Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God. They collapse and fall, but we rise and stand upright.

The two armies face each other, aligned, perhaps one hundred yards apart. At the sound of the charge, horsemen from the rear of the line (some driving chariots), with spears in hand, break through, charging toward the other side, yelling victory chants as they speed forth. Their front-line footmen would have a full-body shield (the “zinnah”) set before them while standing behind with arrows set (sometimes aflame), ready to shoot together when the command is given. This may happen two or three times, but eventually the full-body shields are lowered, the bows are shouldered, and the footmen begin to run toward the enemy with spears in hand, braced on their forearm before them the much smaller shield (the “magen”).

Moments before all this, at just the right time before the lines are fully formed and prepared for battle, the enemy squints, glancing across the battlefield, wondering what the army of Israel is doing, as soldiers cluster together in smaller groups surrounded by chanters shouting forth the blessings recorded in Psalm 20. This Psalm was Israel’s oft-repeated “mantra.” Calvin believes (and so do I) that these words were regularly prayed whenever Israel met their enemy, for it truly was a “… day of trouble!” (v 1). I encourage you to read Psalm 20 before reading on, but here’s the idea:

Psalm 20 lists nine power-packed blessings requested for the army in the first five verses. Israel pled for God’s favorable response by means of protection, the fulfillment of victory, and the complete deliverance for all from the grip of the enemy. Relying on the promises of God’s deliverance to the upright, Israel expected to joyfully stake their “banners” of victory throughout their conquered lands.

But the nation was quick to note that their victories did not come through their weaponry or training and certainly not in their own strength, for their armies were often smaller than those they fought. Their victories came as they trusted “in the name of the Lord our God”. “Help” for Israel came “from the sanctuary,” not from “chariots and… horses.”

Hopefully we, too, have come to realize that the battles of our lives, including the many unseen by the world, are not handled by our appearance, bank account, our intellect, or great relationship skills. The selfishness and temptations that so easily beset us, lack of discipline, and anger that prevent growth are not conquered by our own strength and resources. Our battles are most likely not those that are “flesh and blood” related (Ephesians 6:12), but they come from more insidious forces of sin surrounding us. Therefore, our weaponry must be complete, but it must be spiritual in nature (Ephesians 6:13); it must be sanctioned by Jesus, who died on a cross, absorbing every violent blow of sin known to mankind, inflicted with death, but risen to victory!

Words and prayers like this one prayed daily build courage and confidence in us to continue fighting, knowing that we too can “rise and stand upright” (Psalm 20:8) against all the challenges set before us.

By Bill Niblette, Ph.D., Bible League International contributor, Pennsylvania U.S.