During this Fourth of July week, we are focusing in Crisis Counsels on this passage from Psalm 33 –

Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people God has chosen as his heritage. A king is not saved by his great army; a warrior is not delivered by his great strength. The war horse is a vain hope for victory, and by its great might it cannot save. Truly the eye of the Lord is on those who revere him, on those who hope in his steadfast love, to deliver their soul from death, and to keep them alive in famine. Our soul waits for the Lord; God is our help and shield.
Psalm 33:12,16–20

In the middle of this passage is a long section that speaks to a nation’s true strength. While ancient rulers tended to measure strength in terms of military might, the Psalmist declares that “a king is not saved by his army; a warrior is not delivered by his great strength.” On the ancient battlefield, the ultimate weapon was the “war horse” – tantamount to the tanks of modern warfare – but the Psalmist says, “The war horse is a vain hope for victory, and by its great might it cannot save.” A nation’s true strength, the Psalmist declares, lies in God. If a people wish to stand strong in the midst of the challenges and threats of the world, they need above all to “revere God and hope in God’s steadfast love – to deliver their soul from death, and to keep them alive in famine.” These words hold very true for today! Our armed forces are necessary in the face of the world’s evils; and we rightfully honor those who have served to defend our freedom and the freedom of others. But we do well to grasp the central message of these verses – that military might alone is not nearly enough. (That fact is well illustrated in the destiny of nations that coupled military might with godless behavior.) We need the guidance and empowerment of God, to live in the genuine and enduring strength that God provides.

Prayer – Fill us, O Lord, with the strength of Your Spirit. Share on X

If you missed Sunday worship, you can join with the recorded service of either the 9:30 or 10:30 worship hours at live.kentmethodist.org

About the Author

Dr. David A. Palmer has been the senior pastor at the United Methodist Church of Kent since 1995. He has a B.A. from Wittenberg University, a Master of Divinity from Duke University, and a Doctor of Ministry from Princeton Theological Seminary. A native of Wooster, Ohio, he has served three other churches in east Ohio before coming to Kent. He and his wife, Mavis, have three children.