The Futility of Trusting in Man

“Some trust in chariots, and some in horses; but we will remember the name of the LORD our God. They have bowed down and fallen; but we have risen and stand upright.” (Psalm 20:7-8)

In David’s day, it was easy to trust in advancements in warfare and weaponry. Chariots were a powerful weapon when used correctly.

Albert Barnes gives this description of this type of chariot – “Here it refers to the war-chariot, or the vehicle for carrying armed men into battle. These furnished great advantages in war, by the speed which they could be driven against an enemy, and by the facilities in fighting from them. They were usually very simple. They consisted of a light pole suspended between and on the withers (top-side of their beck) of a pair of horses, the after end resting on a light axletree (the frame the pole rests upon), with two low wheels. Upon the axle stood a light frame, open behind, and floored for the warrior and his charioteer, who both stood within. On the sides of the frame hung the war-bow, in its case; a large quiver with arrows and darts had commonly a particular sheath… In their early contacts with the Philistines and other advanced enemies, the Israelite spear-wielding infantry was at a decided disadvantage – especially on the flat planes, where chariots were particularly effective”

These were special weapons for warfare and it would be easy to trust in them. We are told David had some 1,000 chariots and another 7,000 horsemen (I Chron 18:4).  

It is human instinct to trust in one’s resources. In Deuteronomy 17, we read of instructions for kings – “When you come to the land which the LORD your God is giving you, and possess it and dwell in it, and say, ‘I will set a king over me like all the nations that are around me,’ you shall surely set a king over you whom the LORD your God chooses; one from among your brethren you shall set as king over you; you may not set a foreigner over you, who is not your brother. But he shall not multiply horses for himself, nor cause the people to return to Egypt to multiply horses, for the LORD has said to you, ‘You shall not return that way again” (Deut 17:14-16). God didn’t want the king to accumulate too much wealth or multiple wives or many horses. Why? Why would God not want the king to multiply or increase the number of his horses? Answer – he didn’t want his kings to increase their susceptibility or fuel their temptation to glory in their own accomplishments. He didn’t want them to trust in their own resources.

To trust in God’s creation or man’s technology for deliverance is “a vain hope.” (Ps 33:16-19). Trust, boast and praise should not be directed to the wrong objects but only to God and not in man’s accomplishments or inventions or “wisdom.” Trusting in the God of armies is better than trusting in armies.

Do we ever need this humility and honesty! We love our military technology and gi-normous air craft carriers and insanely fast fighter jets and brave, wise, and strong infantry. And while I am not dogging patriotism or discouraging military support, to place your trust in them is wrong and stealing God’s glory. Trust not in man; he is not God.

Albert Barnes, Psalms, Barnes Notes (Grand Rapids: Baker Books, 2001), 181.