Do you have a favorite Bible verse that really speaks to you but it isn’t one of those well-known verses that everyone else always quotes? I do. Whenever someone asks me what one of my favorite verses is, I often tell them Psalm 33:17, “A horse is a vain hope for deliverance; despite all its great strength it cannot save.” This inevitably throws the other person off because either they have never heard the verse…or they think I’m weird for getting a little too excited about something so ‘obscure’. But once we delve deeper into the meaning I think you will like it, too.

Psalm 33:16-19, “No king is saved by the size of his army; no warrior escapes by his great strength. 
A horse is a vain hope for deliverance; despite all its great strength it cannot save. But the eyes of the LORD are on those who fear Him, on those whose hope is in His unfailing love, to deliver them from death and keep them alive in famine.” (NIV)

It is obvious from these verses, and surely from our own life experiences, that a horse, or anything/anyone other than God, is a vain hope for true deliverance and strength. It amazes me how often I think that I know better than God in certain circumstances; how I subtly try to coax Him into my way of thinking about something rather than the other way around. Or how I think I can rely on my own mental or physical strength to accomplish something or to endure a difficult situation that really is beyond me. Even when I can get by on my own strength for a while, I quickly crash if I do not tap into God’s strength. God is very clear in His word that He is our deliverer, that He has limitless strength to offer on our behalf and that it comes as a result of fearing (revering, respecting, standing in awe of) Him; letting Him be our focus.

I like how The Message puts it in Psalm 147, “Our Lord is great with limitless strength… He’s not impressed with horsepower; the size of our muscles mean little to Him. Those who fear God get God’s attention; they can depend on His strength.”

One of my very favorite people in the Bible who lived this truth is David. In Psalm 59:9-10 he writes, “You (God) are my strength, I watch for you; you, God, are my fortress, my God on whom I can rely…” (NIV)

This was written by David (who God called a man after His own heart), when his enemies were hot on his trail, plotting to kill him. David was a mighty warrior who was celebrated among the people. They even sang songs about how many enemies he killed! One might think that a man known by all of Israel to be the greatest in battle, who killed Goliath even, would be sufficient in his own strength and wit to route the men who sought his very life. But David’s victories didn’t come because he…or his horse…or his army were so strong on their own….his victories came because God was with him, demonstrating His strength, routing David’s enemies. And as you read through the psalms, David, more than anyone, knew this without a doubt. God, and only God, was David’s strength and fortress (high place, refuge, retreat). These verses in Psalm 59 highlight to us that not only does David understand that God is his strength and protector, he also is watching and waiting for God to show up. David is expectant that God will come through for him in his great need; that in the midst of David’s weakness, God will meet him with His limitless strength.

God always wants to draw us to Himself. He desires for us to fully rely on Him. He wants us to give up our control to Him. So He will allow certain situations to come into our lives that accomplish just that: coming to the end of ourselves and our own strength and abilities; not having control over a circumstance; having to fully lean and rely on and trust in Him for deliverance. That can be a tough thing to do until we fully accept that God’s way of doing things will always come from a place of infinite wisdom. His ways are higher than ours. And His strength is highlighted in the midst of our weakness.

So…

+What are you attempting to do in your own strength that has left you exhausted from trying?

+What isn’t working in your life because you are in control of it, holding it tightly and trying in your own strength to make a specific result, rather than opening your hands and surrendering control to God?

+Who are you desperately trying to save by your own strength, when salvation comes only from God?

Let’s be conscious of putting our heart and mind in a continued posture of surrender to God. In a posture of reverence, respect, and awe. God promises that when we do that and rely on Him, He will come through for us with His strength, which is limitless. His strength in that difficult conversation we need to have; His strength in the midst of a stressful work environment; His strength in the middle of sleepless nights with your child; His strength in your illness; His strength to meet your every need when you feel like you can’t keep going.

Prayer

God, You are mighty, powerful, loving and kind. You are my only source of true strength and You are forever my deliverer. I surrender myself completely to You and I let go to You every situation and person I am trying to control and all that I am trying to accomplish in my own strength. I trade my limited strength for Your limitless strength working through me, so You will be glorified. In Jesus’ Name.