Psalm 20: Battle Hymn for God’s People

May the Lord answer you in the day of trouble! 
May the name of the God of Jacob protect you! 
2    May he send you help from the sanctuary 
and give you support from Zion! 
3    May he remember all your offerings 
and regard with favor your burnt sacrifices! Selah
4    May he grant you your heart’s desire 
and fulfill all your plans! 
5    May we shout for joy over your salvation, 
and in the name of our God set up our banners! 
       May the Lord fulfill all your petitions! 
6    Now I know that the Lord saves his anointed; 
he will answer him from his holy heaven 
with the saving might 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 collapse and fall, 
but we rise and stand upright. 
9    O Lord, save the king! 
May he answer us when we call. 
 
Meditation
Valor for God’s people comes from victorious trust in God’s faithfulness. Christians follow Jesus into battle, trusting Him to establish His kingdom. Jesus teaches disciples that the gates of Hell will not prevail against the advancement of the Church (Matthew 16:18). 
 
The army of God blesses God’s anointed king before he leads them onto the battlefield (1-5). The word “Answer” frames (1, 9) and centers (6) the psalm. The army asks the Lord to answer prayers for help and support to prosper the king’s battle plans. “You” is the Lord’s anointed (6) and “trust” of the prayer is joyfully in the Lord and His salvation.
 
The king assures the army by sharing concrete confidence in the Lord to answer their prayers to save His people and prosper plans (6). The army of the Lord responds with specificity of where their trust lies: “Some trust in chariots and some in horses. But we trust in the name of the Lord” (7). Trust in God ends with rising after battle (8), sure hope in God to bless His anointed king and answer prayers (9).
 
The Lord’s anointed king is ultimately Jesus Christ and His victory turns this song of trust into sure promises. Jesus led us into battle by dying for our sin, to win a people for Himself. Victorious through grace alone, Christians are called to follow the Lord’s anointed into battle by imitating Jesus, walking in love as He loved us and gave Himself for us (Ephesians 5:1-2).
 
Richly Dwelling
-What stands out to you from today’s reading, specifically the trust in the Lord to “answer” prayers?
 
-Why is it significant that the Lord’s anointed leads God’s people into battle and how is your trust in the Lord fueled by Christ’s accomplished victory?
 
-Where do you need to follow Christ into battle, living in loss for others to gain a saving knowledge of Jesus? Where can you give yourself away for the goal of advancing the church, trusting the gates of hell will not prevail? Be specific.
 
Key Verse
7    Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.