Morning Dew

Key Passage; Psalm 20

Key Text: Psalm 20:7 – “Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.”

We live in a world plagued with nepotism, corruption and all manner of evil and unfair practices. If one is not informed it is easy to believe that without a godfather or some strong human connection one can never attain certain positions in life. It is almost as if who you know determines who you become. So this mindset has bred all manner of practices; bribery, grovelling, horse-trading, evil covenants, selling of souls etc etc in the name of being selected for a position or a job. It is a rather dirty game, but this is the world of the uninformed and lovers of the world.

Our text today is so powerful. It says some trust in chariots, some in horses, but we will remember the name of the Lord our God.  The strength of a horse to take you to a destination cannot be overstated and if you have a horse, it means you can travel to a destination much faster than the person who is travelling on foot. So it is easy for the person who has a horse to believe that he would arrive faster and much earlier that the man walking. But is this true? Also a chariot, is a vehicle pulled by horses and it travels even faster than a single horse can go. Again, it is easy to trust in the power of the horses and the chariots, than to look to God to lift one up. Actually, most of the people engaged in the horse-trading etc are clear that the connections and alliances and networks they have will take them to their desired destinations. They trust in flesh and put their confidence in men. But hear what the word of God has to say about such people.

Jeremiah 17:5-6 “Thus says the Lord: Cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his strength, whose heart turns away from the Lord. 6 He is like a shrub in the desert, and shall not see any good come. He shall dwell in the parched places of the wilderness, in an uninhabited salt land.

As a child of God we are called not to trust in flesh or put our confidence in people. God knows that we would be disappointed. He wants us to trust in Him and Him alone, for our elevation and promotion in life. Whilst some trust in their horses and others in their chariots, we must turn our eyes up to the Lord and put our trust in Him. The writer of Psalms says in Psalm 121, I will lift up my eyes to the hills, from where comes my help? My help comes from the Lord who made heaven and the earth.

Again we read that “For promotion cometh neither from the east, nor from the west, nor from the south. 7 But God is the judge: he putteth down one, and setteth up another.” Psalm 75:6.

Promotion comes from the hand of the Lord. For us who are his children, we cannot engage in the ‘wheeling and dealing’ of the world, we cannot afford the compromises and degradation that the so-called godfathers request to put people in positions. We simply have to lift our eyes to the Lord and trust Him to make a way for us. If God lifts us up, then we only have God to fear. If man lifts you up, then you have both man and God to fear. The bible says that the fear of man brings a trap. That is why many in positions of power are ineffective, because they are trapped into major compromises that make them so ineffective.

Let me show you what God says about those who trust in Him. Jeremiah 17:7-8 –  “Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose trust is the Lord. 8 He is like a tree planted by water, that sends out its roots by the stream, and does not fear when heat comes, for its leaves remain green, and is not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit.”

Finally, the bible is clear about the outcome of the race of horses and chariots against a man of God who is on foot. Look at the story in 1 Kings 18:44-46,” And he said, Go up, say to Ahab, Prepare your chariot and go down, lest the rain stop you. 45 And in a little while the heavens grew black with clouds and wind, and there was a great rain. And Ahab rode and went to Jezreel. 46 And the hand of the Lord was on Elijah, and he gathered up his garment and ran before Ahab to the entrance of Jezreel.”

Elijah gave Ahab a head start with his chariots and horses, but when the hand of the Lord came upon Elijah he overtook the chariot and horses of Ahab and ran faster than Ahab, even though he ran on foot. WOW! Those who trust in the Lord will go further and faster than those who put their trust in man.

Some trust in horses, some trust in chariots, but I will remember the name of the Lord my God. I will remember that He is my El-Shaddai, my all-sufficient God. I will remember that He is my El-Roi, my Shepherd, I shall not lack. I will remember that He is my Jehovah Jireh, My Provider.

God has a way for you and I to get to the top in life, its a sure and perfect way. So stop trusting in man and put your trust in God.

Let’s Pray: Father God, I lift my eyes up to the hill today and declare that my help comes from you. You are my glory and the lifter up of my head. I may not have any earthly connections to take me to the high offices of life, but you are the Most High and I am connected to you by blood. I am your blood relative. So Father, I put my confidence in you and you alone. Thank you for lifting me up. In Jesus name I pray. Amen.