Wednesday in The Week of The 2nd Sunday After Pentecost (06/17/09)

Some take pride in chariots, and some in horses, but our pride is in the name of the Lord our God.

--Psalm 20:7

Put chariots and horses together and you get at least some of the ancient implements of war, and the more you had of both the better off you were. With horses and chariots (note the plural), you had the power; you were secure; you called the shots. And you were justifiably proud, or so you thought.


The psalmist notes those who take pride in chariots and horses, but the psalmist's pride -- and the pride of his people -- was lodged elsewhere. Chariots and horses look rather flimsy and ridiculous when compared to the Lord our God. And it is the name of the Lord our God where the psalmist pins his pride.


We Christians dearly love to say as much. We prance to church on any given Sunday so that God and others can see how proud we are of God and His name. But Monday through Saturday, we trifle with how best to use what power we have. Meanwhile, we deem our God to be quite content to stay in heaven running the universe while we are free to do our own thing. And then we wonder why, at times, we feel so "spiritually unfulfilled."


The psalmist leaves all the wondering behind and takes pride in the name of the Lord God. For us Christians, this is the name that was watered upon us at Baptism. More specifically, this is the name of Jesus. And where two or three are gathered in His name, He is there. Let faith's buttons burst!


PD