Read Psalm 20
For the director of music. A psalm of David.
1 May the Lord answer you when you are in distress;
may the name of the God of Jacob protect you.
2 May he send you help from the sanctuary
and grant you support from Zion.
3 May he remember all your sacrifices
and accept your burnt offerings.
4 May he give you the desire of your heart
and make all your plans succeed.
5 May we shout for joy over your victory
and lift up our banners in the name of our God.
May the Lord grant all your requests.
6 Now this I know:
The Lord gives victory to his anointed.
He answers him from his heavenly sanctuary
with the victorious power of his right hand.
7 Some trust in chariots and some in horses,
but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.
8 They are brought to their knees and fall,
but we rise up and stand firm.
9 Lord, give victory to the king!
Answer us when we call!
Go Deeper
In Psalm 20, we read of preparation for war. David is about to go defend the Lord’s city and people; but before he takes off, people pray for him. A multitude cheers for the Lord to intervene on David’s behalf and to protect him. Sometimes it is tough to read of this camaraderie while we feel alone. We feel like we are preparing for battles we are too weak to fight. While they look different than the one David was preparing for, we prepare for battles and fight them every day. We fight them in our minds. We encounter them in our jobs. We face them in our relationships. In all of the battles we face, we are in constant combat against an enemy trying to rip us away from community and distract us from God.
Often when we are in this place, in front of an enemy or in a situation where the battle seems too big, we trust in the wrong things. We seek distractions. We turn to anything but the solution. What we often forget is this: We are actually not alone. We are surrounded by an omnipresent God of omnipotent power. The people in Psalm 20 realize this. They choose to not trust in the chariots or horses guaranteed to collapse and fall. Instead, they choose to trust the Lord, pray for their friend, and stand upright in confidence of deliverance. David reflects on his Savior in verses 6-8. The Lord saves His anointed. He hears us and answers us. His right hand is full of saving might.
Think about what an inspiring moment that must have been as all of the people were praying for David. They were interceding on his behalf, begging God to protect David. This shows us just how powerful it is to have people praying on our behalf and how necessary those people are in our lives. God did not make mankind to be alone. He uses His people to refine, support, pray for, and encourage His people. Isolation for the Christian is dangerous, so don’t try to go into battle by yourself. If you feel as though you are fighting battles on your own, today is a great day to open up to trusted friends and seek community.
Questions
- Who can you encourage today as they prepare for their battles?
- Who can you invite to pray alongside you in your battles?
- How are you preparing for war today?
Did You Know?
While it’s impossible to know exactly when David wrote this psalm, some scholars believe it was before the battle with the Syrians in 2 Samuel 10.
One response to “Psalm 20”
“Now this I know:
The Lord gives victory to his anointed.
He answers him from his heavenly sanctuary
with the victorious power of his right hand” (v6).
May we turn first and foremost to the Lord in prayer and seek his will and ways as we run this race set before us. What a privilege to carry everything to the Lord in prayer, trust his heart. and feel his presence sustaining us. The battle belongs to the Lord.