Christ, Our Deliverer

Christ, Our Deliverer

The horse is prepared against the battle: but safety is of the Lord.

Proverbs 21:31

One of the great conundrums is the consideration of human responsibility, as set alongside the intervention of God.  Our text today gives us a very graphic picture of this discussion, ‘the horse is prepared against the battle: but safety is of the Lord.’ Does God intend for us to be diligent?  Yes, He does.  Does God intervene on behalf of His people in their hour of need?  Again, yes, He does.  In many ways the most sensible approach is that we prepare as if the results all depend upon us and pray as if all of the results depend upon God.  Having said that, the best of preparations are of no avail unless the Lord undertakes.  Witness this in the life and ministry of Christ.  The disciples had labored all night to catch fish, yet caught nothing, until Christ came along and told them to cast their nets upon the other side of the boat.  Suddenly, their success was overwhelming.  When they were out on the stormy sea of Galilee, and were rowing hard to bring the boat to land, they were unsuccessful until Christ intervened.  We may pile example upon example both Biblical and extra-Biblical, but the conclusion we will inevitably reach is that human preparation is necessary, but will only succeed as Christ undertakes.  We do not cry down due diligence, but we cry up the power of Christ to make success of all the things in which we engage for His Honor and Glory.  As we go about our preparation, for whatever endeavor we attempt, let us bear in mind, ‘the horse is prepared against the battle: but safety is of the Lord.’

Our Gracious and Upholding God,

We praise You that You enable us when we are of ourselves most unable.

We thank You that daily You lead us in plain paths,

guide us with Your eye, and uphold us on every leaning side.

Tomm Tice

Where the Bush is Burning