Trust in bear arms

 

     We are continuing our series “Things to think about.” This is not a series meant to sway toward any particular candidates, I believe that is not my job as your pastor. My goal is to remind us as Christians that our primary allegiance is to the Kingdom of God.

 

     When I first learned Nicole was pregnant with Jaedyn, we went to a sporting goods store and I bought a shotgun, which I have named Gauge, and jokingly say he is twelve. Fast forward six years, Nicole was pregnant with our third child, Emrys. Another girl. So for our gender reveal, I posted a social media picture of me sitting in a rocking chair wearing Minnie Mouse ears and holding Gauge. Both times trying to send a clear message, do not mess with this dad’s girls.

 

     Now, having Gauge is a right and responsibility. And there is comfort in knowing I can defend my daughters and family. However, there is a greater source of comfort and security. This source is shared with us through King David in the Psalms.

 

     Psalms 20:6-8(CEB):

 

     6 Now I know that LORD saves his anointed one; God answers his anointed one from his heavenly sanctuary, answering with mighty acts of salvation achieved by his strong hand. 7 Some people trust in chariots, others in horses, but we praise the LORD’s name. 8 They will collapse and fall, but we will stand up straight and strong.

 

This is the word of God

For the people of God

Thanks be to God

 

 

     This Psalm is labeled as a psalm of David by the Common English Bible. In this psalm, David has recorded a prayer. David is no stranger to battle. As a young shepherd boy, he fought lions and famously a giant named Goliath armed with only a sling and stone. Much of the historical books in the Bible record David’s many military conquests, most of which were successful. But in this prayer, David is not focused on his own skill, army, or military equipment as the source of his victory.

 

     Verse 6 begins with, “Now I know that the LORD saves his anointed one.” David is not saying “Now I know” as wishful thinking, he is speaking from experience. Standing in front of a nine-foot-tall giant, it was not David’s sling and stones that gave him confidence. When David was running for his life from King Saul, it was not David’s hide-and-seek skills that gave him confidence. In all of those moments, God is the one who enabled David to be successful.

 

     The prayer continues in verse 7 with, “Some people trust in chariots, others in horses; but we praise the name of the LORD.” 1 Chronicles records two different occasions (19:18 and 28:4) when David faced Syrians who had chariots and horses. It is very likely that David had an army equipped with horses and chariots, they were common instruments of war. The enemy had them and David had them. But David’s confidence was not in the horses and chariots, it was in God. When the prayer says, “The name of the LORD, it means David trusted in God’s character, reputation, and nature.

 

     While David trusts in God, the text implies his enemies trust in their chariots and horses. As a result, the prayer says in verse 8, “They will collapse and fall, but we will stand up straight and strong.” The prayer reads as though the outcome is already decided based on where each army has placed its confidence. David’s confidence is in God, but the enemy trusts in their power and the instruments in their control.

 

     What does all this have to teach us? Before we focus on David, we need to consider why David believes his enemies will fail. Their confidence is in their weapons, their ability to use them, and ultimately what is in their control.

 

     This makes me think of Jesus in the Garden, the night He is arrested. A crowd shows up with torches and weapons, so Peter takes a sword and chops off an ear. Rather than make a break during the confusion, Jesus reattachs the man’s ear before rebuking Peter. In His rebuke, Jesus says, “Put the sword back into its place. All those who use the sword will die by the sword.” Now, I do think there is a discussion to be had about the use of violence here, but I do not think that is Jesus’s main point. His main point is, “Peter, do you trust God?”

 

     David trusted God more than his preparation, skills, and equipment. And even though I joked about Gauge and my daughters, my trust is not in Gauge. Nicole and I are raising our daughters and sons to know God, trusting them to follow His direction, and trusting God will guide them, keep them, and protect them. This goes beyond just weapons but speaks to anything that believe can provide us with peace and security beyond God.

 

     As Christians, there is no doubt we are in a spiritual battle. But Paul tells us, “Though we live in the world, we do not wage war the way the world does. The weapons we fight with are not weapons of the world. They have divine power to demolish strongholds.” (2 Corinthians 10:3-4) In Ephesians 6, Paul also tells us to put on the armor of God. Even though Paul uses the battle rattle of his day, the armor of God is not physical armor but spiritual. Our minds are guarded by the knowledge of God’s salvation. Our hearts are protected by His righteousness. Our pants are held up by the belt of God’s truth. Our feet are carried by His gospel. Our instruments are our faith in Him and His Word.

 

     Let me be clear, my message is not about guns or gun control. That is a hotly debated political issue. I am not trying to dictate to you how you prepare yourself and your family for worst-case scenarios. It is not about violence, although God’s Word is clear that His Kingdom is not one based on violence. This is about us saying, “Thy Kingdom come, thy will be done.” But that can only be our words if we trust God with our families, peace, security, and everything.

 

     David faced lions, a giant, rival kings, and a rebellious son. He had strength, skills, weapons, horses, chariots, and an army. But David’s confidence was not in those things. While David certainly used those things, his confidence was in God. His faith in God allowed David to faithfully use what God had provided. The same can happen with each of us!

 

What is your confidence based on? Is it guns? Money? Your success? Your abilities? Or can you with David, “Some trust in chariots, some trust in horses, but I praise the name of the LORD”? Those other things provide a temporary sense of peace and security, but they are subject to the winds and waves of life. But God is not, He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. God does not leave us because of the winds and waves, He calms them and us in them. Will you put your confidence in God?