its forms. We are foolish indeed when we put confidence in our modern-day bows, swords and chariots, somehow believing they alone can save us and bring victory to the people of God. Still, isn’t this the easiest and most “natural” response for us? You bet! We have deep within us a desire to be the “captains of our destiny,” to be the “self-made man,” gaining independence and autonomy from everyone and everything. How incredibly prideful and arrogant to believe we have the tools necessary to solve the true dilemmas of life. Man’s arsenal is but a drop in the oceans compared to the powerful, righteous right hand of God! Yet, how often do we first look horizontal for our “weapons of war” that would give us the victory over our current day oppositions? Instead, man is wise when he exercises the humility and dependence necessary to look vertically towards the Lord who decrees ahead of time exactly who the victor will be! Praise the Lord for this advocacy toward His people, through Jesus Christ, and for His powerful, righteous right hand that carries this advocacy to completion.
- Pastor Craig