Psalm 18:35 You give me your shield of victory,
and your right hand sustains me;
you stoop down to make me great.

This whole Psalm is a slightly polished version of 2 Samuel 22, which was in our readings not long ago, but it has so much good content that it bears frequent repeating. The biggest lesson from it is that God is responsible for our success. David was by every standard a remarkable success, rising from shepherd boy to being a powerful and respected king, but he knew where the credit lay, and that was a distinct factor in his being “a man after God’s own heart.” (Acts 13:22) This particular verse has a striking difference in the Japanese from most English translations. Where the English says, “shield of victory,” the Japanese says, “shield of salvation.” Most of us don’t live our lives in a strongly win/lose context, and the Japanese are currently very anti-militaristic, so from that context the difference makes a lot of sense. However, I have liked this verse since long before I started doing my daily reading in Japanese as well as English, and that’s because of the last line. The NIV phrase of “You stoop down to make me great” presents a graphic and beautiful image to me. (The Japanese says, “Your humility makes me big,” which shows the benefit of reading in both languages!) The idea that the Creator of the universe would express humility on behalf of His creation is mind boggling, to say the least, but an examination of human history in the light of the Bible shows that it is true. That should certainly inspire humility and gratitude on our part!

I too am prone to think that I have accomplished things, forgetting that it is God who has enabled me to do it. Yesterday’s work on our replacement bulletin board was a good lesson in that area. The young man helping me was impressed that I had designed it in my own head, but I was focused on what a poor job I had done in painting it! Thankfully, he was able to touch up many of my painting mistakes, but I am very aware that I don’t deserve much credit for it, any more than I did for the first one that rotted in the weather. I need to be faithful to apply all the gifts and abilities entrusted to me, but remember at all times that God deserves all the credit.

Father, thank You for what we were able to do yesterday, and thank You for all that You have planned for today. The schedule looks pretty full, but You supply time as well as ability, and I trust You. Help us get the bulletin board completed and mounted, and anoint my teaching, visitation, and every other activity, so that Your purposes may be accomplished on Your schedule for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!