Sometimes, instead of just one of my readings grabbing my attention, it is the combination of readings that causes me sit back and reflect . . . and wonder . . . and worship. That’s how it was this morning . . . that’s why I’m thinking about chariots and horses.

During the first part of the year, when Psalms are a part of the reading plan, I order the readings such that my last reading is in Psalms . . . saving the songs for last. Psalm 20 is a prayer for the king . . . a prayer that God will be his support in times of trouble . . . that God will honor the king’s faithfulness by giving the king his heart’s desire . . . that God will hear the king’s prayers and answer from “His holy heaven” and, with His mighty right hand, save the king from those who rise up against him. And then David pens what could be, for me, the chorus of the song . . . or an oft repeated bridge that builds into a crescendo of worship. It’s a line that became the summary of all I read this morning . . .

Some trust in chariots and some in horses,
but we trust in the name of the LORD our God. (Psalm 20:7 ESV)

It could have been the chorus song by Joseph, second in command over all of Egypt, as he revealed himself to his brother (Gen. 44-45). There they stood, unable to speak as they grappled with the reality that the one they had sold into Egyptian slavery . . . the one they had, for all intents and purposes, killed off and removed from their father’s line of heirs . . . that this one not only stood before them very much alive . . but was also very much in control of Egypt. And Joseph seeks to quell their fears, “Do not be dismayed or angry with yourselves because you sold me here” (45:5). Though you sold me into slavery, I became the head of Potiphar’s house . . . though his wife entrapped me and I was thrown into prison, I became head of the prison . . . though my buddies forgot me when I revealed their dreams, I was eventually summoned before Pharaoh . . . and revealed his dream . . . and was given charge over Egypt. How?

Some trust in chariots and some in horses,
but we trust in the name of the LORD our God.

It would have also been a fitting praise song for the church to have sung after their prayer meeting that night when they had gathered to cry out to God on Peter’s behalf (Acts 12). Crazy Herod had received such a boost in the polls after running the apostle James through with a sword, that he grabbed Peter and threw him in prison, intending to stage a second episode of his budding reality TV show, “Herod Makes Martyrs.” And so the church met to pray on the eve of Peter’s execution . . . and heaven was moved . . . and an angel came down . . . and Peter was unchained . . .and the prison was unlocked . . . and Rhoda looked through the peep-hole of the door to the prayer meeting and, seeing Peter standing there, cried, “Unreal!” “You’re crazy, girl,” might have been the response from those inside praying for Peter’s release, “Peter’s in prison, we’re praying for His rescue, he can’t be at the door.” But he was . . . and they were amazed . . . and the band starts to play . . . and the bridge starts to build . . .

Some trust in chariots and some in horses,
but we trust in the name of the LORD our God.

And who was singing it that night when Jesus, with but the sound of His voice . . . and the authority of His name . . . commanded the storm to cease (Matt. 8:23-27)? The winds and the sea were raging . . . the disciples in the boat thought they were perishing . . . the Savior in the boat, self constrained by the human body He had taken, was resting. “Save us LORD” was the cry in the boat . . . “Peace, be still” was the Master’s response (both to the seas and to the seamen). The seas go calm . . . the disciples go awestruck . . . and I wonder if an angelic host in the heaven couldn’t have gone nuts . . . “Yes!” . . .

Some trust in chariots and some in horses,
but we trust in the name of the LORD our God.

I’m no king . . . ain’t an apostle . . . don’t care much for fishin’. But have I faced opposition? . . . have I found myself in a tough spot with no idea as to how I’m going to get out? . . . have I encountered storms along the ways? Yeah, kinda’. O, that this would be my song . . . that this would be the tune running through my head . . .

By His grace . . . for His glory. Amen?