Psalm 20

SLIDE 1 Turn to Psalm 20. I took a detour from the psalms for a while and will now pick up where we left off.

Psalm 20 is connected to Psalm 21. Both were written by David. It’s believed that Psalm 20 became a prayer for a king preparing for battle while Psalm 21 is a prayer of thanks following the battle. Some have come to use Psalm 20 as a prayer for church leaders, but when you look at the psalm it’s easy to see how it applies to every Christian.

While this psalm discusses concepts about God that we are already familiar with, they are things about which we need to be regularly reminded because we often find ourselves in situations where it will help us to have these principles in our minds.

The psalm begins with requests for God to make on behalf of the king and ends with the response of the people. In verse first three verses David pairs two requests of God.

SLIDE 2 In verse 1 David asks God to answer and protect.

1 May the Lord answer you when you are in distress; may the name of the God of Jacob protect you. (Psalm 20:1)

The first request is for God to answer our request when we are in distress or in your day of trouble. “Distress” is a broad term that could refer to any kind of affliction, tribulation, or trouble. It can also refer to being concerned, worried, or upset. We could be in distress after receiving bad news or when recalling a bad memory.

If you have a problem, who is the first person you reach out to for help? The answer is it depends on what the problem is. If I’m at home by myself and I can’t find something I call Mary Anne. Although, a few weeks ago I was having some issues with the air conditioning. Mary Anne would not have been able to help, so I texted Jim Hamilton. He has the phone number for the guy who installed the heat pump. This morning when I was having problems with the computer, I texted Michael. Who we call, depends on the problem we’re having. However, whatever situation we’re facing our first response should be to call out to God. When we’re in distress we should call out to God. The promise we have from scripture is that God will hear and answer our prayers.

We look to God to respond to our cries. We ask for relief; we ask for him to quiet the raging storm. And God answers that call. He calms our spirits; he quiets our fears. He brings us back to a state of peace. God sends help when we’re in distress. If you’ve ever been in a situation where you’ve experienced God doing this for you then you understand the great benefit God’s relief is.

The next word we see in verse 1 is “protect.” Notice what David asks to protect us. He says:

May the name of the God of Jacob protect you.

How does a name protect me?

Think about how we often end our prayers. We’ll say, “In Jesus’ name, amen.” Why do we do that? We do it because Jesus told us to pray in his name. Jesus said: SLIDE 3

13 And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it. (John 14:13-14)

SLIDE 4 Praying or doing things in the name of Jesus signifies all that he is and all that he’s about. God’s name encompasses all that God is. So, when David prays, “may the name of God protect you,” he’s asking for all that God is to protect you. In other words, “May the all-powerful, all knowing, all loving, and all wise God, watch over you and protect you.” If we are going to have protection then who better than the one who sees all, knows all and can do all?

There are two ways God protects us. The first is through prevention. God can stop something from happening to us.

My favorite story that illustrates this is the man who excitedly arrived at work one day describing to everyone in the office how God had protected him that day. “I was almost in a wreck, and God saved me.” To which another man replied, “God saved me today too.” “Oh,” said the first man, “were you almost in an accident this morning.” “No,” the man replied. God protected the first man who was almost in an accident and God protected the second guy from even almost being in an accident. The reality is that we don’t know all of what God prevents from happening in our lives.

Second, God protects not by preventing, but seeing us through. Sometimes God prevents the storm, sometimes he calms the storm, but more often he calms us through the storm. God gives us peace when everyone else is falling apart and he’ll give us wisdom and discernment that keep us from making bad decisions. And whatever we face we always have the promise from Romans 8:28 that in the end everything will work out for good.

SLIDE 5 In verse 2 David asks God to help and support.

2 May he send you help from the sanctuary and grant you support from Zion. (Psalm 20:2)

The focus words we have in this verse are “help” and “support.” However, it’s not just any help and support, it is help from the sanctuary and support from Zion. What does that mean? The sanctuary refers to the temple in Jerusalem. Zion is another name for the hill upon which the temple was built. In the Old Testament the place of worship was the tabernacle and then the temple. In them was the Most Holy Place and in the Most Holy Place was the Ark of the Covenant. These symbolized God’s presence among his people. God lives in heaven, but his dwelling place on the earth was the temple. So, the people went to the temple to worship God. That’s where you went to seek his forgiveness and mercy. Therefore, David is asking for help and support that come from Zion or from God.

Today, we approach God not at a temple, but through Jesus. Through Jesus we seek mercy, help and support. And even though we come to a building to worship God, we can also worship God at home or work and seek his help there as well. No matter where we are we can seek God and find help and support. We don’t have to go to a specific place to find help.

That’s not to say that meeting together in this place is unimportant. Although we can connect with God anywhere and at any time, meeting together and coming before God is important too. Together we receive help and support from each other. God can speak and minister to us from anywhere but there's something to be said about how God works when his people are in corporate worship together.

Psalm 73 is by Asaph. Asaph was appointed by David to direct music at the temple. In that psalm Asaph describes the trouble he was having understanding the prosperity of the wicked. I think we can understand. Why do those who don’t serve God seem to be living happy, carefree lives? Asaph says he began to wonder if serving God was worth it. Considering the difficult times, he was experiencing and how easy those who ignored God seemed to have it, was it worth his effort to keep God’s commands? But then he says he went to the sanctuary of God and began to understand. SLIDE 6

16 When I tried to understand all this, it troubled me deeply 17 till I entered the sanctuary of God; then I understood their final destiny. (Psalm 73:16-17)

Asaph began to realize that it didn’t matter that the wicked had some material prosperity now if in the end they would perish without hope. Asaph went on to say: SLIDE 7

21 When my heart was grieved and my spirit embittered, 22 I was senseless and ignorant; I was a brute beast before you. 23 Yet I am always with you; you hold me by my right hand. SLIDE 8 24 You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will take me into glory. 25 Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you. SLIDE 9 26 My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. (Psalm 73:21-26)

SLIDE 9 When Asaph sought God about this situation, he was made aware of how bitter and senseless he had become over it. He also realized how unbecoming his behavior was before God. He comes to the conclusion that he could have everything in the world and it wouldn’t matter if he didn’t have God.

But when did he come to these realizations? It was not until he went to the sanctuary to be with God with the people of God. How many things have been revealed to you as you met with other believers?

SLIDE 11 In verse 3 David asks God would remember and accept.

3 May he remember all your sacrifices and accept your burnt offerings. (Psalm 20:3)

The next words to focus on are “remember” and “accept.” David prays that God would remember our sacrifices and accept our burnt offerings. While a burnt offering is a sacrifice, David was probably referring to “thanks offerings” and “sin offerings.” Sin offerings were always burnt offering. If that is the case, then the people were thanking God for what he had blessed them with and making atonement for their sins. Those sacrifices were made on the altar at the temple.

Today there is no temple, though there is no need for any more animal sacrifices since Jesus made the ultimate sin offering. So how do we make sacrifices today? What can we offer to God? One way we give to God today is through tithes and offerings. We sacrifice a portion of what God has blessed us with and give it back to his service. We can show gratitude in other ways too, like through the use of our time, talents and possessions given for God’s glory. Peter wrote about the spiritual sacrifices we make as well. SLIDE 12

You also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. (1 Peter 2:5)

What are spiritual sacrifices? David wrote in Psalm 51: SLIDE 13

My sacrifice, O God, is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart you, God, will not despise. (Psalm 51:17)

In other words, humility and repentance are our sacrifices today. Humility is realizing how much we need God and repentance is understanding how much we’ve wronged God. We sacrifice our will and desires for the sake of committing ourselves to God’s will. The Old Testament talks about the sacrifices of lambs, bulls, and rams. But it also talks about sacrifices of prayer, thanksgiving, and repentance. If you want to give something to God that will make him happy these are good places to start.

The author of Hebrews talks about offering up a sacrifice of praise. SLIDE 14

Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise – the fruit of lips that openly profess his name. (Hebrews 13:15)

When we profess all the wonderful things the Lord has done for us, we are giving a sacrifice of praise. But we don’t just do this when he does something for us; we also offer up a sacrifice of praise when God does things for others too.

Paul talked about his life being poured out as an offering to God. SLIDE 15

But even if I am being poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice and service coming from your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you. (Philippians 2:17)

And Paul wrote to the Romans encouraging them to offer their bodies as living sacrifices to God. SLIDE 16

Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God – this is your true and proper worship. (Romans 12:1)

We can’t truly offer up any other spiritual sacrifice until we first offer ourselves up as a living sacrifice to God. So, we offer our bodies as instruments of holiness and as temples for the Holy Spirit. That means we don’t do things that are contrary to God’s nature or that would violate his commands. For example, Job declared: SLIDE 17

I made a covenant with my eyes not to look lustfully at a young woman. (Job 31:1)

Job was saying that he wouldn’t break God’s commands by looking at things he shouldn’t. We can do the same with our ears and not listen to things that are harmful and with our mouths by not saying things that don’t glorify God. Instead, we fill our minds and hearts with goodness and purity. We have commissioned ourselves as instruments of righteousness. These are our sacrifices to God and they are not easy. There is plenty of temptation to not honor God. There may be times when we get discouraged because we’re sacrificing and doing things for the Lord and it seems like we’re not “getting a good return on our investment”. That’s how Asaph felt. But when we read his story in Psalm 73, we are reminded and encouraged. SLIDE 18

God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them. (Hebrews 6:10)

God remembers all the sacrifices we’ve made for him. Even if the people we do them for don’t acknowledge or appreciate it, we know God does. Our work for God is never in vain.

SLIDE 19 David prayed that God would accept our offerings. Why would God reject them? He’ll reject them if they’re not sincere. What if we sacrifice our money in tithes and offerings but it’s done with the expectation that God will put us on easy street now? What if we give to someone expecting to get something back in return? What if we do things just to get recognized for them? When we do godly things with a worldly motive, we’ll receive a poor reward. But, when our sacrifices and offerings are done with the motive to please God and love others, they will be accepted by God and rewarded by God as he sees fit to do so.

So, may the Lord answer you when you are in distress, protect you, help you, support you and remember all your sacrifices and accept your offerings done in his name and for his glory.

SLIDE 20 And finally, in verses 4 David asks for God’s blessings.

4 May he give you the desire of your heart and make all your plans succeed. (Psalm 20:4)

This request shows confidence. You wouldn’t pray this for someone you thought didn’t have pure desires or plans. Likewise, you shouldn’t expect God to answer this type of prayer unless the person had the righteous character God would be looking for. So, we should expect this prayer to come with a condition. In Psalm 37 David wrote: SLIDE 21

Take delight in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart. (Psalm 37:4)

David assures us that God will grant us our heart’s desires, but only when our desires are being formed by delighting in God. In the Hebrew, to delight ourselves in the Lord means to find joy in him. When God is our source of joy, the desires of our heart will be consistent with what pleases him. Our desires won’t simply be about what makes us happy, they will be in line with what pleases God. When talking about worry over the things we need, Jesus said: SLIDE 22

But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. (Matthew 6:33)

When we seek the things of God above all else and live righteously, God will provide everything we need.

Jesus also said: SLIDE 23

If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer. (Matthew 21:22)

The condition given here is to just believe. If we believe and not doubt, we will receive. However, that doesn’t mean Jesus is saying God will give us everything we ask for. We wouldn’t do that for small children. If a child asked you for a bowl of candy for dinner, would you give it? Besides, if Matthew 21:22 meant anything goes, Jesus would be going against all the other verses that clearly give qualifiers like Psalm 37:4 that talks about first finding delight in God. We have to be careful to not take a verse and run with it without reading it in its context and comparing it with other verses like: SLIDE 24

This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. (1 John 5:14)

Sometimes our desires and plans don’t happen because they’re not in accordance with God’s will. But when that happens it’s a good thing that God doesn’t answer our prayers. SLIDE 25 If our desires and plans are not in line with God’s will then it’s in our best interest for God to not give us what we’re praying for. Therefore, our prayers should include the statement, “if it be your will”. When Jesus was in agony in the Garden of Gethsemane, he prayed for the cup of suffering to be removed from him. Jesus wanted to see if there was any other way mankind could be saved; he was asking for a plan B. But he finished with, “yet not my will, but yours be done”.

Did God give Jesus what he asked for? No. There could be no plan B. God’s will, was for Jesus to die for our sins because he’s the only one who was without sin. He was the only perfect sacrifice. Jesus didn’t like it, the Father didn’t like it, but that’s how it needed to be. We don’t like it when God says, “no,” but when God doesn’t give us the desire of our hearts there’s a good reason and we need to accept it and move on.

The people prayed for the king’s plans to succeed because they knew the king would honor God and bringing glory to God. We should want the same things: to honor God with our successes and bring glory to his name.

Verse 5 is a transition and is a summary of the psalm.

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. (Psalm 20:5)

The people are saying they will be elated when the king is victorious. We need to be happy when others are successful.

SLIDE 26 Lastly, our response is to trust.

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! (Psalm 20:6-9)

Here we find a shift in the dialog. In verses 1-5 the people were speaking and now we have the first-person pronoun, “I.” Then, in verse 8, it shifts back to “we” for the remainder of the psalm.

David knows God gives victory because the Lord had shown him plenty of times before how he saves. God saved him from the mouth of the bear and lion that attacked his sheep. God saved him from the giant Goliath. God saved him from the hand of his predecessor, Saul when he tried to kill him many times. That’s why David could be convinced God would save him now. And when you look at verses 7 and 8 you see that the people are convinced the Lord can be trusted.

In Deuteronomy 17, God instructed the Israelites not to acquire large numbers of horses. There were two reasons for this. First, buying the horses would require them to go back to Egypt since the Egyptians were the largest suppliers of horses at that time. It would force them into an alliance with Egypt, and God didn’t want his people doing that.

Second, God didn’t want them to depend on horses, but on him. If they didn’t have many horses, they couldn’t have many chariots either. They would only have foot soldiers. When facing a large army with both horses and chariots they would be at a great disadvantage. Why would God require that? He did it to show that his army they had something better. SLIDE 27

When you go to war against your enemies and see horses and chariots and an army greater than yours, do not be afraid of them, because the LORD your God, who brought you up out of Egypt, will be with you. (Deuteronomy 20:1)

SLIDE 28 There’s the difference maker. God tells his people not to be afraid because he knows they will be. Who could blame them? They were to trust in their unseen God rather than fear their visible opposition. This would be a big test for the Israelite army. But David would remind them of all the times the Lord had rescued him and gave him the victory despite it looking like sure defeat.

Charles Spurgeon wrote:

The most dreaded war engine of David’s day was the war chariot, armed with scythes, which mowed down men like grass: this was the boast and glory of the neighboring nations; but the saints considered the name of Jehovah to be a far better defense. As the Israelites might not keep horses, it was natural for them to regard the enemy’s cavalry with more than usual dread. It is, therefore, all the greater evidence of faith that the bold songster can here disdain even the horse of Egypt in comparison with the Lord of hosts.

This is a lesson for us. Whatever “great army” we face, no matter what “weapons” our opposition has, we are able to not be afraid and instead trust the Lord. And not only did God tell his people to not be afraid of the army coming against them with horses and chariots, he warned those who trusted in them instead of God. SLIDE 29

Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help, who rely on horses, who trust in the multitude of their chariots and in the great strength of their horsemen, but do not look to the Holy One of Israel, or seek help from the LORD. (Isaiah 31:1)

SLIDE 30 God wants his people to know that although they may be tempted to give in to their fears and trust what the world trusts in, they will be held responsible if they do. They have something that the worldly people didn’t have, they have God. The foreign armies had to rely on horses and chariots because that’s all they had. But the Israelites had something much better – they had God.

This pronouncement is given to us too. Whatever it is we would be tempted to trust in over God, whether it’s money, a person, a plan, if we trust in things and people over God then shame on us.

God answers and protects. He helps and supports. He remembers and accepts. And we trust. Nothing this world produces or has comes anywhere close to the ability God has to save, rescue, provide, or equip. God is the one we trust; he gives us the victory.