Notes on Hope Devotional

An Equation for Trust 

Psalm 28:7 (NIV)
The Lord is my strength and my shield;
    my heart trusts in him, and he helps me.
My heart leaps for joy,
    and with my song I praise him.

This verse appears in Psalms as a statement of David’s faith and trust in God. It’s personal, using the word “my” 5 times. Another word that appears 3 times is the word “and.” Why the repeated use of these two little words?

Here are my thoughts:

David’s attachment to the Lord was part of who he was. He knew God with such depth and fervency that he used the pronoun depicting possession. Like my hand belongs to my body, the connection creates ownership. Calling the Lord “my strength and my shield” reflects a close belonging to, not a distant level of being an acquaintance. The strength David was mentioning wasn’t human but God’s power. The shield was God’s protection, not a mere covering of armor. David had a history with the Lord that reflected this kind of depth of knowing. This knowing was a reality.

When we know God to be “ours” and add the attributes of God’s strength and protection, we are safe and secure.

In this close bond, David brings his heart, a heart that trusts God.  The “and” connects his trust with receiving help from God.

When we trust, there is an “and” coming, whether we see it right away or not. Trust puts us in the perfect posture of receiving. 

In the final line comes a response. Out of a sense of our identity, our hearts can trust and experience help and hope. We can then rejoice and praise God.

Dear Lord,
Thank You are a personal reality we can encounter. You are “our strength and our shield.” Help us trust you deeper, without an agenda or fear, so we can rejoice and praise You.
In Jesus Name, Amen.