Readings for the day: 2 Samuel 10, 1 Chronicles 19, Psalms 20, 53, 60, 75
The Super Bowl had just ended. The Eagles won an improbable victory behind their backup quarterback Nick Foles. The confetti is raining down. The music is blaring. The players are celebrating on the field. A reporter finds Doug Pederson and asks him for his reaction to the big win. "I can only give the praise to my Lord and savior Jesus Christ for giving me this opportunity.“ Nick Foles, newly crowned MVP, sees God’s hand in the big win as well. “All glory to God!” He exclaims. It’s a common scene that gets played out after almost every big win in every sport college or professional across the US every year. Players and coaches honoring God for their big wins. Thankful to God for providing the victory.
It reminds me of David’s words from Psalms 20. “Now I know that the Lord saves his anointed; he will answer him from his holy heaven with the saving might of his right hand. Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.” (Psalms 20:6-7) David has just won significant victories over the Ammonites and Syrians. He has subdued their lands. Defeated their armies. Killed their generals. Historians of this particular time tell us David was a powerful warlord who took advantage of a power vacuum in the region to carve out his kingdom. Egypt, the dominant power for so long, was weak. Assyria and Babylon had yet to rise. As David wins victory after victory, he steps up to the postgame mic to give God all the glory.
Now there’s nothing wrong with ascribing to God all the glory for our successes in life. After all, He is the one who gave us our gifts and talents. He is the one who provides blessing and opportunity. We didn’t choose where we were born. We didn’t choose the family we were born into. So much of our success has nothing to do with us at all and so God rightly deserves all the praise. At the same time, we must not become arrogant. We must not assume God is “always” on our side or that God is “always” on the side of the victors. In a few chapters, David will find out what happens when he takes God’s favor for granted. I have often watched the same athletes who praised God in victory have nothing to say in defeat. I have seen Christians praise God when things are going well in their lives only to question where God is when times get tough.
One of my favorite coaches, Mike MacIntyre of my Colorado Buffaloes, won a big victory a few years back. A reporter caught up with him as he was running off the field. “God was with us in the victory today but He was also with us through every defeat leading up to this point.” Now that’s a man who understands God! You may be experiencing a season of great blessing in your life right now. A season of success. A season where everything you touch seems to turn to gold. Or you may be experiencing loss. Tragedy. Struggle. Heartbreak. No matter what season you find yourself in, God is with you! God is for you! God will never leave you or forsake you! Simply turn to Him and you will find your joy and your strength no matter what comes.