Trusting in Jesus
The sermon emphasizes the importance of trusting in God rather than in human strength, wealth, and status, highlighting the different outcomes for those who choose to trust in God.
Bakht Singh preaches on the contrast between those who trust in earthly strength and possessions versus those who trust in the name of the LORD. He explains how some find pride in their wealth, power, and status, while others find glory in belonging to God as His children and friends. The psalmist highlights the different outcomes for these two groups, where those who trust in God will stand firm while others will fall. Bakht Singh emphasizes the superiority of trusting in God by illustrating how Elijah, empowered by the LORD, outran a chariot, showcasing the futility of worldly possessions compared to God's strength.
Text
"Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God" (Psalms 20:7)
This portion of the Scripture displays before us two kinds of people in the human society. The first class of people put their trust in chariots and horses. What does this expression mean?
Firstly chariots and horses are the strength of the kings. Having thousands of chariots and horses is the glory and pride of the kings and a measure of their power. Psalms20:7 means that some people take pride in their strength and power. Secondly horses and chariots are symbols of richness too. A poor man who is starving for food cannot maintain horses and chariots. Only the rich can. Thirdly it is also a symbol of status. A man who travels in the chariots pulled by horses would not be an ordinary person but a noble man or a person of great authority and status. Naturally people take pride in these things. Some are proud in their wealth and possessions; some others take pride in their physical strength. All these things are created by God. Many people in this world take pride in the things created and provided by God.
The psalmist draws our attention to the second class of people of which he himself is a member. He says "we trust in God" .There are some people in this world who take pride in the fact that they belong to God. They glory in the fact that they are the friends of God and the children of God.
Both these sections will reap the fruit of their attitudes at the fag end of their lives right here on earth. Both will reap different fruit because their attitudes were vastly different. See what they reap. "They are brought to their knees and fall, but we rise up and stand firm" (Psalms 20:8).
All the things in this world put together are nothing when compared to God, the Giver of all gifts. Let us see how futile the things of this world prove to be. 1 Kings 18:46 gives us a beautiful demonstration of this. "The power of the LORD came upon Elijah and, tucking his cloak into his belt, he ran ahead of Ahab all the way to Jezreel".
The previous verse tells us that king Ahab went back to Jezreel riding on a chariot. Elijah, the prophet, had no chariot but the Almighty God strengthened Elijah in such a way that he could run faster than the chariot of King Ahab!
Blessed are the people who have the God of Elijah as their God and glory in Him! They can always run faster than the people who put their trust in their chariots.
Sermon Outline
- I. Two kinds of people in the human society
- A. Those who trust in chariots and horses
- B. Those who trust in the name of the Lord
- II. Characteristics of those who trust in chariots and horses
- A. Pride in strength and power
- B. Symbols of richness and status
- III. Characteristics of those who trust in God
- A. Glory in being friends and children of God
- IV. Different outcomes for different attitudes
- A. Those who trust in chariots and horses will fall
- B. Those who trust in God will rise up and stand firm
Key Quotes
“Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God” — Bakht Singh
“They are brought to their knees and fall, but we rise up and stand firm” — Bakht Singh
“The power of the LORD came upon Elijah and, tucking his cloak into his belt, he ran ahead of Ahab all the way to Jezreel” — Bakht Singh
Application Points
- We should not take pride in our strength, power, wealth, and status, but rather in our relationship with God.
- Trusting in God leads to rising up and standing firm, while trusting in chariots and horses leads to falling.
- God's power and strength are greater than any human achievement, and we should rely on Him for our needs.