Psalms 33:17-22: a reflection

17A horse is a vain thing for safety, neither does he deliver any by his great power. 18Behold, the LORD’s eye is on those who fear him, on those who hope in his loving kindness, 19to deliver their soul from death, to keep them alive in famine. 20Our soul has waited for the LORD. He is our help and our shield. 21For our heart rejoices in him, because we have trusted in his holy name. 22Let your loving kindness be on us, LORD, since we have hoped in you.

This psalm gently corrects where we are tempted to put our confidence. The war horse, symbol of military strength, is a vain hope for victory; for all its strength, it cannot deliver. True safety is not in strength or resources, but in the LORD: the LORD's eye is on those who fear him, on those who hope in his steadfast love, to deliver their soul from death. Our help is not in the strength we can muster, but in God.

Notice where the psalm redirects our trust. We are prone to trust in strength, in resources, in the things that seem to promise safety, as one might trust in a strong war horse. But the psalm says such trust is vain; the horse cannot save. Real safety is in the LORD, whose eye is on those who fear him and hope in his love, and who delivers their soul from death. The object of our trust makes all the difference: strength fails, but God does not.

That redirection is one we need, for we are always tempted to trust in what is strong and visible rather than in God. We look to our resources, our abilities, the securities we can build, as though these could keep us safe; but like the war horse, they are a vain hope for ultimate safety. Our true security is in the LORD, and in hoping in his steadfast love. Where are you placing your trust for safety, in the strength you can muster, or in the LORD? Do not put your ultimate confidence in the war horses of your life, the strengths and resources that cannot finally save. Place your hope in the LORD, whose eye is on those who fear him; wait for him as your help and shield, and let your heart be glad in him, trusting his steadfast love rather than the strength that fails.

Lord, this psalm tells me the war horse is a vain hope for victory, unable for all its strength to deliver; true safety is in you, whose eye is on those who fear you and hope in your steadfast love, to deliver their soul from death. Redirect my trust. I am prone to trust in strength, in resources, in the things that seem to promise safety, as one might trust in a strong war horse. But you say such trust is vain; the horse cannot save. Real safety is in you, and in hoping in your love. I look to my resources, my abilities, the securities I can build, as though these could keep me safe; but like the war horse, they are a vain hope for ultimate safety. Show me where I am placing my trust, in the strength I can muster, or in you. Keep me from putting my ultimate confidence in the war horses of my life, the strengths and resources that cannot finally save. Help me place my hope in you, whose eye is on those who fear you; help me wait for you as my help and shield, and let my heart be glad in you, trusting your steadfast love rather than the strength that fails. You are my help, Lord; in you I hope.