Saturday, 26 December 2020
Chariots and Horses or God?
By Chan Yew Thai

Often, we encounter this, either consciously or sub-consciously – a choice between chariots and horses or God. In fact, without realising it, we chose chariots and horses over God too often and then regret it.

Psalm 20:7-9 (NKJV) 7. Some trust in chariots, And some in horses; But we will remember the name of the Lord our God 8. They have bowed down and fallen; But we have risen and stand upright. 9. Save, Lord! May the King answer us when we call.

The Psalmist, King David reminded us not to put our trust in chariots and horses but in God (v 7) . In modern language chariots and horses could be ourselves either in the form of intelligence, bank account, youth, strength, social status or technology, science or even friends and relatives. All these can fail us.

In Numbers 13:17, Moses sent the Israelites to spy out the land of Canaan and in verse 31-33 they reported that the people there were giants and they were like grasshoppers in their own sight. Fearing the descendants of Anak, they refused to enter Canaan. Why? Because they trusted in themselves. After comparing the size of the giants and themselves they immediately decided – no deal, for they will never win. They did not believe that they have a great God who is mightier and stronger than the giants. The consequence was that that whole generation, except Caleb and Joshua, died in the wilderness.

However, when we trust in the Lord our God, we will not fail (v 8). Things may fall apart but we will be able to stand upright, not because we are invincible but because God never fails us. There are many Bible stories that tells us that when we put our faith in God, He will win our battles for us.

In Joshua 6, we can see how the Lord fought the battle and destroyed Jericho for the Israelites when they trusted Him. They did not have to go to war. All they did was marched around the city once a day for six days and on the seventh day the priests blew the trumpets. They had victory for trusting in the Lord.

Another story in Judges 7, we see God in action again. Where Gideon, with only three hundred men and God’s help, defeated an army as numerous as locusts and that had camels so many like sand on the seashore (Judges 7:12).

What were the weapons of the Israelites ? – Trumpets and pitchers.

How did they win the battle? –The Lord set every man’s sword against his companion throughout the whole camp of the enemies; and the army fled.

Is it not wonderful to trust in the Lord? However, trusting in the Lord does not come automatically. We need to intentionally trust Him in all things – big and small. Gradually, it will become second nature when it becomes habitual to turn to the Lord first, in every decision, before we act.

Brothers and sisters, nothing is too insignificant or too great for our mighty loving God. I hope each and everyone of us will learn to seek God first, before we act. May the King answer us when we call. (Psalm 20:9)

PRAYER: Dear Lord Jesus, thank you for showing us what a great God you are. In your hands even a simple harmless trumpet and pitcher can be a powerful and effective weapon. May we learn from your word who we should put our trust in and see the consequences of our foolish decisions just like the Israelites not trusting in You. Teach us, Father to take baby steps to intentionally trust you and seek you first in all things before we act. Help us not to be rash but to wait upon you after turning to you for help. In Jesus name. Amen!

每日灵粮
星期六，2020年12月26日
标题：战车和马匹还是上帝？
讲员：陈有娣姐妹
翻译：方美珠姐妹

我们经常有意或无意地遇到这种情况—在战车和马匹或上帝之间作出选择。实际上，在没有意识到这一点的情况下，我们常常选择了战车和马匹，然后后悔没选上帝。

诗篇20：7-9
7 有人靠车，有人靠马，但我们要提到耶和华我们神的名。
8 他们都屈身仆倒，我们却起来，立得正直。
9 求耶和华施行拯救，我们呼求的时候，愿王应允我们！

诗人大卫王提醒我们不要信任战车和马匹，而要信任上帝（第7节）。用现代的语言，战车和马匹可以是智能、银行账户、青春、能力、社会地位或技能、科学甚至朋友和亲戚。所有这些都可以使我们失败。

在民数记13:17中，摩西差派以色列人监视迦南的土地，在第31-33节中，他们报告那里的人民是巨人，他们就如巨人眼中的蚱蜢。由于担心亚纳族人的后裔，他们拒绝进入迦南。为什么？因为他们相信自己。在比较了巨人和他们自己的大小之后，他们立即决定 — 行不通，因为他们永远不能赢。他们不相信自己有一位比巨人更强大的伟大上帝。那后果就是除了迦勒和约书亚之外，这一代人都死在了旷野。

但是，当我们相信主我们的上帝时，我们必不会失败（第8节）。事情可能会崩溃但我们必然能立得正直，不是因为我们立于不败之地，而是因为上帝从未使我们失望。有许多圣经故事告诉我们当我们相信上帝时，祂会为我们在战斗中获得胜利。

在约书亚记6章中，我们可以看到当以色列民信靠上帝时，主如何为以色列民打仗并毁灭耶利哥城。他们不必发动战争。他们所需要做的就是每天在城外围城一次，持续六天，在第七天，祭司们吹号角。他们因相信上帝而获胜。

士师记第7章中的另一个故事，我们再次看到上帝在行动。基甸在只有三百人和上帝的帮助下，击败了一支如蝗虫一样多，有骆驼多如海边的沙的军队（士师记7:12）。

以色列民的武器是什么？就是吹号和投手。

他们是如何赢得这场战争的？在整个敌人的营地中，耶和华使全营的人用刀互相击杀；军队逃跑了。

信靠上帝难道不是很奇妙吗？不过，信靠上帝并不是自动产生的。我们需要在大大小小的所有事情上都特意相信祂。逐渐地，当我们习惯在采取任何行动和决定之前首先求上帝的时候，它将成为第二个天性。

弟兄姐妹，对于我们伟大慈爱的上帝，没有什么是太微不足道或太重大的事情。我希望我们每个人在采取行动之前都会学习先寻求上帝。当我们呼求时愿王应允我们 （诗篇20：9）。

祷告：亲爱的主耶稣，感谢祢向我们展示了祢是一位伟大的上帝。在祢手中，即使是简单无害的吹号和投手也可以成为强大而有效的武器。愿我们从祢的话语中学习当信靠谁，并看到我们愚蠢决定的后果，就像以色列人不信任祢一样。教导我们，父神， 让我们开始刻意地相信祢，并在我们采取行动之前凡事先寻求祢。帮助我们不要太急躁， 倒要在寻求祢帮助后耐心等待祢。奉耶稣的名。阿们！