“the God who equipped me with strength and made my way blameless. He made my feet like the feet of a deer and set me secure on the heights. He trains my hands for war, so that my arms can bend a bow of bronze.” – Psalm 18:32-34
Under King David, Israel received military victories at the hand of the Lord. David proclaims the Lord has trained him for war with remarkable strength. A typical military bow, during the time of David, was predominantly made of wood. The described bow of bronze would be virtually unusable for a typical man. David was been given such abnormal strength by the Lord he could use such an inflexible bow to defeat the enemies of Israel. David did not rest on his human abilities but trusted in remarkable strength given by Yahweh, for the glory of the Lord.
Having arrogance about our typical abilities is more than foolish. First of all, our abilities are not ours, they were given to us by God, to serve God. Second, servants of the Lord would be unwise to be content with the simple abilities of man. It is the supernatural, God-given aptitudes which disciples have been given. Charles Spurgeon said, “Have we been made more than conquerors over sin, and has our life hitherto been such as becometh the gospel? Then let us ascribe all the glory to him who girt us with his own inexhaustible strength, that we might be unconquered in battle and unwearied in pilgrimage.”[1] Do not be content with the limited skillset of men. Embrace the amazing talents God has given those who strive in his name. Expect the miraculous as you labor for his glory.
Servants of the Lord should venture forward in his name knowing they will be gifted with skills beyond earthly reason. As we labor in God’s name, for God’s glory, we should bear the knowledge we do so with much more than earthy talents. This knowledge must provide us with boldness in our labors and eagerness to prevail. While the lost labor with mortal abilities, the servants of the Lord march in to battle knowing they have the advantage.
[1] C. H. Spurgeon, The Treasury of David: Psalms 1-26, vol. 1 (London; Edinburgh; New York: Marshall Brothers, n.d.), 245.