Get Out of the Saddle

I read this verse out of Psalm 20 this morning and was convicted by it. That’s not the first time this verse has convicted me. The Psalmist is contrasting God’s people- who trust in Him- to the cultures around them who found confidence in great armies.

If you lived in the ancient world the great place of security was within a walled city defended by a great army. An army with great weapons superiority was one that possessed horses and chariots- the tanks of the day so to speak. If you had these resources there was every earthly reason to breathe a deep sigh of relief and contentment. No one wanted to be on the losing end of the ravages of war.

The problem is that throughout the history of the world great armies and great nations come and go. Think of Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, and Rome. All these ancient empires are no more. They once possessed great numbers of chariots and horses for sure. We learn from history that placing our trust in anything other than the Lord is a recipe for eventual disappointment.

What are your horses? Where is your confidence today? Your job? Your family? Your gifts and abilities? Are these the things that give you a sense of peace and equilibrium in life? These all may be good things- even great blessings from God that are to be celebrated and rejoiced in- but they are inadequate places for our ultimate hope and confidence. Sadly, all of the things above can and do disappoint to one degree to another.

May our hope be in the God who made us and redeemed us. May our confidence be in Him who spared no expense- even His own Son- to make us His own. As we noted this past Sunday, because of the cross we need never doubt His love for us. So, get off your horse and put your confidence in the Lord. And be prepared to have to get out of the saddle many times in your life. Trusting in horses comes all too easy.