Some Trust in Horses

6-9-12

Psalm 20:7-8

⁷ Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the LORD our God.

⁸ They are brought down and fallen: but we are risen, and stand upright.

                This scripture passage was mentioned during Wednesday night’s testimonies at church. As I was reading the news the other day I was reminded of it. The horse that won the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness Stakes, I’ll Have Another, will not be racing in today’s Belmont Stakes. The horse suffered a freak injury and will be forced to retire. I’ll Have Another, then, will not win the Triple Crown (winning all three races), as some had hoped. No horse has won the Triple Crown since 1978.

                I’m sure there are many who trusted in horses this week, whether they were simply casual horse racing fans or professional gamblers, and were severely disappointed. There is a lot of money involved in training a thoroughbred horse of this caliber. At the Belmont Stakes alone $60 million was expected to be waged on and off the track, according to USA Today.  But sports injuries can force a promising athlete suddenly to seek other career options. 

                At the time this psalm was written, as it was brought up Wednesday night, there was good reason to trust in horses and in chariots. They were an important mode of transportation as well as being crucial on the battlefield.  But only by trusting in the name of the Lord can we not be disappointed. When we put all our trust in our own abilities, talents, and skills and leave God’s will out of the picture, anything can happen. I know from personal experience.  It wasn’t a sports injury and I wasn’t an athlete, but a mental injury of sorts sidelined me from a promising career.

                In other sports news this week, the National Football League was being sued by 2,000 former football players, who claim the NFL concealed the danger that would result from repeated head injuries. To this I say, “Well, duh!” Does a person who willfully rams his head repeatedly against a brick wall have the right to sue the owner of the wall after he suffers permanent brain damage? I’ve never been very athletic and I never found the urge to impress girls by ramming my head against other people. 

                Psalm 20:8 again says…

^8a They are brought down and fallen:

Adam Clarke’s commentary explains it this way: “They were so confident of victory that they looked upon it as already gained. They who trusted in their horses and chariots are bowed down, and prostrated on the earth: they are all overthrown.” The verse continues…

^8b but we are risen, and stand upright.

                Adam Clarke says, “We who have trusted in the name of Jehovah are raised up from all despondency; and we stand upright - we shall conquer, and go on to conquer.” As the song says, “Conquering now and still to conquer.” 

                Proverbs 3:5-6 says, “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.”

                It is wise to strive to do well at what we do, but let us not forget where our strength lies and Who directs our paths.

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