Sunday Scripture

 Again today for Sunday Scripture we're continuing my simple study of Psalms.  You can see a copy of the journal I'm using here: The Book of Psalms 1-50 or you can find all the resources right here on Women Living Well, Psalms 1-50.  I'm attempting to SOAP each Psalm too, though some of them are longer so I will likely only do a selected passage from many of them. [Quick reminder that S stands for Scripture; O stands for for observation; A stands for application, and P stands for prayer.]  Each psalm's study also includes a reflection question, which I've been attempting to journal an answer to.  Today's study is from Psalm 25:5, but I chose to SOAP verses 4, 5, and 8.

S= "Show me Thy ways, O LORD; teach me Thy paths.

"Lead me in Thy truth, and teach me; for Thou art the God of my salvation; On Thee do I wait all the day,

"Good and upright is the LORD; therefore will He teach sinners in the way."  (Psalm 25:4-5, 8)

O= In the Scofield study Bible, C.I. Scofield titles Psalm 25 "A plea for defense, guidance, pardon".  

Cross-references for "show me Thy ways" (v. 4) -- "Lead me, O LORD, in Thy righteousness because of mine enemies; make Thy way straight before my face."  (Psalm 5:8)

"Teach me Thy way, O Lord, and lead me in a plain path, because of mine enemies." (Psalm 27:11)

"Teach me Thy way, O LORD; I will walk in Thy truth; unite my heart to fear Thy name." (Psalm 86:11)

"Make me to understand the way of Thy precepts; so shall I talk of Thy wondrous works." Psalm 119:27)

"Cause me to know the way wherein I should walk; for I lift up my soul unto Thee."  (Psalm 143:8b)

Cross-reference for "truth" (v.5) -- "For Thy loving-kindness is before mine eyes, and I have walked in Thy truth."  (Psalm 26:3)

Cross-reference for "good" (v.8) -- "For the LORD is good; His mercy is everlasting, and His truth endures to all generations."  (Psalm 100:5)

Cross-reference for "teach" (v. 8) -- "I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go; I will guide thee with mine eye." (Psalm 32:8)

A= Like David, I should desire to be taught by the Lord even in difficult times.  I should pray as David did: 

Show me Your ways;
Teach me Your paths;
Lead me in Your truth;
FOR
You are the God of my salvation.
You are good and upright and therefore
You will teach sinners in Your ways.

It is God's ways, God's paths, God's truth that I must be led in.  And God will do this because He is the God of my salvation.  He is good and upright and therefore He can be trusted to teach His ways to sinners like me.

Dennis Fisher, writing in Our Daily Bread, notes: "Wanting to be a teachable follower of God, David looked to his Redeemer for direction.  His heart's desire was to wait on God with dependent faith throughout the entire day."

Obviously, that should be my desire as well.

P= "Lord, how thankful I am that in Your grace and kindness You teach me Your ways.  Like David, I can and do pray to be led and taught in Your ways, Your path, and Your truth.  The result of going my own way will be completely useless and worthless in the end, so I pray that You will give me wisdom to make every moment of my remaining years of maximum usefulness to You.  I pray in Jesus' name, Amen."

Reflection question: David lifted his heart to God during difficult times.  He desired to be taught by the Lord during his season of waiting.

A mature believer desires to be taught by the Lord.  How are you being taught by the Lord and what have you learned by waiting on God to guide you?

My response: I definitely desire to be taught by the Lord and I feel that He is teaching me something new every day.  I've learned that God has a good purpose and lessons to teach me in all that He allows in my life -- and that His bottom-line purpose is always for me to continually grow in Christlikeness.

That's my very simple study of Psalm 25;4-5 and 8.  I hope it was a blessing!

Sunday Scripture

 

Again today for Sunday Scripture we're continuing my simple study of Psalms.  You can see a copy of the journal I'm using here: The Book of Psalms 1-50 or you can find all the resources right here on Women Living Well, Psalms 1-50.  I'm attempting to SOAP each Psalm too, though some of them are longer so I will likely only do a selected passage from many of them. [Quick reminder that S stands for Scripture; O stands for for observation; A stands for application, and P stands for prayer.]  Each psalm's study also includes a reflection question, which I've been attempting to journal an answer to.  Today's study is from Psalm 24, zeroing in on verse 1, but I opted to SOAP both verses 1-2.   

S= "The earth is the LORD's, and the fullness thereof; the world, and they who dwell therein.  

"For He hast founded it upon the seas; and established it upon the floods." (Psalm 24:1-2)

O= C.I. Scofield says that "Psalms 22, 23, and 24 form a trilogy.  In Psalm 22 the good Shepherd gives His life for the sheep; in Psalm 23 the great Shepherd, 'brought again from the dead ... through the blood of the everlasting covenant' (Hebrews ) tenderly cares for His sheep; in Psalm 24 the chief Shepherd appears as King of glory to reward His sheep."

Cross-references for "the earth" -- "For the earth is the Lord's, and the fullness thereof."  (1 Corinthians 10:26)

"If I were hungry, I would not tell thee; for the world is Mine, and all the fullness thereof."  (Psalm 50:12)

"The heavens are Thine; the earth also is Thine; as for the world and the fullness thereof, Thou hast founded them."  (Psalm 89:11)

"The fullness thereof" may be read "all that fills it."

Cross-references for "founded" (v.2) -- "Who laid the foundations of the earth, that it should not be moved forever."  (Psalm 104:5)

"When He gave to the sea its decree, that the waters should not pass His commandment; when He appointed the foundations of the earth."  (Proverbs 8:29)

"Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth?  Declare, if thou hast understanding."  (Job 38:6)

Cross-references for "seas" (v.2) -- "To Him who stretched out the earth above the waters; for His mercy endureth forever."  (Psalm 136:6)

"And God said, Let the waters under the heaven be gathered together into one place, and let the dry land appear; and it was so."  (Genesis 1:9)

"Floods" in verse 2 literally means "rivers".

A= The earth, and all that fills it, belongs to God.  The world, and those that dwell there, belongs to God,

FOR

He has founded the earth upon the seas; He has established the earth upon the rivers.

These statements sound simple, but they are profound.  God made the world and all that is in it.  Therefore it all belongs to Him.  There is so much to process in these simple statements of fact!

Warren Wiersbe notes that there are three ways Psalm 24:1 can make a difference in our lives: 1) It will remind us that we are stewards and not owners of all that we have, which brings humility.  2) It reminds us that the world does not belong to the devil, but to God who is on the throne of heaven.  3) It causes us to praise God for His sovereignty and not to complain.

P= "Lord, help me never to forget that I am a steward of all that You have given me, including my very life.  Help me to use my time, my resources, and my energy wisely, realizing that I will answer to You for the use of them.  

"I pray that You will give me the opportunity to share the rich truths of Psalm 24:1-2 with others who need encouragement and may need to be reminded of Your sovereignty.  I pray in the name of Jesus, Amen."

Reflection Question: Earlier in Psalms, David emphasized the glory of God seen in the heavens.  In this Psalm, he focuses on the Earth and how everything on it belongs to God.

When you consider the earth and all that God has created here, what do you learn about your God? 

My response: Oh, so much!  I learn about His wisdom and endless creativity, His mighty power, His sovereignty, and much much more -- even His sense of humor when one considers animals like the giraffe and birds like the pink flamingo.  I am thankful for how He will bring these qualities to bear on situations in my life and in our world.

There you have a very simple study of the beginning of Psalm 24.  As always, there is much more to this psalm than what I have shared.  The last few verses which speak of the King of Glory triumphantly re-entering heaven are priceless yet are not even touched on in this simple little study.  Please dig deeply for yourself .. and enjoy!

Sunday Scripture

 Again today for Sunday Scripture we're continuing my simple study of Psalms.  You can see a copy of the journal I'm using here: The Book of Psalms 1-50 or you can find all the resources right here on Women Living Well, Psalms 1-50.  I'm attempting to SOAP each Psalm too, though some of them are longer so I will likely only do a selected passage from many of them. [Quick reminder that S stands for Scripture; O stands for for observation; A stands for application, and P stands for prayer.]  Each psalm's study also includes a reflection question, which I've been attempting to journal an answer to.  Today's study is from Psalm 23:2, but I chose to SOAP both verses 2 and 3 because I wanted to include the ideas of our good Shepherd restoring our souls and leading us in paths of righteousness.

S= "He maketh me to lie down in green pastures; He leadeth me beside the still waters.

"He restoreth my soul; He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for His name's sake."   (Psalm 23:2-3)

O= Cross-references for "pastures" -- "I will feed them in a good pasture, and upon the high mountains of Israel shall their fold be; there shall they lie in a good fold, and in a rich pasture shall they feed upon the high mountains of Israel.  I will feed my flock, and I will cause them to lie down, saith the Lord God."  (Ezekiel 34:14-15)

"I am the door; by Me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture."   (John 10:9)

"Still waters" in the Hebrew is "waters of rest".  It literally means "waters of quietness."

Cross-reference for "still waters" -- "For the Lamb who is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters; and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes."  (Revelation 7:17)

Cross-reference for "restoreth my soul" (v.3) --  "The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul; the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple."  (Psalm 19:7)

Cross-references for "leadeth me" (v.3) -- "Lead me, O LORD, in Thy righteousness because of mine enemies; make my way straight before Thy face."  (Psalm 5:8)

"For Thou art my rock and my fortress; therefore, for Thy name's sake lead me, and guide me." (Psalm 31:3)

"I lead in the way of righteousness, in the midst of the paths of justice." (Proverbs 8:20)

A= Psalm 23 is such a beautiful picture of how God cares for His children!  I've read that sheep do not always know when they need to lie down, and that the shepherd then has to make them rest.  The same is true of us, I think.  We need those times of rest and being refreshed from God's Word and spending time in His presence.  

Here are several wonderful quotes from David Roper's book The Song of a Passionate Heart:

"God makes the first move; He takes the initiative -- calling us, leading us to a place of rest."

"God Himself is our true pasture and our pool of quiet water.  He is our true nourishment, our living water.  If we do not take Him in we will starve."

"Solitude is ... a healing place where God can repair the damage done by the noise and pressure of the world."

P= "Lord, how I thank and praise You for this meaningful picture of Your guidance and tender care.  I am so thankful for the times of rest and refreshment that You provide, and for those times of solitude where You 'repair the damage done by the noise and pressure of the world'.  I praise You for how You lead and guide in my life, and ask that You would reveal to me any area of life where I'm not yielding to Your guidance as I should.  I thank You in Jesus' name, Amen."

Reflection Question: This beautiful psalm depicts how God cares for us.  Sheep do not always know what is best and so we need our Shepherd. When we are following Him, we are safe and secure, even through the dark valleys of life.

Are you allowing your shepherd to lead you?  In what areas of life do you need to step back and let God lead?

My response: I believe that I am allowing God to lead me.  I've read that one of the most important thing the shepherd does for the sheep is to keep them moving, that if left to themselves they will simply make deep ruts where they are.  And we, like sheep, prefer to turn aside from God's path to our own ways.

"There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death."  (Proverbs 14:12, NKJV)

It's truly my desire for God to lead in my life.  I pray that He will show me clearly if there's an area of life in which I'm not allowing Him to do so.

Again this week I find myself studying a psalm that is so meaningful there is no way I could ever plumb the depths of it.  I've studied Psalm 23 in detail several times but there is still so much to learn and apply concerning it.  This is just a tiny taste of what's there -- like a mini tasting spoon at an ice cream shop!  I encourage you to delve into this psalm on your own or find a Bible study that will take you deeper into Psalm 23.  

Sunday Scripture

 

Again today for Sunday Scripture we're continuing my simple study of Psalms.  You can see a copy of the journal I'm using here: The Book of Psalms 1-50 or you can find all the resources right here on Women Living Well, Psalms 1-50.  I'm attempting to SOAP each Psalm too, though some of them are longer so I will likely only do a selected passage from many of them. [Quick reminder that S stands for Scripture; O stands for for observation; A stands for application, and P stands for prayer.]  Each psalm's study also includes a reflection question, which I've been attempting to journal an answer to.  Today's study is from Psalm 22, zeroing in on verse 26.   But I couldn't do this psalm justice in looking at only that verse, so I dug just a little bit deeper.

S= "The meek shall eat, and be satisfied;  and be satisfied; they shall praise the LORD that seek Him; your heart shall live forever."  (Psalm 22:26)

O=The biblical heading for Psalm 22 says it was set to a tune titled "The deer of the dawn."  What a beautiful title!  Although I have no idea what the tune sounded like, the name is lovely.   C.I. Scofield, in the Scofield study Bible, titles this Psalm "The suffering Savior."  The ESV Bible that I own titles Psalm 22 "Why Have You Forsaken Me?"  The reflection question states that David "referenced the crucifixion of Jesus" in this psalm.  He did a lot more than "reference" the crucifixion.  Psalm 22 presents a graphic picture of crucifixion as a method of execution in general.  

This picture includes the bones out of joint (v. 14); profuse sweating (v.14); effects on the heart (v.14); exhausted strength and extreme thirst (v.15); hands and feet pierced (v.16) and more.  

And then there are the details that make this psalm so specifically about the crucifixion of Jesus: His desolate cry (v.1); the periods of light and darkness (v. 2); the contemptuous, humiliating treatment (v.8); the casting of lots for His garments (v. 18), among others.

Verses 1-21 speak of the crucifixion; verse 22 shifts to the resurrection.

And verses 26-31, as Scofield notes, "relate the results of the suffering and deliverance described in this psalm and prove its Messianic reference beyond all question.  It could not possibly be said of the suffering and ... deliverance of any mere human being that it would result in:

• both the meek and the prosperous being fed (v. 26, 29);
• all the ends of the earth turning to the LORD (v. 27);
• all the dead eventually bowing before Him (v. 29);
• a new people being born (v. 31).

Cross-reference for "meek" -- "The humble shall see this, and be glad; and your heart shall live that seek God."  (Psalm 69:32)

Cross-references for "eat" -- "And in this mountain shall the LORD of hosts make unto all people a feast of fat things, a feast of wines on the lees, of fat things full of marrow, of wines on the lees well refined."  (Isaiah 25:6)

"Therefore, thus saith the Lord God [to those that forsake Him]: Behold, My servants shall eat, but ye shall be hungry; behold, My servants shall drink, but ye shall be thirsty; behold, My servants shall rejoice, but ye shall be ashamed."  (Isaiah 65:13)

Cross-reference for "live forever" -- "I am the living bread that came down from heaven; if any man eat this bread, he shall live forever; and the bread that I will give is My flesh, which I will give for the life of the world."  (John 6:51)

A= As I think about seeking the Lord, it seems to me that "before I sought Him, He sought for me", as the hymn writer has said.  I did not really know how to seek Him (nor did I have much intent to do so) until He first began to draw me to Himself.  This is an incomparable gift -- that He not only made a way for sinful humans to be right with Him, but took the initiative in drawing us to where we could seek and find salvation.  Certainly all praise goes to Him and Him alone for my salvation!  Because of this amazing gift, I have the promise of eternal life.

P= "Lord,  how incredibly thankful I am that You drew me to the place where I would seek Your salvation.  After I had resisted You for years, You showed me You were the only answer to my soul's hunger and my heart's need.  Now, having found salvation, I have so much to praise You for.  I could spend eternity praising You for who You are and all that You have done -- and I will, in fact, be doing just that.  I praise You in the matchless name of Your Son who died for me! Amen."

Reflection Question:  In this psalm, David references the crucifixion of Jesus.  Then a promise is given -- all of those over all of the earth, who seek the Lord, will not only find Him but will praise Him!

God does not hide Himself from His people.  You have sought the Lord and found Him!  There is no greater gift!  How does remembering that God has revealed Himself to you lead you to praise Him for your salvation?  Who can you pray for today that does not know Christ?  Write your prayer below.

My response: Remembering how God revealed Himself to me certainly does lead me to praise Him for my salvation.  I have many friends who don't know Christ ... as well as some who think that they know Him but don't show a lot of evidence of a transformed life.  

My prayer:  "Lord, I pray for my friends today.  I pray that You will be working in the hearts and lives of those who don't truly know You.  Draw them to the place where they fully realize their need for You and begin to actively seek You.  Help them to understand that You are the only complete answer to the needs in their hearts.  Bring these friends into a genuine and growing relationship with You, I pray in Jesus' name, Amen."

And there is our very simple study of Psalm 22:26.   I hope it's been a blessing!

Happy 250th birthday, America!

 

This is somewhat of a repost from a previous year, but it still expresses my thoughts so I am sharing it.  I hope that each of you Americans reading this will have a glorious Fourth of July celebrating the 250th birthday of our beloved country! Whether you celebrate with family, friends, or church family, whether you are here on US soil or elsewhere, whether you're enjoying a picnic, a parade, or fireworks, I hope that each of you will take a moment sometime throughout the day to thank God for the land He has blessed us to be able to live in. Our country has many serious problems and flaws, but it is still a wonderful place to live and has many blessings which we often take for granted. Whenever I think of "America the Beautiful" these words come to my mind:

"America! America!

God mend thine every flaw.

Confirm thy soul in self-control,

Thy liberty in law!"

Truly, God is the only One who can mend our flaws -- but we have to want that to happen and we need to beseech God that it will happen. 

Regarding the phrase "confirm thy soul in self-control, thy liberty in law" I'm reminded that as citizens we are often somewhat confused concerning the balance between liberty and self-control. Our land offers us many freedoms, yet we take them for granted and many times do not see the need to exercise self-control or self-restraint in any area of life. We want what we want, when we want it, and then when we meet the inevitable consequences of our lack of self-control, we expect our government to take care of us.

Let's take time today to beseech God to help us "mend our flaws" as a nation, to ask for wisdom in exercising our freedoms, and to thank Him for the privilege of living in this land.

Mr. T is involved with an Independence Day parade this morning, and this afternoon we will enjoy a simple cookout at our cottage with family and good friends.  The weather sounds as if it will be a bit cooler too, which is a happy thought given the extreme heat we've been having. 

Have a wonderful Independence Day, everyone!

Sunday Scripture

  

Today for Sunday Scripture we're continuing my simple study of Psalms.  You can see a copy of the journal I'm using here: The Book of Psalms 1-50 or you can find all the resources right here on Women Living Well, Psalms 1-50.  I'm attempting to SOAP each Psalm too, though some of them are longer so I will likely only do a selected passage from many of them. [Quick reminder that S stands for Scripture; O stands for for observation; A stands for application, and P stands for prayer.]  Each psalm's study also includes a reflection question, which I've been attempting to journal an answer to.  Today's study is from Psalm  21.   The featured verse is verse 13, but I chose to SOAP verses 1, 7, and 13.  Here we go!

S= "The king shall joy in Thy strength, O LORD; and in Thy salvation how greatly shall he rejoice!
"For the king trusteth in the LORD, and through the mercy of the Most High he shall not be moved.
"Be Thou exalted, O LORD, in Thine own strength; so will we sing and praise Thy power."  (Psalm 21:1, 7, 13)

O= In the Scofield study Bible, C.I. Scofield has given this psalm the title "God's Blessing of the King".  I personally think a better title might be "The King recounts God's blessings".  My copy of the ESV titles this psalm "The King Rejoices in the LORD's Strength" -- which is even more accurate.

The phrase "The king shall joy in Thy strength, O LORD" reminds me of the well-known and somewhat similar phrase in Nehemiah 8:10 -- "the joy of the LORD is your strength."

Cross-references for "strength" (verse 1) -- "The LORD is their strength, and He is the saving strength of His anointed."  (Psalm 28:7)

"The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in Him, and I am helped.  Therefore, my heart greatly rejoiceth, and with my song will I praise Him."  (Psalm 28:8)

Cross-reference for "salvation" (verse 1) -- "That I may show forth all Thy praise in the gates of the daughter of Zion.  I will rejoice in Thy salvation."  (Psalm 9:14)

Cross-reference for "moved" (verse 7) -- "I have set the LORD always before me; because He is at my right hand, I shall not be moved."  (Psalm 16:8)

Adam Clarke says that verse 13 serves as the epilogue of this psalm and that it contains two parts: a petition and a profession.  

1.  The petition: "Be thou exalted, O Lord, in thine own strength." Show thyself more powerful in defending thy Church than men and devils are in their attempts to destroy it.

2.  The  profession: We will be a thankful people; we will show that we have not received this grace of God in vain: "So will we sing, and praise thy power."

A= I can take joy in God's strength as David did.  I can greatly rejoice in the salvation He has provided.  I too trust in God, and because of the mercy of God Most High I need never be moved.  The LORD is to be exalted in His strength.  His people can sing and praise His power.  It is so encouraging to me to remember that He has the power to work in every situation we face in life.

"When God’s people experience victory over their spiritual enemies, they should acknowledge that their success is the work of God for them. We can look forward to future victories in the will of God because God is loyal to His promises and strong enough to overcome every foe." -- Thomas Constable

Isn't that great?

We can look forward to future victories in the will of God

BECAUSE

God is loyal to His promises

AND

strong enough to overcome every foe.

P= "Lord, how thankful I am for the countless times Your joy has been my strength!  I can joy in Your strength as David did.  I can rejoice in the salvation that You have provided.

"Help me to consistently trust in You as David did, knowing that because of Your mercy I need never be moved.  You will hold me fast, whatever difficulties I face in life.  I thank You that I may sing and praise Your power, and I am so thankful for Your powerful working in my life!  In Jesus' name, Amen."

Reflection Question:  David and his people were celebrating and singing praises to God for the victory and blessings He had given them.

Have you celebrated the blessings God has given you in your life including answered prayers?  Try writing a prayer or poem of praise below and be specific about something God has done for you or a loved one.

My response: I decided to try writing a poem about something specific God did for me in the past.  I'm still not completely satisfied with it, but here is my most recent draft:

Lord, You know how many times I drove a bumpy road --
Eyes brimming with tears as I faced the task ahead:
Elderly parents awaiting my care.
Toilets to scrub, sheets to change,
Meals to make, bills to pay,
And so much more.
Hardest of all,
Confusion and bewilderment
Laced with paranoia and bitterness.
"Lord," I prayed as I gripped the wheel,
"Please help Your joy to be my strength today."
You were and are so faithful, God!
May I never forget the way You answered
Every tear-soaked petition
With Your joy.

And there is our very simple study of Psalm 21.   I hope it's been a blessing!

 

Sunday Scripture

 

Again today for Sunday Scripture we're continuing my simple study of Psalms.  You can see a copy of the journal I'm using here: The Book of Psalms 1-50 or you can find all the resources right here on Women Living Well, Psalms 1-50.  I'm attempting to SOAP each Psalm too, though some of them are longer so I will likely only do a selected passage from many of them. [Quick reminder that S stands for Scripture; O stands for for observation; A stands for application, and P stands for prayer.]  Each psalm's study also includes a reflection question, which I've been attempting to journal an answer to.  Today's study is from Psalm 20.   The featured verse is verse 7, but I chose to SOAP verses 6 and 7.  Here goes!

S= "Now know I that the LORD saveth His anointed; He will hear him from His holy heaven with the saving strength of His right hand.

"Some trust in chariots, and some in horses; but we will remember the name of the LORD our God."  (Psalm 20:6-7)

O= C.I. Scofield titles this psalm "A plea for help from the sanctuary."  My copy of the ESV Bible titles it "Trust in the Name of the Lord our God".

Cross-references for "holy heaven" (v.6) -- "I have found David, My servant; with My holy oil have I anointed him."  (Psalm 89:20)

"Thus saith the LORD: I am returned unto Zion, and will dwell in the midst of Jerusalem, and Jerusalem  shall be called a city of truth, and the mountain of the LORD of hosts, the holy mountain."  (Zechariah 8:3)

Cross-reference for "saving strength" (v. 6) -- "The LORD is their strength, and He is the saving strength of His anointed."  (Psalm 28:8)

David states: Some trust in chariots;
                    Some trust in horses;

                    BUT

                    We will remember the name of the LORD our God.

The word "but" always signifies a change of direction.

Cross-references for "chariots" (v.7) -- "Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help, and rely on horses, and trust in chariots, because there are many, and in horsemen, because they are very strong; but they look not unto the Holy One of Israel, neither seek the LORD."  (Isaiah 31:1)

"How, then, wilt thou turn away the face of one captain of the least of my master's servants, and put thy trust on Egypt for chariots and for horsemen?"  (Psalm 36:9)

Cross-references for "horses" -- "The horse is prepared for the day of battle, but safety is from the LORD."  (Proverbs 21:31)

"When thou goest out to battle against thine enemies, and seest horses, and chariots, and a people more than thou, be not afraid of them; for the LORD thy God is with thee, who brought thee up out of the land of Egypt."  (Deuteronomy 20:1)

"An horse is a vain thing for safety; neither shall he deliver any by his great strength."  (Psalm 33:17)

Cross- references for "but we will remember the name of the LORD our God" -- "Then said David to the Philistine, Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield; but I come to thee in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whose name you have defied."  (1 Samuel 17:45)

"With him is an arm of flesh; but with us is the LORD our God, to help us, and to fight our battles.  And the people rested themselves upon the word of Hezekiah, king of Judah."  (2 Chronicles 32:8)

"Nearly three thousand years ago, the ultimate military weapons were the chariot and the horse.  Armies that could field a cavalry or chariot brigade were considered virtually invincible.

"But [God's chosen nation] was to be different.  God's law forbade her king to multiply horses (Deuteronomy 17:16).  Rather than put her confidence in strategic arms,  [she] was to trust in the everlasting arms, for God had promised to fight for His people.  That is why David's affirmation of trust in a delivering God is so appropriate."

A=  David knew experientially that God would preserve his life.  He knew that God would not only hear from His holy heaven, but He would act with the saving strength of His right hand.  others might trust in their great numbers of horses and chariots, but as for David, he would trust in the name of the LORD his God.

I too have seen God work in my life.  I know that He hears when I call to Him and He will bring help and deliverance.  Because I have seen Him work in the past, I can trust Him for the future.

The site Bible Hub notes that the phrase "but we will trust in the name of the LORD our God" "emphasizes a profound faith and reliance on God rather than on human means. The 'name of the LORD' signifies His character, authority, and power. Trusting in God's name implies a deep relationship and confidence in His ability to deliver and protect. This trust is a recurring theme throughout Scripture ... The contrast between human reliance and divine trust is a central message, encouraging believers to place their faith in God's eternal power rather than transient human strength."

"The safest protection in all the world is the name of God. When you know His name, you know His nature. His names and titles reveal His nature. They tell us who He is and what He can do. For example, He is Jehovah, the God who makes covenants. He is the Lord, the sovereign king. He is Jesus, the Savior. Each name He bears is a blessing He bestows on us." -- Warren Wiersbe

P= "Lord, I thank and praise You so much for the privilege of prayer and for the surety of answered prayer.  You not only hear when I call, but You answer and act on my behalf with the saving strength of Your right hand.  I can put all of my trust in Your magnificent name!  Help me never to be tempted to put my trust in temporal things, in other people, or in myself, but in You alone.  I pray in Jesus' name, Amen."

Reflection Question:  David knew that others were trusting in their horses and chariots for success.  David contrasts their trust in things with his trust in God.

Sometimes we can be tempted to trust in something other than God to give us success -- like our intelligence, money, or even another person.  What are you tempted to trust in other than God?

My response: In general I don't think that at this point in life, I am tempted to trust in anything other than God.  Things I could be tempted to trust in -- maybe my own thoughts and ideas, possibly?  But the Bible tells me that the one who trusts in his own heart is a fool.  This truth helps -- or maybe a better word would be pushes -- me to remember that I am nothing in and of myself.

And there is our very simple study of Psalm 20:6-7.   I hope it's been a blessing!