By Pastor Dr. Aggrey Soyekwo
Psalms 33:16-19 "A king does not win because of his powerful army; a soldier does not triumph because of his strength. War horses are useless for victory; their great strength cannot save. The Lord watches over those who obey him, those who trust in his constant love. He saves them from death; he keeps them alive in times of famine." - GNB
David was a very experienced soldier who won many battles and national wars. He was definitely skilled and knew everything about warfare, what was required to win or the pitfalls that bring lose. But in the scripture above, he makes a profound statement that seems to attribute all his victories not to skill, experience and tact, (important as these are), but to God. He came to understand that ultimately all victories come from God.
One who doesn’t believe in God could easily laugh off these guidance. But Scripture teaches that unless God has allowed or is in something, all our human efforts are useless. Is God involved or blesses the evils people commit and succeed? No. But such happen because people reject His righteous ways and choose evil on the exercise of their wills. We can offer our wills and bodies as instruments of righteousness or evil.
We are counseled not to trust in human strength, skills, experiences or abilities and ignore God. All these things people trust, including our very existence comes from Him. There is a limit to it. But trust in God has no limits. We can do nothing without Him. What’s done without God may appear successful initially, but comes nothing. Jesus is the solid Rock on Whom we can stand and be certain not to fail.
Psalm 127:1 "Unless the Lord builds the house, the builders labor in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the guards stand watch in vain."
Psalm 146:3-5 "Do not put your trust in princes, in human beings, who cannot save. When their spirit departs, they return to the ground; on that very day their plans come to nothing. Blessed are those whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the Lord their God."
Shalom children of God.