What Are Your Modern-Day Chariots and Horses? Reflections on Psalm 20:7 and Trusting God Over Idols

“In what do you put your trust?

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

Some trust in academics and some in education;

Some trust in wealth and some in possessions;

Some trust in reputation and some in image;

Some trust in family and some in name;

Some trust in degrees and some in job title;

Some trust in control and some in persuasion;

Some trust in status and some in private clubs;

Some trust in selves and some in parents, spouses, or children;

But, we trust in the name of the Lord our God

Who provides the gift of learning and growing,

Who grants the gift of wealth or possessions,

Who covers us with His Son's spotless image,

Who draws us and seals us into His Family Name,

Who provides and takes away for His glory,

Who superintends over all our affairs,

Who assures and graces us with our coming heavenly estate,

Who reigns in our hearts and lives,

As our God,

As our King,

As our Saviour,

As our Priest,

As our Friend,

Forever and forever, Hallelujah,

Amen.” (WG, 2015)

When my Bible reading plan took me to Psalm 20 back in 2015, I didn’t expect it to hit me so personally. But verse 7 stopped me in my tracks:

“Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.” – Psalm 20:7 (NIV)

That single verse sparked deep reflection about my own idols, my lifestyle, and what I was really trusting in; it spurred reflection about the idols that so many hearts of the communities I grew up in held onto so tightly. Whether or not the items in the piece of writing above resonate with you or not, your heart, too, is prone to wonder and find confidence in anything but God. It led me to write this piece on modern-day idols, the things that quietly steal our confidence away from God.

1. The Battle Behind Psalm 20:7

Psalm 20 is a Psalm of David, Israel’s second king, a man who knew both victory and failure. David’s life was full of favor and success, but even he wrestled with placing trust in worldly strength: his armies, his victories, his wealth, and his position. Through his failures and successes, David’s heart-set resembles our own.

Like David, we often find our identity and confidence in things that look impressive to the world such as our careers, relationships, reputation, or financial security. Yet, these “modern-day chariots and horses” can easily become idols when they take the place of God in our hearts. Our heart-sets, like David’s, are prone to wonder and are prone to find our strength and confidence in anything other than God.

2. What Are Your Modern-Day Chariots and Horses?

If someone were to observe your daily life, what might they say you trust in most?

• Your success at work?

• The approval of others?

• Your comfort, image, or control?

• Your savings account?

• Your vacation collection?

• Your culture?

We all have something that competes for our heart’s affection. Psalm 20:7 calls us back to re-center our faith in the Living God of the universe, who alone sustains us through every victory and every trial. In essence David is claiming, “we will not fall into temptation and sin by putting our trust in the possessions or the identities we possess; we will not be like the other folks who put their hope and confidence in themselves, their successes, and what they have accumulated, for they will merely waste away with it all; but instead, we will trust in the Living God who is Creator and Sustainer of all whether we are in plenty or in want”. What he’s doing is recentering his and his people’s hearts on God alone.

3. Recenter Your Trust

If you were to rewrite Psalm 20:7, what would be your modern day chariots and horses? If your parent, child, relative or friend observed the intricacies of your daily living, how would they rewrite it concerning you? What would be your modern day chariots and horses?

My prayer is that Psalm 20:7 helps you pause and ask:

• “Where am I placing my confidence today?”

May this passage reawaken your desire to trust fully in the Lord, not in possessions, achievements, or identities that fade.

Written by Warren M. Grimm