Do Not Put Your Trust In Men

Do not put your trust in princes,
Nor in a son of man, in whom there is no help.
(Psalm 146:3)

With talk of forced Covid vaccinations, hyper-inflation and even murmurings of civil war, the world around us devolves more into unabated chaos and confusion. As such there is a natural and unfortunate tendency for us to seek a “prince” or some “son of man” to put our trust in. It is more subtle and more dangerous than we might think. In the U.S. (apply in your own context if you’re reading from elsewhere) conservative voices like Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, for example, are sought after as his views are in stark contrast to the radical tyranny we see emerging in so many places. Many people saw Donald Trump as a welcome change to the familiar and tired political landscape in the U.S. While it may appear innocent enough that we are seeking some political hero to set things right, the degree to which we put our trust in men can potentially give Satan a strong foothold, to say nothing of dishonoring God in the process. Thank God for His word to set us aright in every area. Truly there is nothing new under the sun.

The desire to alleviate some discomfort, whether it be a circumstantial, physical or psychological ailment, is not sinful. It would be strange and in a measure sadistic if one welcomed plagues or uncertainty with glee. Some lying cults actually forbid medical treatment supposing themselves to be “trusting in God”, when in reality they are showcasing their ignorance and pride. These are not merely irresponsible, but in most instances forsaking graces of God and thereby dishonoring Him while pretending to be spiritual. This is spiritual idiocy. It is understandable, therefore, that we would seek out those that might aid in easing certain burdens. This is not where we go wrong, but rather in the measure to which we look to or “trust” in sons of men.

We are told not to put our trust in them, that is not to see any man for more than he truly is; DUST (Genesis 18:27). The text continues, “His spirit departs, he returns to his earth; In that very day his plans perish.” (Psalm 146:4) All men are but a breath away from being a memory. When a prince in this world passes, his plans and intentions pass with him. Men are only as good, reliable and helpful as the God who gives them strength. Therefore, no man has anything to offer but what grace he has received from the Lord. Whether in the personal, political, judicial or theological realm, DO NOT put your trust in “princes” or in any son of man. We often tout clichés like “men will fail, but God will never fail.” but rarely put much meditation on the sentiment. No sooner does a man fail us than we seek another man to put our trust in. We default here and must strive against it.

Despair or worry are indicators that our trust has been misplaced. If after some man or group of men are sidelined in whom we had pinned our hopes for accomplishing something that would do us well, either personally, nationally or otherwise, we despair and resort to fretting, our trust has been misplaced. Fretting is wholly incompatible with trusting in the Lord and betrays where we had truly sought refuge. Not even a fiery furnace was enough to make Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego fret, but they boldly proclaimed, “…our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, O king.” (Daniel 3:17) Note that they did not cry out for some princely deliverer or even entertain the thought of some son of man coming to the rescue. They knew that God alone could deliver them by any means He so chose. If a mere man had been used to dissuade the king from his sentence or to pull them from the furnace, no doubt they would have attributed his every strength to God alone. Or did any man ever give himself strength or account for his own wisdom? Yet we give credence to such foolishness without any thought.

While this immediate text is dealing with men in particular, God’s word makes clear that anything temporal or created is a vain hope.

No king is saved by the multitude of an army;
A mighty man is not delivered by great strength.
A horse is a vain hope for safety;
Neither shall it deliver any by its great strength.”
(Psalm 33:16-17)

Whether armies for kings, strength for mighty men or princes for you, it is all a vain hope. Deliverance is always and only from the Lord, for:

Behold, the eye of the Lord is on those who fear Him,
On those who hope in His mercy,
To deliver their soul from death,
And to keep them alive in famine.”
(Psalm 33:18-19)

We hope in His mercy, which is to say we hope only in the Lord Himself from whom all mercy flows. He may indeed use an army or a horse. He may indeed give strength to men, but the means He uses are incidental. It is He Himself who provides and in whom we hope. He can just as easily give strength to Samson as He can cause an angel so slay one hundred and eighty-five thousand in a night (2 Kings 19:35). But neither strength nor angels are dispatched apart from Him. Don’t be surprised if after you have put your trust in princes or men that God does not let them fail you to reveal this vanity to you. It is in fact His mercy to do this for you.

Would you care to be happy? Then hope only in the Lord for your help:

Happy is he who has the God of Jacob for his help,
Whose hope is in the Lord his God”
(Psalm 146:5)

And why?

“[He] made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, [He] keeps truth forever, [He] executes justice for the oppressed, [He] gives food to the hungry. The Lord gives freedom to the prisoners.” (Psalm 146:6-7)

He made the universe and all that is in it. All wisdom is His. All knowledge and strength are His. And would we look to and hope in the creature over and above the Creator? This is to join ranks with wickedness. Even animals appear to know better. There is no wisdom or strength or deliverance apart from God. Every man is dependent upon God for his next breath and his next heartbeat. The sooner we recognize and accept this, the sooner we spare ourselves from unnecessary disappointments and become those who are “happy” as the psalmist says.

So, as you watch chaos emerge, beware of placing hope or trust in any man beyond measure, knowing that there is truly no help in any man for anything. Honor the Lord and recognize Him as your only Hope and the Sovereign Ruler of His footstool we call Earth. Remember that you too are a mere man (or woman) lest you be tempted to hope in or trust in yourself for anything either.

Our God is the God of salvation;
And to GOD the Lord belong escapes from death.”
(Psalm 68:20)

Do not trust in men