From the ‘Some’ to the ‘We’
Psalms 20:7 KJV Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the LORD our God.
At the scene of the battle, when the forces are aligned in formation and the guns and munitions are in place, the most obvious elements of the battle are the visible strengths displayed. In David’s day, the army with the most chariots and horses had a visibly clear advantage over the adversary who was without them. In our day, the country with the most destructive and strategic bombs and defenses goes into the conflict with the clear advantage. There was a time, though, in our founding, when the ‘obvious’ was proven to be less than enough against those who were trusting in a force that, while less visibly equipped than the British forces, was much more effective. Through the success of our encounters since then we’ve been able to acquire and produce the weapons and forces that have come to dominate the entire world. With this advantage has come a reversal of roles from that of our infancy when the name of the Lord was a necessity for survival. Now, with the obvious superiority in our forces, it has become very difficult for many to even remember the name of the One who has faithfully given victory when ‘chariots’ and ‘horses’ could never have been enough. Calls are even coming for removal of ‘In God We Trust’ from the very ones David referred to as the ‘some’. While there may be a period when the accumulation of armaments achieves dominance, David, like Gideon, came to know that the ultimate victories would only come to the ‘we’ who remember with fondness and worship the name of the Lord their God. To rely instead in a faltering and failing system that is subject to human votes and misplaced reliance and alliance is to compromise the greatest ally that has insured our success so far- that of the King of kings and Lord of lords. The real strength of our nation even today is not in the bombs and missiles, but in the core of those who yet lift their eyes to heaven for the strength of defense that is still required for our prolonged existence.
Battle forces are arrayed this day in every personal life with threats of dominance and conquering force. There will be reason to give in to the ‘superior’ dominance of an apparently greater opposition. There also may be an attempt to trust in the ‘chariots’ and ‘horses’ of healthy bank accounts and superior mental understanding. In either case there is an opportunity for each of us to remove ourselves from the ‘some’ and take up sides with the ‘we’, the ones who will be on the side of the great Nation Builder and Dynasty Destroyer. His kingdom will exist forever beyond the era of any earthly conquering force. In Him will ever be a high tower of refuge from the dangers from both without and within. For His memory to render the necessary trust, though, in a heart that will choose Him above others, there will be a need for short term memory, the kind that references every moment of magnified God-awareness. Departure from the ‘some’ to the ‘we’ will be complete when the present memory of His overcoming power is sweet.