Psalm 144 - 12.25.24
Scripture
“Praise be to the Lord my Rock, who trains my hands for war, my fingers for battle”. (Psalms 144:1, NIV)
Observation
David the King of Israel praises God, from whom all his skills and abilities come. As a king, the most important skill that he needed was to protect his nation from enemies, and to lead his army into war. He did not go to military school. He was a shepherd boy in his youth, before he was made the king. But God who called him to be the king, trained his hands for war and his fingers for battle, and made him excellent as a warrior. We see a similar verse in Psalms 18 which says “He teaches my hands to make war, So that my arms can bend a bow of bronze.”
Application
The ability to work and to provide for ourselves and our families is a gift from God. Each one of us is called to a specific vocation. Luke, who wrote the gospel of Luke and book of Acts, was a doctor (Colossians 4:14). Paul the apostle who wrote almost half of the New Testament, was a tent-maker by trade (Acts 18:3). Bezalel, was anointed by God “to make artistic designs for work in gold, silver and bronze, to cut and set stones, to work in wood, and to engage in all kinds of crafts.” (Exodus 31:4-5). Joseph (husband of Mary) was a carpenter (Matthew 13:55). Daniel was a government official and bureaucrat, being the chief administrator and ruler of Babylon (Daniel 2:48). Joseph, the son of Jacob was a high-ranking Government official in Egypt, second to the Pharaoh (Genesis 41:40).
Whatever we do for work in our life, we are called to it and planted in our workplace by God. Wherever God has placed us, He gives us the ability to excel. Let us ask God to make us excellent in the vocation He has called us to. Our Heavenly Father who taught David how to be a warrior, and who made Daniel the wisest of Babylon, and who gave administrative skills to Joseph will give us all the skills and wisdom we need to be excellent.
Our God performs all things for us (Psalms 57:2). This includes excellence in all spheres of life. Are you called to be a father or mother? Are you called to be a home-maker? Ask God who gives wisdom, and He has promised to give wisdom generously without finding fault (James 1:5).
Prayer
Father, I thank you for calling me into the area of work that you have called me to. Thank you for my vocation, and the workplace you have planted me in. According to your word, I pray that you will make me excellent in my work, and make me stand before kings (Prov 22:29). I pray that you will give me the skills to do the work that you have called me to do, just as you trained David for battle (Psalms 144:1). Give me the wisdom to do my work, just as you gave knowledge, skill and wisdom to Daniel (Daniel 1:17). Help me to serve you and be your witness, wherever you have placed me. Let my work bring glory to your name. Thank you because you are able to do exceedingly, abundantly more than I can ask or think (Ephesians 3:20). In Jesus’s name I pray. Amen.
- Asha Chacko George
