DON'T LOOK AT ME
Psalm 44:3 NKJV
3 For they did not gain possession of the land by their own sword,
Nor did their own arm save them;
But it was Your right hand, Your arm, and the light of Your countenance,
Because You favored them.
We have a tendency that is all too human. That tendency is to credit man for things that God has done. God uses man, but ultimately, God is the One who gets the credit. And yet, way too often, God is skipped over, and the praise goes to others. In our Psalm for today, the psalmist is recounting how Israel came into possession of the promised land. The author of this psalm displays a godly perspective in giving the credit to God and not to the nation of Israel.
A key phrase in our verse is "their own." The nation of Israel did not take possession of the land by their own sword. Their own arm did not save them. But we know from reading the account that Israel did have to fight. They did have to pick up their sword against the nations who inhabited the land. But they were not fighting by themselves. It was God's hand, God's power, and God's presence that won the day and enabled Israel to take the land. Israel may have stuck their feet in the water, but it was God who stopped the Jordan River and allowed them to cross over. They may have marched around the city of Jericho, but it was God who knocked down the walls.
Years later, when Gideon was facing the Midianites, God instructed him to cull down Israel's forces from twenty-two thousand to three hundred men. At face value, this strategy makes no sense. God told Gideon that Israel would take the credit if they faced the enemy with thousands of men. "The LORD said to Gideon, "You have too many warriors with you. If I let all of you fight the Midianites, the Israelites will boast to me that they saved themselves by their own strength." (Judges 7:2 NLT)
The apostle Paul had a good handle on who gets the credit. We have been reading in the letters written to the church at Corinth. Paul corrects the church for exalting different preachers. One group liked Peter, and another liked Paul. And Apollos was another popular minister. But Paul pointed them back to the Lord. He stated that one would plant the seed of God's Word and another would water it, but it was God who gave the increase. Paul really admonished the church that it was not the messengers who were important. It was God. He then summed up his correction with these words. "For what gives you the right to make such a judgment? What do you have that God hasn't given you? And if everything you have is from God, why boast as though it were not a gift?" (1 Corinthians 4:7 NLT) I have loved that verse for years. What do I have that God hasn't given me?
When it comes to the things pertaining to God's kingdom, our talents, gifts, and abilities come from God. This doesn't sit well with so called self-made people. And truly, someone has to develop what has been given to them. But ultimately, it's God who should receive the credit. There is no way I could be the pastor of The Ark if God had not given me the grace to do the job. So don't look at me. What about you? What has God enabled you to do? Whatever it is, give Him the credit. His favor enabled Israel to do what seemed impossible, and His favor is still powerful today.
PRAYER
Thank You, Father. You have given me grace and favor and enabled me to do what I do. I give You the credit and the honor. I would not be where I am today without Your grace. I could not save myself and would be lost if it wasn't for You.