Faith and Prudence:

"The horse is prepared against the day of battle: but safety is of the LORD."

Do you lock your doors at night? Do you have a security system? Do you have protection in your nightstand? Have you registered your phone number and address with the police? Are you a light sleeper? Your safety is still dependent on the LORD. For if He does not protect you, there are no means you can take to truly preserve your safety and security.

David wrote, “Except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain. It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows: for so he giveth his beloved sleep” (Ps 127:1-2). Unreasonable efforts to protect yourself are vain. Trust the LORD, and go to sleep! How did David go to sleep? “I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, LORD, only makest me dwell in safety” (Ps 4:8).

The LORD expects you to use reasonable means to protect yourself, but He will do the rest. If you go beyond reasonable means, then you are trusting yourself and your means, rather than trusting Him. Your degree of safety has just dropped! Look out, lest He send a thief and robber this very night to prove that you need to trust Him! You should take ordinary precautions, cast your worries upon Him, and go to sleep peacefully and safely!

The Lord Protector of England, Oliver Cromwell, who led one of the must successful armies in the history of England, is said to have exhorted his troops with these words, just prior to a battle against a numerically superior foe: “Put your trust in the Lord … and keep your powder dry!” Exactly! In his words, faith and prudence are rightly combined!

Let us follow David, who wrote, “Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the LORD our God” (Ps 20:7). And, “There is no king saved by the multitude of an host: a mighty man is not delivered by much strength. An horse is a vain thing for safety: neither shall he deliver any by his great strength. Behold, the eye of the LORD is upon them that fear him, upon them that hope in his mercy” (Ps 33:16-18).

(extracts from   Proverb for Saturday, May 21 (21:31)

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