June 11, 2026
3 It was not by their sword that they won the land, nor did their arm bring them victory; it was your right hand, your arm, and the light of your face, for you loved them. 4 You are my King and my God, who decrees victories for Jacob.
It is always so fascinating to observe small toddlers as they learn to navigate our big world with their tiny hands and short limbs. We watch in amusement as they make attempts at grabbing, lifting and moving objects way heavier than their small bodies can handle. And when the child is unable to do so, we typically see parents subtly intervene to help them. They would strengthen their little hands, support their feeble grip or simply just do the action for them so they feel accomplished. We applaud and praise the little child all the while knowing where the true strength came from. It is from that simple example that I can envision what the Psalmist means to convey in our passage today.
It is so natural for us to easily rely on the strength of our own flesh and bones to forge things ahead in our own lives. In fact, this was the native response of the Israelites all throughout the Old Testament. They sought to gain the victory in many of their battles by depending upon sheer will power and personal might. This, however, became a source of constant failure for them and will be the same for us if we follow in their footsteps. The moment we are overly confident in our own abilities is the moment we create our own defeat. And we will continue to experience loss after loss until we realize that every victory ultimately rests upon the sovereign and mighty hand of our Father.
Our passage today from Psalm 44 is filled with this spiritual truth. The writers tell us with such confidence that they put no trust in their bows and swords to push back their enemies. It's interesting to reflect on that. How can a warrior have no trust in their own chosen weapons for warfare? Why would they even begin to fight if they have to second guess themselves? That is precisely the point. They recognized on a deep spiritual level that their strongest weapon was found solely in the name of the Lord God Almighty. Although they would naturally raise their human arms to wage war, it would only be the supernatural strong arm of the Lord working to guide them to victory.
This is the greatest lesson of faith we could ever learn because it means that we were never meant to be strong enough to win by our own accord. The burdens of this life are far too heavy and far too grand for our human shoulders to carry alone. In fact, the Bible teaches us to accept the fact that we are weak and to stop pretending as though we are able. For it is when we are at our weakest that we can learn to see the mighty strength of Christ in every battle (2 Corinthians 12:19). May we learn to rest upon His mighty right hand and wait patiently for the glorious victory that He will bring for us.
Prayer:
Dear Lord, I know that I do not have the ability to win every victory. The battle belongs to you and you alone. I choose to surrender my fleshly weapons and I choose to trust in the power of your name. May your will be done in and through everything that I may be facing. May it all work toward the glory of your holy name. Amen.