The Strength of the Horse.

I enjoyed watching Justify win the Preakness today. Who doesn't love the excitement of a thrilling horserace? Of all the animals that JAH created, I think the horse is one of the most fascinating. Horses are featured throughout the Bible, from Genesis to Revelations. A horse represents grace, speed and beauty. An army of horses represent power, prestige, and conquest.

Allow me to share three of my favorite "horse verses" from the Bible. The first is from the book of Proverbs, chapter 21, verse 31, NKJV:

"The horse is prepared for the day of battle, but deliverance [safety] is of the LORD."

This verse teaches us to make adequate preparation for the battles of life. Like Job, our days are full of trouble. So it's wise to ready ourselves to fight the good fight of faith. I believe our preparation for the battle includes reading and meditating on the Word of God, spending time in the prayer closet, and walking in the fear of the LORD.

But here we find King Solomon alerting us to the danger of trusting in our preparation and resources - instead of trusting in the LORD. It's not the horse that will save us. It's not the preparation that will save us. "Deliverance is of the LORD."

Is this an excuse to kick back in my recliner and let the LORD do everything for me? Of course not! I should definitely prepare my horse for battle. But while I prepare my horse - my confidence is not in my horse; my confidence and faith is in the saving power to the LORD.

"Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the LORD our God." ~ Psalm 20:7 Amen!

The second reference to horses I'll share is one you'll find on the fearjah.com homepage presentation. It's from Psalms 147: 6, 10-11:

The LORD lifts up the humble; He casts the wicked down to the ground. ... He does not delight in the strength of the horse; He takes no pleasure in the legs of a man. The LORD takes pleasure in those who fear Him, in those who hope in his mercy.

JAH exalts the humble. He causes the wicked to eat dust. He is not impressed by the cavalry (the strength of the horse) or the infantry (the legs of a man) of any nation. It gives JAH no pleasure in seeing the nations of the world build up and rely upon their machines of war.

The thing that pleases the LORD is when we fear Him, and hope in His mercy.

JAH is not delighted when we, instead of trusting Him, trust in our own resources. We are to hope in His mercy and rely on His strength. We are called to humble ourselves and trust in Him to exalt us. I feel it's okay to admire the strength of the horse, and enjoy the thrill of a horserace. And I understand the need to prepare the horse against the day of battle. However, my trust and faith is not in my horse or my sword or in any of my physical resources. My hope is in the mercy of the LORD.

The third "horse verse" I'll share is one of the last times horses are mentioned in the Bible, Revelations 19. In this passage, we read about the Messiah's Second Coming, which is marked by glory and power.

But before we look at the second coming of Christ, let's consider His first coming. Specifically, let's consider an event that's commonly referred to as the "Triumphal Entry" in Matthew 21:1-5b.

"Now when they drew near Jerusalem, and came to Bethphage, at the Mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples, saying to them, "Go into the village opposite you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her. Loose them and bring them to me. And if anyone says anything to you, you shall say, 'The Lord has need of them,' and immediately he will send them." All this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying: "Tell the daughter of Zion, 'Behold, your King is coming to you, lowly, and sitting on a donkey,...'"

According to historians, this happened on the first day of the week, Sunday, the 10th of Nisan. On that very day, Jesus enters Jerusalem seated on a donkey. In fulfillment of Zechariah 9:9, He is the lowly King who offers Himself to Israel as her long-awaited Messiah. The 10th of Nisan was also the day the Passover lamb was selected! Coincidence? I think not! The "Triumphal Entry" anticipates the sacrifice of Jesus as the Passover Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! And before the week is over, Jesus is crucified.

Now let's consider the Messiah's second coming in the book of Revelations 19:11-16:

"Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war. His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns. He had a name written that no one knew except Himself. He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called the Word of God. And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses. Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron. He Himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS."

Note the contrast between the first coming of Christ and the second coming of Christ. The mission of the first coming was to take away the sin of the world. So He enters Jerusalem, lowly, and seated on a donkey. However, the mission of the second coming is to judge the sin of the world. So Jesus breaks through the heavens, exalted, and seated on a white horse. The donkey symbolizes peace and the common man, while the horse symbolizes conquest and kings.

Am I ready for the return of the king? Ready or not, Christ will come again riding a white horse to execute judgment on those who rejected Him when he rode in on a donkey. That's so ironic! The first coming is past history, it's "in the books." The second coming is sure to follow because, it too, is "in the books," - the books of our infallible Holy Bible. "Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus!" ~ Rev. 22:20

Grace, Peace and Jahspeed!