All For One and One For All - Psalm 20:1-9

Psalm 20:1-9 All for one and one for All INTRO Today, in our consideration of Psalm 20, we are concluding our 2nd..10 chapter stent through the book of Psalms. Not sure when we will return for another 10 week series and pick up in chapter 21….which is a Psalm of thanksgiving in response to the Psalm of prayer,…which Psalm 20 is….where we are at today. Once again…another example of the careful arrangement of these collections of poems and songs. Not sure when we will return to the Psalms….But we Trust the Lord that He will it make known to us in His time. But it’s been a great series that I believe and have heard affirmed to be a helpful time invested in for our church. So here we are…Psalm 20. The title of today’s message is Unus pro omnibus, omnes pro uno…anyone? This is a Latin phrase that means One for all, all for one. Most readily recognized and made famous by Alexandre Dumas in the 1844 novel The Three Musketeers....who phrased it with their swords raised above them joined closely together… “All for One and One for All”. Reverse order from the latin phrase…but same meaning. “All for one and one for All” - This motto of theirs, the Three Musketeers, encompassed in a few short words that All the members of a group support each of the individual members, and the individual members pledge to support the group. I chose this as the title of today’s message from Psalm 20 because of how it… like so many of David’s Psalms written….I keep seeing it over and over again ….they have this beautiful blend of David speaking either specifically of himself in relation to God and life that’s happening….that we can relate to and be helped by….but then also that which pertains to the covenant people of God….sometimes…it’s within the same very Psalm which is super cool, as I believe to be in today’s case with Psalm 20, we get this “All for One and One for All” emphasis on the covenant people of God whom David was a part of. And though I don’t believe it was the intent of the Three Musketeers author to steal this motto from God…it is nevertheless…God’s intention for His covenant people from the beginning. Consider just a small sampling of the large portions of scripture that solidifies this as being God’s intent for His covenant people. Starting with how God addressed His people prior to….and then,… often at the end of Him telling them how they are to live distinct from the rest of the people on the face of the earth. He often book ends it with this. (Deuteronomy 14:2) “For you are a people holy to the LORD your God, and the LORD has chosen you to be a people for his treasured possession, out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth.” Peter refers back to this in his exhortation to the church living distinctly christians lives…he says… (1 Peter 2:12) “But you (plural) are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people (individual members that make up a group) a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.” And how was this expressed at the birth of the church in ACTS? (Acts 2:44). “And all who believed were together and had all things in common.” How did the Holy Spirit through his servant Paul describe this working and to what end?…which is critical….to what end? (Ephesians 4:15-16). “…..speaking the truth in love, we (every individual member) we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body (made up of each individual member of the church… you and me) from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly (my part your part), makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.” “All for One and One for All.” All the members of a group support each of the individual members, and the individual members pledge to support the group. And our group, the Christian church, does so to exalt….CHRIST, and glorify God. Other people groups can and do portray this “All for One and One for All” outlook or motto for life…but under what BANNER? What name or cause is aimed at to give recognition to? There are many,…but the only one worthy to receive ALL recognition and praise is to the One… being Jesus Christ…who gave ALL that a covenant people of God…may be in existence. “To proclaim the excellencies of Him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light” ….This is what sets us apart…… For non christian people groups oftentimes do this quite well…sadly, even better than many Christian groups. The key is, under what BANNER?….for what purpose…..to what end? Because this is what sets it apart from the rest. This is why we exist right? Pillar Bible Fellowship exists to glorify God by knowing Christ more fully and making Christ more fully known. It’s our family business to do so;…and we ought to be all in for one another in going about doing it. ALL Christ’s people (members of His body) are for the one purpose to magnify the name of Jesus Christ and each one of us contribute to this end through building each other up in love. For the whole church…. Both over the ages and here right now as a local body of believers. The interconnection we share in together is supernatural while it works itself out in the practical everyday. So, the complete title of today’s message - “All for One and One for All and All for the GLORY of Christ” And we see this first expressed by us being each other’s…BIGGEST FAN. BODY 1) FIRST POINT - (Psalms 20:1-6). Each others Biggest Fan Our 1st point - Being each other’s Biggest Fan….taken from the bulk of the passage before us this morning in. (verses 1-6) All for one and one for all is expressed by us being each other’s Biggest Fan. With brotherly love in Christ we ought to be one another’s biggest fan for success, not as the world defines it, but success in this life as God sees it….Knowing that - My God is for you, and so,…I am for you. We see this come through with…David praying in essence…”may God (my God) may God do this for you. The first 5 verses plainly state this. The majority of this Psalm is weighted on this emphasis. “All for One and One for All and All for the Glory of Christ” - expressed by us being each other’s Biggest Fan. From David’s heart, we see this sincere desire on behalf of another, in the opening verses of Psalm 20….we see this sincere desire on behalf of another expressed through prayer for protection, provision, prosperity and…the pleasure of God. Let’s begin…(verse 1) (verse 1) “May the Lord answer you in the day of trouble! (A response for help to you from God above as you cry out to him for deliverance; prayer for His provision to do so as He promised He will) prayer for provision May the name of the God of Jacob protect you! (Protection for our enemy and all his works and effects to rob your joy IN THE LORD and bring discouragement and despair to your heart, protection in every respect both physical and spiritual well being, health, safety, protection against poor decision making, for the enemy not to gain a foot hold and bring division and discord in your life)… prayer for protection. (verse 2) May He (God) send you help from the sanctuary and give you support from Zion! (inner strength, courage of heart and strength for your inner man, progress in holiness, favor in your dealings, wisdom and discernment from His Word in navigating life successfully,….abiding hope and peace and increased faith in the sovereignty of God and His faithfulness to every promise made) ….that’s prayer for provision and prosperity - May He send you help from the sanctuary and give you support from Zion! (verse 3). May He remember all your offerings and regard with favor your burnt sacrifices! (Your loving kindness shown, the generosity in time, talents, possessions and presence, your presence with others you gladly offered…out of love for Him which overflows towards others…that He would be glorified in you doing so. On your behalf - May He (God) remember all of that and regard it with favor. In other words, may God reward your Faithfulness. i.e. may you know the pleasure of the Lord and all it’s benefits)….Know that God is pleased with you. Prayer for the pleasure of God. Selah And here we get a Selah which calls for a break or an accentuation in the singing of the Psalm….perhaps initiated for the intent to gather our thoughts collectively and consider these forever truths with wonder and awe. A technical musical term placed at various locations in the Psalms for such purpose. So, along with me…take a breath in, set your mind on God and think on what we have already considered and what awaits from this glorious passage before us. We continue now….and I so love what comes next because of what is carried along with it. (verse 4) May He grant your heart’s desire and fulfill all your plans! (Like..I am SO FOR YOU!!! I am your biggest fan who delights to see God bless you! There is no greater joy.. (1 Thessalonians 2:19-20) For what is our hope or joy or crown of boasting before our Lord Jesus at his coming? Is it not you? For you are our glory and joy. (3 John 1:4) “I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth..” Now that’s Parent to child….Pastor to church member….christian to christian. And walking in the Truth implies that you “delight yourself in the Lord” (Psalm 37) and His Word whereby He places His desires for you into your heart that they also become your desires and I am asking God to grant and fulfill everyone of them!) (verse 5) May we shout for joy over your salvation, and in the name of our God set up our banners! (I am so stoked in what God is doing in our life… I’m going to come down and put my arm around you and rejoice with you in our God’s work in you which, hopefully….you’ll be doing right back to me…for the same reason… and for us to do so in a manner that clearly directs glory to God for it….Our Banner. That it would be boldly clear to ALL. These people who are “All for One and One for All” are such for the sake of the name of Christ. continuing on in (verse 5) May the Lord fulfill all your petitions! (Respectful and humble requests to God on your behalf….May everyone of the ways I have joined with you in prayer on your behalf come to pass. May it be so! (verse 6) Now I know (I KNOW) that the Lord saves his anointed; he will answer him from His holy heaven with the saving might of His right hand. (“I KNOW” Why is DAVID so confident in this?…….Because he has experienced life with the covenant people of God. I have seen God working His saving might in your life, in my life, in our lives. He has demonstrated His faithfulness over and over before and He will do so again). This has been my experience. NOW CHURCH. I’m inclined to press a matter on this topic…FOR Up to this point I believe you would agree with me that this all sounds good…that this is right. AMEN? “All for one and one for all expressed in being each other’s biggest fan”. That we are sincerely for one another’s success in living this life by faith to the glory of Christ. This is right and true and sounds really good…..But what is it that makes it real? Where the christian knows as David does here. Knows it by experiencing such life with the covenant people of God. WHAT moves this beyond ideologies…good and right ideologies…sincere desires on behalf of another…..but what moves it from there into experience whereby it is real to us? Let me ask it this way. FOR each individual member to enter into the group and participate where this is authentic life experience…..for the door to be opened into that space that we want to be in…for that door to open, what does it hinge upon? —- TRUST A confidence; a reliance or ‘note this’ a resting of the mind on the integrity, veracity, justice, friendship or other sound principle of another person. To commit to the care of,…in confidence. To be won to confidence. Confidence in each other for the mutual care of. To trust in, to confide in; to place confidence in; to rely on. These are all samplings from Webster’s 1828 dictionary definitions of TRUST. Trust is Paramount Our 2nd point in (verses 7-8) 2) SECOND POINT (Psalm 20:7-8) - Trust is Paramount Trust is Paramount. All for one and one for all and all for the glory of Christ hinges upon Trust It is crucial for this to be present. Ultimately for us as a people group to have our Trust firmly placed in God who is our Banner as (verses 7-8) signify, but also…feeling the momentum of the bulk of this Psalm from our first point…trust in one another. So let’s start there. There is such a thing as an assigned trust. An example would be my boss last year retired and his replacement was put in the position to lead the team. His replacement was interviewed and assigned, you could say, a trust among the group they are now a part of. The group acts on that trust but it isn’t until later where that assigned trust moves or is able to move to the higher virtue and effectiveness of an earned TRUST. Allow me to sink this in a bit further with another example that relates a bit closer to what we are talking about. …Craig and Karen went through a rigorous process to be cleared as trustworthy foster and adoptive parents. Phiona came into their lives under that assigned trust. There was a trust present..but it was assigned..it wasn’t that which brought about Phiona truly being able to be herself. That took time…quality time…that took care and nurturing by Craig and Karen to build that trust where she feels safe and free….to be herself. It’s this type of trust that hinges to what degree we experience the christian life among the covenant people of God. It’s the trust that produces vulnerability,… it produces affect…it has impact, lasting impact…it’s where building one another up in love for the sake of Christ as a covenant people of God takes shape at deep levels….is experienced authentically. Earning each other’s trust by which it is safe to allow each other to truly know each other. Not know a lot about each other;…but know each other. There is a difference…a stark difference. Know one another in a manner that penetrates deep and is willing to take risk in doing so because it’s worth it and anything else otherwise is….dull and lifeless….and because so, strangely, relationships that lack this perpetually….are actually exhausting to upkeep. Earning one another’s trust is where it becomes real to us…life and flourishing exist there and therefore, such trust, ought to be highly valued. That’s why it’s heart wrenching when trust of this nature, though taken a long time to gain, is lost, broken or worse yet….betrayed in a moment. How devastating is that when it happens. In a moment, pulverized and brought right back to ground zero.…or even lower for sometimes the pain of betrayed trust is excruciating with deep lasting scars….but, listen church, but is not beyond the reach of the gospel to heal, though scars may remain.…they are ones bound up and healed and tell the story of how Jesus offers bountiful forgiveness and reconciliation to be had at the foot of the cross. So Let’s talk about this a touch more because this is the sort of trust we want to have, keep and steadily grow in…right? Sure we do,…for it is the type of trust that matters. How do we do this practically then? How do we earn each other’s trust by which it is safe to allow each other to truly know each other? Some chief means to do so I believe? #1…TIME. Time with one another…over time that is done so in quality time. That’s key! Quality time… Whether that be meaningful conversations both in the study of God’s Word but also life, ….especially in how God’s Word by the Holy Spirit is working in your life whether that is shared with tears of joy or tears of heart ache…either way that’s the meat and potatoes…AMEN? As well as, shared experiences, partnering up on a project, serving one another….all simple yet profound ways trust is being forged. I would even add, showing someone that you trust them contributes to building trust in the relationship. And yes I know…with that comes some inherent risk no doubt. It does, but it is a risk worth taking. And this is all done in FAITHFULNESS. These are some means to earn each other’s trust over time whereby we deepen in relying upon one another for support. Where we feel safe to be ourselves. WHO, as a unified people… “All for One and One for All and All for the glory of Christ” are One’s whose TRUST… Capital… T.R.U.S.T - TRUST …you could say,,… is placed in God both individually and as a group. You see how those are both distinct yet joined? A mutual Trust placed in God that is rock solid GRANITE because of who it is placed in. As sojourners here on earth, WE are surrounded by people groups and world systems who place their trust in what the world would uphold as powerful and mighty. Forces to be reckoned with. Whether it be Economic Power, Military Might, or the strength of a great Army by it’s shear number of soldiers. ALL are boasted in, and for notable reason, boasted in as that which a person, a people, a nation can put their trust in. This is what the world identifies as ultimate power. He with the biggest guns, the largest army, the greatest wealth is He who rules…but not the people of God. OUR BOAST is in the creator God who made heaven and earth. (Verse 7) states this contrast plainly - “Some (those whose portion is in this life) some trust in chariots and some in horses, be we trust in the name of the Lord our God.” Now get this. Watch how… (verse 8) reveals, one of the Oh so familiar paradoxes of the christian life. “They collapse and fall, but we will rise and stand upright.” Notice the starting position. “They (whose portion is in this life) They collapse and fall…”..…collapse and fall from where? Where they highly exalted themselves by their trust placed in worldly strengths. (Wealth, Objects of Warfare, Army size). High minded with confidence in these things that will ultimately….fail them…they will collapse and fall. They are false saviors. Read some history books. It’s a repeating story. An empire rises…and doesn’t last. No nation in existence now will overcome that cycle. History repeats itself. A day will come when America is a foot note in the history books…this is sad but it is true. The only nation that will be everlasting is the One CHRIST is building. (1 Peter 2:12) “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a….holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.” And it is in him we are to constantly place our trust in both individually and corporately as a people group…as a church. WHO, now watch our starting position…. (verse 8) again. “They collapse and fall, but….we (God’s holy nation) will rise and stand upright.” Rise and stand. Doesn’t this imply our prior position is not high and lifted up. Yeah…..Hence the christian life. The way up is down. To truly live is to die to self. “The greatest in the Kingdom of God is the servant of all….they are to become like a child.” JESUS says. (Mark 9:35, 18:1-4). Perhaps you are hearing Paul’s words to the church in Corinth. (2 Corinthians 4:7-11) “But we have this treasure in jars of clay (jars of clay you can break pretty easily…that’s you and me) …we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that ….so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies. For we who live are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh.” This is the christian life. Though beaten down by the world, satan and sin, we, the covenant people of God, can place our trust and hope in the living God that we will rise and stand upright. Sometimes in this life…4 sure He will do so for the glory of Christ,…those times will come…after walking with you in a dark valley season He will lift you up to the mountain tops….but ultimately… ultimately at the end of the age when our….. “……Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up … rise up…together with them (all God’s covenant people throughout the ages, caught up together as one people…everyone one of us, complete, no one is left out…all together) in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord.” This promise of God’s in (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17).….is true and trustworthy. By FATIH in Jesus, Keep your trust placed firmly in Him who is our Banner. All for one and one for all and all for the glory of Christ hinges upon Trust TRUST is paramount..it is crucial for this to be present. This brings us to our closing verse in this Psalm (verse 9). Let’s go ahead and read it. “O’Lord, save the king! May he answer us when we call.” The literal reading in the Hebrew reads like this “Save, Lord! Let the King hear us when we call.” Which has a different read. And this stumped me. I mulled over this for some time asking the Lord, what is David conveying here in closing? David wrote this Psalm. He whose heart is after God’s own heart who expresses this beautiful prayer in Psalm 20 emphasizing “All for One and One for All” for God’s covenant people whom He is a member of. Why does he close it like this? Let’s consider this man of God, this king, this shepherd of the people Israel. The one whom God chose and commanded saying David….. (1 Chronicles 11:2). “‘You shall be shepherd of my people Israel, and you shall be prince over my people Israel.'” King David was a man of the people. The people loved him and he them. Do you recall how David, while chosen by God to be king over His people but not yet anointed and taking the throne as King,….which was held by Saul at that time. Do you recall what was happening in David’s life while he was fleeing king Saul, whom God rejected? There was gathering around David…an increasing amount of….people. Loyal followers of David who would give their life for him and he for theirs. What would you say David was earning from them? Their TRUST. He earned their trust. TRUST of this magnitude is rightly to be VALUED and STRIVED to uphold for what it is. As their leader,…with this earned trust of the people it brought along with it, as it should, it brought along with it a great burden for the people. And I believe, mindful of this, DAVID recognized, with dependency on God, he recognized the great need for strong leadership….and God’s help for it. Our Third and closing point. 3) THIRD POINT (Psalm 20:9) - The need of for strong leadership The need for strong leadership. All for one and one for all needs strong leadership So, though the reads of (verse 9) have differences about them…. “O’Lord, save the king! May he answer us when we call.” or…. “Save, Lord! Let the King hear us when we call.” What is communicating through both is a cry for help to God for the King to lead the people who are looking to him to do so. As this took shape in my mind a line from one of my all time favorite movies came to mind. BRAVE HEART. It’s the scene where the tyrannical King Edward the 1st, the king of England, where he receives word about steadily growing volunteer forces behind this Scottish rebellion lead by the warrior William Wallace that is threatening his heavy hand over Scotland. When suggestions come to King Edward in expressed concern over these growing number of volunteers…gladly following this trusted leader of the rebellion, King Edward interrupts him by yelling “Sheep, mere sheep….easily dispersed if we strike the shepherd.” And so it is. We see this depicted in the pages of scripture on the accounts of fallen kings and also throughout history. Strike the shepherd and the sheep scatter. Take out the leaders…the rest is light work. Our enemy knows this tactic all to well and he is not soft in going about his attempts to strike hard to that affect. So what are we as a people who are “All for One and One for All and All for the glory of Christ” what are we to do that we may have strong leadership? WELL, without question, God’s Word instructs us to pray for one another. Each of us praying on behalf of one another. The bulk of this Psalm signifies that as an example to us as the covenant people of God. We are to (James 5:16) “…pray for one another…”. And this is probably best summarized all inclusively by Paul in His letter to Timothy in (1 Timothy 2:1-4) where he says….“First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for…all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.” K, then… very straight forward….clear, concise and complete. But listen to how the author or Hebrews concludes on his instruction about leaders and those under their care. (Hebrews 13:17-19). “Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you. (Now here it is…..You could say..in light of all this..just spoken). (verse 18) …Pray for us,…..for we are sure that we have a clear conscience, desiring to act honorably in all things. I urge you the more earnestly to do this in order that I may be restored to you the sooner.” Pray for us. When I read that it carries with it a great weight because of the fact that the church can easily be disbursed if the shepherd is taken out. “Strike the shepherd..the sheep scatter.” CONCLUSION And so, as supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings are made for…all people,…as it should…please,… please, with the same urgency that comes through (verse 18) of Hebrews 13….pray for your leaders…that we as a people,..who together are “All for One and One for All” may have lasting strong unified leadership for the good of All and All for the glory of Christ. - PRAY COMMUNION Is their any greater leader in all the world than Christ? Our Lord Jesus - “the great shepherd of the sheep….who laid down his life for His sheep.” (Hebrews 13:20. John 10:11,15). Who….“….himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.” For the invitation to come to the Lord’s table this morning that commemorates the sacrifice of our Shepherd King Jesus whereby we, through faith in Him, are brought into this eternal covenant as God’s holy nation to be a people “All for One and One for All and All for the glory of Christ”. I’m going to read from (Hebrews 2)…(verses 5-18). BENEDICTION 2Co 4:12 So death is at work in us, but life in you.?? Hebrews 13:20-21?