What is the LORD to us? What do we have in our God? What is our God like? In Psalm 144:1,2 David pondered what God was like to him.
David was a man of war and won many battles, but he did not attribute his strength or his success to himself. He said, “Blessed be the LORD my strength, which teacheth my hands to war, and my fingers to fight.” (Psalm 144:1) The Lord was David’s strength. The Lord taught David to be a good warrior. The Lord was the One who was strong in battle for David.
We also have a God who is our strength and who helps us in battle. He loves to help His children. There was a time when Jehoshaphat and the people of Judah faced a great army. The Ammonites, Moabites and those who lived in Mt. Seir were coming against them. Jehoshaphat and Judah were vastly outnumbered, and Jehoshaphat was afraid. But God said to him, “Ye shall not need to fight in this battle: set yourselves, stand ye still, and see the salvation of the LORD with you, O Judah and Jerusalem: fear not, nor be dismayed; to morrow go out against them: for the LORD will be with you.” (II Chronicles 20:17) God’s message is the same to us today. Trust in the Lord, because our strength comes from Him. “3) Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee. 4) Trust ye in the LORD for ever: for in the LORD JEHOVAH is everlasting strength.” (Isaiah 26:3,4)
Besides our strength and our peace and the One who fights our battles for us, God is many other things to us as well. David goes on to list some of the things God was to him, “My goodness, and my fortress; my high tower, and my deliverer; my shield, and he in whom I trust; who subdueth my people under me.” (Psalm 144:2)
- God is our goodness… “And he said, I will make all my goodness pass before thee, and I will proclaim the name of the LORD before thee; and will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will shew mercy on whom I will shew mercy.” (Exodus 33:19) Also, “And the LORD passed by before him, and proclaimed, The LORD, The LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth.” (Exodus 34:6)
These were the words the Lord spoke to Moses before He hid him in the cleft of the rock and later when He passed by him as Moses was hidden in the cleft of the rock. Moses could not look upon God, but Moses could see God’s goodness.
- God is our fortress… “I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.” (Psalm 91:2)
- God is our high tower… “The name of the LORD is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe.” (Proverbs 18:10)
- God is our deliverer… “7) The angel of the LORD encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them. 8) O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him.” (Psalm 34:7,8)
- God is our shield… “But thou, O LORD, art a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of mine head.” (Psalm 3:3)
- God is the One in whom we trust… “How excellent is thy lovingkindness, O God! therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of thy wings.” (Psalm 36:7)
- God is the One who brings peace to a nation… “16) There is no king saved by the multitude of an host: a mighty man is not delivered by much strength. 17) An horse is a vain thing for safety: neither shall he deliver any by his great strength. 18) Behold, the eye of the LORD is upon them that fear him, upon them that hope in his mercy… 21) For our heart shall rejoice in him, because we have trusted in his holy name. 22) Let thy mercy, O LORD, be upon us, according as we hope in thee.” (Psalm 33:16-18 and 21-22)
What should be our response to our God who is so much to us? Jehoshaphat and the people of Judah set an example for us. When they heard what the Lord would do for them, “Jehoshaphat bowed his head with his face to the ground: and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem fell before the LORD, worshipping the LORD.” (II Chronicles 20:18) Thank You, Lord, for being so great a God and for being so many wonderful things to us. Surely, there is no God like unto Thee.