Psalm 33:16 “No king is saved by the size of his army; no warrior escapes by his great strength.”
[Large armies and great power are not the deciding factor–God is, as shown in many Old Testament stories.
–I think of the huge multinational army that came against King Jehoshaphat in 2 Chronicles 20. He turned to God for help and God caused the enemy soldiers to turn on one another and destroy themselves.
–I think of the great army of Assyria that came against King Hezekiah and how the Lord put to death 185,000 of them in one night by a plague and saved Jerusalem (2 Kings 19:36).
–I Think of David versus Goliath, of Daniel versus the lions.
–Then there is Paul, attacked and beaten by a large mob of Jews at the temple, but God sent the Roman commander to save him. In each case the deciding factor is not might or size, but God.
So it is with us, Lord, we are weak and vulnerable to the powerful forces around us—Satanic, political, financial and physical. Think of how the poor Christians in Syria have had to flee from one conflict after another. But in the midst of such trouble, they–and we–can and must turn to you for help, rather than looking to the puny powers of this world.]
Psalm 33:17 “A horse is a vain hope for deliverance; despite all its great strength it cannot save.”
[In David’s days a horse was the strongest weapon available in battle, the most powerful military means, but it was not enough to deliver. The rider needed help from God, or he was doomed.
So it is with us: technology, machines and weapons are available, but they are just tools, useless without you, Lord. You are the Victor, as stated in Zechariah 4:6, “Not by might, not by power, but by my Spirit says the Lord Almighty.”
You alone, Lord, are the Ruler, the Decider, the Helper of all who turn to you. “My salvation and my honor depend on God. He is my mighty rock and my refuge” (Ps. 62:7). “Blessed is the man who trusts in Him.” (Ps. 34:8). In every circumstance we must turn first to you: “This poor man called, and the Lord heard him and saved him out of all his troubles” (Ps. 34:6).]
Lord, forgive me for first looking for help in the wrong places: my own efforts, people, professionals, possessions, money and machines. Help me instead to call out first of all to you. Then use any means you desire to deliver me in such a way that you get the glory and that all around me will see that it is your work, not that of mere men. Thank you now for how you will answer this prayer for us weak ones, in all that is to come.
