DEVOTION

It’s one of the most hope-filled Psalms, Psalm 20. The first verses speak of “distress” and the need for “help” before it gets the triumphant refrain, “…but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.”

The truth is, living in the United States, during this era, there’s a lot we trust in before we trust in God. We trust in our economic might. We trust in our military might. We trust in our political might. None of those are bad things. They simply give us the wrong impression.

And how can we tell that we’re overly trusting in those things? When they are threatened. When it appears that our economy or our military or our political preferences are ebbing. When a chill runs up our spine at the thought someone else may be in a more powerful position than we are.

But not David, the fierce warrior who wrote this Psalm. He knew that physical strength had its limitations, but not God. God’s power was limitless.

It’s funny how often this theme returns in the Psalms. Much later, Psalm 121 opens with this: “I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth (Psalm 121:1 ESV).”

To make sense of this Psalm, it helps to know a little history of the time. Pagan worshippers would place shrines on the highest elevations to be closer to the “gods” (who were no gods at all). Wherever you looked in ancient times you’d see on the high places altars and Asherah poles calling the locals to pay homage to the local deity.

But the Psalmist disagrees. I look up to the hills. Is that where my help comes from, he asks? Absolutely not! My help comes from the creator of all that we know and see. Who better to trust but the creator?

We are either just out of, just entering, or in the middle of some kind of distress or challenge. The question is, who do we trust? The answer is simple: the Lord. We trust him. Maybe the reason this idea appears so often in the Psalms is that we need to hear it over and over. I know I need to hear it. How about you?

PRAYER

Father,

Thank you for being the steady foundation I can trust. Forgive me for those occasions where I shift my trust from you to something else. Remind me of your good and gracious hand. Strengthen my resolve that I may serve you with faithfulness all the days of my life.

Amen.

Bill Search

Executive Pastor of Ministries

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