In times of trouble, may the Lord answer your cry. May the name of the God of Jacob keep you safe from all harm. May he send you help from his sanctuary and strengthen you from Jerusalem. May he remember all your gifts and look favorably on your burnt offerings. Interlude May he grant your heart’s desires and make all your plans succeed. May we shout for joy when we hear of your victory and raise a victory banner in the name of our God. May the Lord answer all your prayers. Now I know that the Lord rescues his anointed king. He will answer him from his holy heaven and rescue him by his great power. Some nations boast of their chariots and horses, but we boast in the name of the Lord our God. Those nations will fall down and collapse, but we will rise up and stand firm. Give victory to our king, O Lord! Answer our cry for help.
Psalms 20:1-9 NLT
Israel was almost never a powerhouse nation. She was normally surrounded by much stronger nations, such as Assyria, Egypt, Babylon, Persia, Greece, and Rome. Yet the land of Israel was always important because of trade routes. This meant people were always fighting over the land. The ONLY way that the tiny nation of Israel could stay in the Promised Land was to trust in God. Sometimes they did this well, and the kingdom expanded, as in the days of David and Solomon. Yet afterwards they worshiped other gods and did not follow God’s commands. This led to loss of integrity, military defeats, destruction, and exile.
This is a lesson for our lives. We want God to make us strong enough never to be invaded, strong enough to not need Him. God wants us to trust in Him to be our protection. We want bigger walls; He wants bigger faith. The chariot was the military might of the ancient world. Don’t boast in chariots but build bigger faith in the Lord.
What would it mean for you to boast in the name of the Lord? How can you be wise in finances and security while still trusting in the Lord above all?
