So What's God Got Against Horses?

475 - Today's Prime Time Devo comes from: 2Sa 8:3-5, “David also defeated Hadadezer the son of Rehob, king of Zobah, as he went to recover his territory at the River Euphrates. 4 David took from him one thousand chariots, seven hundred horsemen, and twenty thousand foot soldiers. Also David hamstrung all the chariot horses, except that he spared enough of them for one hundred chariots. 5 When the Syrians of Damascus came to help Hadadezer king of Zobah, David killed twenty-two thousand of the Syrians. (2 Sam 8:3-5) David sets out to recapture territory that had been promised to Abraham back in Ge 15:18, "To your descendants I have given this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the River Euphrates-” He is successful and soundly defeats Hadadezer and the Syrians who came to help him. Then in what seems to us a cruel act, he hamstrings the captured horses. The hamstringing of a horse renders it incapable of running and totally useless in war. In modern terminology David scrapped the enemies weapons, but that's not why he did it. He did it because God forbade the king to accumulate horses. In De 17:16 we read, "But he (Israel's king) shall not multiply horses for himself,” That's why He told Joshua to hamstring the horses he captured in his battle with the kings of the north.” (Josh 11:6) But why would God forbid the accumulating of horses? The answer is found in Isa 31:1 Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help, And rely on horses, Who trust in chariots because they are many, And in horsemen because they are very strong, But who do not look to the Holy One of Israel, Nor seek the LORD! Ps 20:7 puts it this way, “Some boast of chariots, and some of horses; but we boast of the name of the LORD our God.” Plain and simple God wants us to rely on Him. He says in Zec 4:6, “ Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the LORD of hosts.” Father, I confess that sometimes I get impatient and turn to other things to help cope with my fears and my problems. Forgive me, and give me the patience and strength to wait on You and Your deliverance, that You alone may be glorified.