"Some trust in chariots and some in horses, 
but we trust in the name of the Lord our God." Psalm 20:7

   In the ancient days, in David's time, nations won battles through superior military power - these included chariots and horses, in particular. In this Psalm, David proclaims that the Lord God is to be trusted above all -- above the strength and number of soldiers or the swords and war machinery. God is the One He trusts.

   Does this mean chariots, horses, and other tools are useless? Absolutely not. They are God-given gifts to accomplish the battle. Yet David declares that the victory of the battle can only be entrusted to the One Who sovereignly rules over all -- the One Who cares, protects, and provides for the people. The Lord God is David's ultimate security and assurance. 

  The psalm shows how God is the only One capable of bearing our trust and would never disappoint. Wealth is good, and while it promises security for the future, only the Lord can actually give that. Skills are a wonderful gift, but they cannot guarantee consistent outcomes apart from the Lord's grace. Many things were provided to fulfill the needs of the day, but as the psalm echoes, we trust in the name of the Lord our God. 

 In the countless times and ways that the Lord has proven faithful in our fights, He showed it ultimately through Christ, Who bore the deepest weight of all our sins. His death on the cross won the warfare so that we, even in our weaknesses, would no longer fear defeat and death in this lifetime. 

  If I were to name the things in life that I put my trust in more than God, it would be an endless list. But there is grace available to repent from these sins - Christ has given us the power to daily turn away from relying on the finite, feeble strength and fragile security of this world. There is hope for us whose gazes are disoriented so that, like the psalmist, we place our hearts in the One who is worthy. May we use the gifts well and trust the Giver above all.