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The Lord does not delight in the strength of the horse…
In studying the horse in history the horse, especially during the time the scriptures were written, was used only as a weapon of war. The image of a horse meant battle and strength of the king (or if wealthy enough a man). It would be much like someone riding into town on a tank or an armored Humvee. You would know they are not coming in peace.
Going to war the opposing side would evaluate the strength of the enemy’s army by their number of horses and chariots. The more horses and chariots the stronger the army. Just like today’s warriors look at the number of tanks or other armored vehicles to determine their strength.
Anytime the horse is described in the scriptures it is always associated with war and battle. Two examples are Psalm 20:7 and Job 39:19-25. This passage of Psalm 147:10-11 is no exception. Man considers a horse and how strong or well trained it is as to how well he will do in battle. We do the same with our horses today. We consider their bloodlines, their history, their training and so on to determine their value and worth. In turn when we own that horse it becomes part of determining who we are, this is human frailty.
...the Lord takes pleasure in those who fear him, who put their hope in his mercies.
When the Lord sent Samuel to anoint the new Kind over Israel to replace Saul and his household he went to Jesse, the grandson of Boaz (husband to Ruth), who had eight sons. As each of the oldest sons passed before Samuel he thought “this must be the one the Lord sent me for, he is strong, tall and looks good too!” (paraphrase of 1 Samuel 16:6). But the Lord responded to Samuel “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” (1 Samuel 16:7).
This is the same message that the Lord is giving to us. He does not find delight in the strength – or training, or bloodlines, or looks, or abilities – of the horse. His delight comes from those who fear Him and who put their hope in his unfailing love!
Where do you stand with the Lord?
Do you place your identity in your horse? I guarantee you your horse will fail you as they are just a creation of this world which will pass away. It doesn’t matter if you show your horse, race them, ride them for recreation or use them for your daily job….they will fail you. Proverbs 21:31 states that the horse is made ready for the day of battle, but victory rests with the Lord. We don’t use our horses for battle anymore, but daily we battle. We battle our selfish desires, we battle the true enemy, Satan, we battle depression, we battle addictions and the list goes on and on. The horse is not the answer to our battle, it may be a great tool as we use with our Cornerstone Fellowship Ministry, but the victory does not rest in the horse.
The Old Testament is filled with accounts of battles between Israel and their enemies who put their hope in the things of the world. Moses and the Egyptians at the Red Sea (Exodus 14:10-31), Joshua and the battle of Jericho (Joshua 6), and Gideon in the battle against the Midianites (Judges 7) to name just a few. The Lord will go to battle with us against whatever our enemy may be the same way He went before Israel and rescued them. Followers of Christ are today’s Israelites. Anytime you read a scripture about Israel know that it is speaking about the Lord’s faithful.
What the Lord delights in…
The Lord delights in those who fear Him. This is not an “I’m afraid” fear but a respectful fear just as we instill in a horse. When we instill this respect in our horse with us as a leader (see Groundwork: The Short and Skinny On It) we gain their respect and in that respect they obey us. The same works for us with the Lord. When we have a healthy fear of respect for Him and what he is capable of doing we obey him. Obeying the Lord delights him greatly (1 Samuel 15:22-23) and Jesus said that if we love him we will obey what he has commanded us to do (John 14:15).
No matter your struggle, no matter your pain, not matter your battle throw it at the foot of the cross (1 Peter 5:7). Let God go to battle for you for His victories are secure. We cannot fight our own battles, there is nothing on this earth that will satisfy us and our needs, only the Lord can do that. Earth has no sorrow that Heaven can’t heal.