#DailyDevotion Who Or What Are You Trusting For Victory?
Psalm 33 13The LORD looks down from heaven and sees all humanity. 14From the place where He sits enthroned He looks down on all who live on earth. 15He Who forms the hearts of all of them, also is well aware of everything they do.
Just in case you’re wondering, yes, the LORD knows what is going on down here. He does indeed look down and sees everyone and sees what everyone is doing. The LORD knows everything. Nothing escapes His notice. Not if you do it at night. Not if you turn off the light. He knows what you are doing.
The LORD formed your heart. He knows what you are thinking about doing as well. A number of times in the Gospel, Jesus knew what His adversaries were thinking in their hearts and brings it to their attention. The fact He knew what was in their hearts should have made them think, “This person must be God because He is revealing what is on my heart.” But because they already did not trust the LORD as they should, they could not see or believe it. We may not always be able to control what things may come to our mind. We, as people filled with the Holy Spirit, can control if we are going to think about the wicked thought or condemn it and move along. Contemplating wicked thoughts is what the commandment, “Don’t covet,” covers.
16A king can’t win victory just with a large army, or a hero save himself just by his great strength. 17It isn’t true that a horse brings victory; despite its great strength it can’t help you escape.
The psalmist here is calling upon the people of the LORD not to trust in great military strength nor their own strength, nor the strength of horses. He remembers Deut. 3, “22Don’t be afraid of them, because the LORD your God is fighting for you.” Solomon would later write in Prov. 21, “31Horses may be made ready for the day of battle, but the victory belongs to the LORD.” As such, we should not try to fight all our battles by ourselves, especially our spiritual battles. We need to remember the armor God gives us is His own. (Eph.) We need and should call upon Him when we are struggling spiritually. But that does not mean we shouldn’t call upon His name, help and protection in our struggles with other people. We most certainly should. It gives God glory to call upon His name and to seek His help. We have the following promise.
18Remember the LORD’s eye is on those who fear Him, who look hopefully to His mercy, 19to save them from death and keep them alive when starving. 20We long for the LORD, Who helps us and shields us. 21Yes, our hearts delight in Him, and we trust His holy name. 22May Your mercy be on us, O LORD, as we look hopefully to You.
So let us remember the LORD looks upon us as we fear Him and put our hope in His mercy. Remember Jesus has saved us from death and promises us daily bread. Don’t just sit there wallowing. Pray! Long for the LORD to be your help and shield. May we delight in our LORD Jesus Christ and trust in His name. Remember all the things He had done when He was visible to us. Remember the power of His name through the Apostles as He sits at the Father’s right hand. Call upon the LORD Jesus Christ to be merciful to you and look to Him with all your hope. He promises those who put their hope in Him will not be disappointed.
Merciful God and Father, for the sake of the name of Jesus Christ Your Son, our Lord, look with mercy upon us, deliver us from every evil of body and mind, and grant us Your victory as we hopefully look to You to fight for us our battles. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.