Psalm 147:10-11 (CSB)
"He is not impressed by the strength of a horse; he does not value the power of a warrior. The Lord values those who fear him, those who put their hope in his faithful love." Psalm 147:10-11
Every morning, I work out because I want to get stronger. I want to stay healthy, have more energy, and hopefully see some visible results. There's nothing wrong with that. In fact, taking care of our bodies is a good stewardship of what God has given us. But Psalm 147 reminds me that God doesn't measure strength the way I do.
The psalmist says that God is not impressed by the strength of a horse or the power of a warrior. With that, I realize God is not impressed by how much weight I can bench press, how many bicep curls I can do, or how many calories I burned before breakfast. And if you've seen my workout numbers, you wouldn't be impressed either!
What God values is something entirely different. He values those who fear Him and put their hope in His faithful love. That phrase, faithful love, echoes throughout the Old Testament. God's love is covenantal love. It is steadfast, loyal, and always abounding for His people. From Genesis to Malachi, God continually demonstrates this faithful love despite His people's failures and shortcomings. Then, in Jesus Christ, that faithful love reaches its fullest expression. At the cross, God showed once and for all that His love is stronger than our sin, our weakness, and even death itself.
The world celebrates strength, power, achievement, and self-sufficiency. Yet Scripture repeatedly points us in another direction. The Apostle Paul learned this when God told him, "My power is perfected in weakness." When I am weak, He is strong. That truth is freeing. God is not asking me to impress Him with my strength or to put my trust in other strong things that ultimately will diminish and fail. He is asking me to trust Him and put my hope in Him.
Lord, help me value what You value. Teach me to fear You, hope in Your faithful love, and find my strength not in myself but in Jesus Christ.
