Psalm 20 To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David.
It was a ritual for the priests to bless the army of Israel when going out to war and to do battle. This Psalm is a prayer for victory, an advanced declaration of victory and deliverance, and a confession of trust in the power of the name of the LORD for divine protection.
Verses 1-3 The LORD hear thee in the day of trouble; the name of the God of Jacob defend thee; 2 Send thee help from the sanctuary, and strengthen thee out of Zion; 3 Remember all thy offerings, and accept thy burnt sacrifice; Selah.
King David begins this psalm by a prayer for help in a time of trouble in which he asks for the LORD or existing One to defend both him as king and his army. Since the sanctuary with its priests was a place to meet and commune with God Almighty, David asks for help to come forth from the sanctuary of God which was located in Zion or Jerusalem. He asks for the LORD to remember all the offerings and burnt sacrifices given there by the people of Israel in accordance with the statutes and ordinances given to the Prophet Moses.
Application: Notice that King David does not use the name of God in this Psalm. Why? Because the name of God was not given to mankind until the birth of Jesus. All the Old Testament names used for ‘God’ were descriptors revealing the character of God. “And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son; and shalt call his name JESUS.” Luke 1:31 “And when eight days were accomplished for the circumcising of the child; his name was called JESUS, which was so named of the angel before he was conceived in the womb.” Luke 2:21. The name, JESUS, means saviour, and this name has always been since before the foundation of the Earth. It was not revealed until God as Father and as Spirit inhabited a body of flesh for a short time and walked among His creation for the purpose of providing salvation from sin, death, and Hell for all who will accept His lordship and free gift. Jesus was/is the promised Messiah (Christ) and was/is fully man and fully God. “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved” Acts 4:12 Notice that this verse states “given among men” and not ‘given to men’. There was and is only one JESUS.
Verse 4 Grant thee according to thine own heart, and fulfil all thy counsel.
Although King David is seeking help from the LORD and wants to be victorious, he also wants to be in the will of God and so asks that God grant according to His purpose and according to His will.
Application: King David had learned over the years that God would always answer his prayers and always help him, but that he needed to yield to the will of God. He could not just do things his way if he wanted to be victorious in battle, in politics and in life. Over and over David would ask God if he should engage the enemy as can be found recorded in the Old Testament books of Kings and Chronicles. He had learned not to assume anything, but to take everything in prayer to the LORD and wait for an answer before taking action. This is a lesson all converted, Christian believers need to learn. David walked spiritually with the LORD and Christians need to do the same if they wish to win the battles in this life and be victorious.
Verse 5 We will rejoice in thy salvation, and in the name of our God we will set up our banners: the LORD fulfil all thy petitions.
King David declares that before winning the battle there will be rejoicing and they will lift banners up high and declare victory as they had faith in the LORD and in His deliverance against the enemy.
Application: Most believers pray and ask the LORD for help, but do they claim the victory prior to receiving the answer to their prayer? Praising God and expecting victory over the trials and tribulations of this world exercises and grows faith and terrifies the devils. The story is told of a little boy from a small country church in rural Texas where there was a severe drought. The congregation decided to meet one afternoon for prayer to ask the LORD for rain. All the adults came ready to pray, but the little boy came dressed in galoshes and a raincoat and was carrying a small umbrella. The pastor asked the little boy why he was so dressed. He answered simply that he didn’t want to get wet when the LORD sent the rain he was going to ask for. He was celebrating victory before seeing or experiencing it. Needless to say, the LORD honored that little boy and rain came to the parched land.
Verses 6-7 Now know I that the LORD saveth his anointed; he will hear him from his holy heaven with the saving strength of his right hand. 7 Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the LORD our God.
Kind David states that he knows the LORD saves or delivers his anointed or chosen people. The right hand in Scripture is metaphor for power and authority. The unsaved trust in things other than the LORD. In David’s day, it was chariots and horses that were some of the weapons of mass destruction. Today nations depend on bombs and technology to win battles. Regardless, it is the LORD who directs all battles and man’s arsenals of weaponry cannot win against the divine and supernatural power of the LORD Jesus Christ.
Application: Many personal testimonies of military men and women are recorded in which they report being under attack and yet the bullets and grenades went around them and they escaped the battle unscathed when they should have been killed. The battle of Dunkirk had many instances of soldiers lying on the beach with no where to escape and the sand all around their bodies was peppered with bullets and they were never touched. God will deliver His people regardless of the circumstances.
Verses 8-9 They are brought down and fallen: but we are risen, and stand upright. 9 Save, LORD: let the king hear us when we call. (Psalm 20)
The enemy will be defeated, but the righteous will remain upright. King David ends this psalm with one final cry to the LORD for deliverance from his enemies.
A final thought is presented by this writer and is not necessarily from the LORD but from personal experience walking with Him. In today’s volatile climate people are feeling threatened by their own governments, by their local police force, and by other nations. Guns and ammo are stored and some people are moving to off grid communes to wait for ‘the big one’ or for the world to collapse as we know it. The threat of economic collapse is reported daily in both the corrupt mainstream news and the alternative news. The Christian should have peace and joy in the midst of this chaos. Just as the LORD brought the Hebrew children out of oppressive Egypt, He will bring His anointed or chosen believers through everything that Satan is trying to do and we will be victorious. So rejoice and relax. Jesus Christ is in charge. We have victory in Him.