Psalm 144:1-4 "Blessed be the LORD my strength, which teacheth my hands to war, and my fingers to fight: (2) My goodness, and my fortress; my high tower, and my deliverer; my shield, and he in whom I trust; who subdueth my people under me. (3) LORD, what is man, that thou takest knowledge of him! or the son of man, that thou makest account of him! (4) Man is like to vanity: his days are as a shadow that passeth away."
Psalm 144:15 "Happy is that people, that is in such a case:
yea, happy is that people, whose God is the LORD."
David was considered to be a great warrior king. We remember him slaying a bear
and a lion in order to protect his sheep. We definitely remember him going
against the giant, Goliath, with only his sling in hand. David was looked up to
by his followers. Enemies admired his prowess. It would have been easy to get
built up in himself and think more highly of himself than he should. BUT, he
realized all his help came from the Lord. How many times, in going through the
Psalms, have we read David's words of praise and blessing upon the Lord. Look
at the things David ascribes to the Lord in today's passages. The Lord is my
strength. He has taught me how to battle. He taught my hands how to fight.
But David goes farther than ascribing physical strength unto the Lord. He goes
on to say "All my goodness and protection is from the Lord. All my safety
and deliverance is found in my God. He is the protective hedge about me."
And here comes the connecting part from David... "He is the One I
trust." I will come back to that, but David quickly went on to ask a
question concerning himself (and us)... "Lord, what is man, that thou
takest knowledge of him!" This is a question that is in the form of an
exclamation. Lord, how could I be counted worthy of all the many blessings you
have bestowed upon me? I am nothing; yet, Lord, you have taken account of me.
You know everything there is to know about me and STILL... you love me.
How could I not place my complete trust in you? You are my all and in
all. Thank you, Lord.
Psalm 133:12 "Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD;
and the people whom he hath chosen for his own inheritance."
Our motto is still written: In God We Trust
Lord, help us to stand on this great assurance. You are our strength!
1 How firm a foundation, ye saints of the Lord,
is laid for your faith in God's excellent Word!
What more can be said than to you God hath said,
to you who for refuge to Jesus have fled?
2 "Fear not, I am with thee, O be not dismayed,
for I am thy God, and will still give thee aid;
I'll strengthen thee, help thee, and cause thee to stand,
upheld by my righteous, omnipotent hand.