I'm saved, but where is my trust?
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I’m continuing through the series, Following Jesus Through the Psalms. Please open your Bibles to Psalm 20. I’ve names this message, “I’m saved, but where is my trust?” Let’s begin by reading through our passage this morning.
For the choir director. A Psalm of David. May the Lord answer you in the day of trouble! May the name of the God of Jacob set you securely on high! May He send you help from the sanctuary And support you from Zion! May He remember all your meal offerings And find your burnt offering acceptable! Selah. May He grant you your heart’s desire And fulfill all your counsel! We will sing for joy over your victory, And in the name of our God we will set up our banners. May the Lord fulfill all your petitions. Now I know that the Lord saves His anointed; He will answer him from His holy heaven With the saving strength of His right hand. Some boast in chariots and some in horses, But we will boast in the name of the Lord, our God. They have bowed down and fallen, But we have risen and stood upright. Save, O Lord; May the King answer us in the day we call.
We see in this Psalm that there is trouble for King David and the nation of Israel. Nobody here is probably facing anything difficult right? Our lives are filled with troubles and hardships. What I want you to think about this morning is answering the question, “Where are you placing your trust?” What are you really trusting in?
Psalm 20 is written about a ceremony or ritual being performed before a battle. We don’t know specifically which battle is taking place but it is unimportant to the message of this Psalm. This is a prayer before a battle, and the following Psalm, 21, is a praise following a battle. So you’ll want to listen in next week to hear that side of it.
The Psalm begins with intercessory prayer from the people for the King, King David, the LORD’s anointed one. We come to understand this by reading verses 1-5 and 7-9 in the first person plural. It’s saying, “we.” Verse 6 is written in the first person singular. It’s a declaration by either King David or maybe the High Priest. The people are praying on behalf of the king for his safety and victory in the coming battle. There is trouble and the people turn to God.
So there is a ceremony going on before going out to battle. King David is following the Jewish law of warfare by first offering sacrifices and seeking the direction of God. It appears that during this ceremony, King David is presently offering the sacrifices and the people are praying on his behalf. King David is the commander of the military, the leader of the nation, and God’s anointed one.
This is a prophetic Psalm, in that it’s not just speaking about salvation for King David and the nation of Israel, but also points to Jesus Christ, the Messiah, who would one day come and fight the ultimate battle. He fought sin, and death, and Satan and was victorious. He fought to provide us with the salvation we so graciously cling to. As we work through this Psalm, you’ll see how we can see the correlation between the LORD providing help then and how He saved through Jesus.
Look with me at verse 1.
May the Lord answer you in the day of trouble! May the name of the God of Jacob set you securely on high!
There is an emphasis in this Psalm on the name of the Lord. People often think we are all talking about the same God, and we trust in the same being. Not true. This is referring to Yahweh, God’s personal name in His covenant with Israel. The God of Jacob, Yahweh, is the God of their ancestors and the founder of the nation. This is who they are praying to in their day of trouble.
The LORD’s name is often referred to. Psalm 44:5 says,
Through You we will push back our adversaries; Through Your name we will trample down those who rise up against us.
It’s through God, through His name that victory comes. King David knew this because he used the LORD’s name against Goliath in 1 Samuel 17:45.
Then David said to the Philistine, “You come to me with a sword, a spear, and a javelin, but I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have taunted.
By the name of the LORD does victory come. And we know today that salvation only comes through the name of Jesus. That is the only way for our sins to be forgiven. It is the only way to make it to heaven.
Setting us securely on high is portraying a tower or fortress; a place of strength and safety.
May He send you help from the sanctuary And support you from Zion!
King David had placed the Ark of the Covenant in the tabernacle which was kept in Jerusalem on Mount Zion. That’s where God was; that’s where He dwelled among His people and from where His help would come.
David is God’s anointed one so he knows that God will deliver him through this. And when they leave the tabernacle to go to battle, they won’t be going alone for they know that God would be going with them.
May He remember all your meal offerings And find your burnt offering acceptable! Selah.
They are asking for God to remember their offerings and accept their burnt offering. This means that all offerings are not found acceptable to Him. Remember how God refused Cain’s offering. It must be done correctly and for the right reasons or God will not accept it. But here we see King David offering the correct sacrifices before going off to battle.
Now there is a ‘Selah’ here. I’m sure you know by now that this prompts a pause. There is probably a change in the music so they could think about what they just prayed and sang. God remember and find your offering acceptable. Remember that this is prophetic Psalm. Jesus was also an offering and sacrifice. He suffered and died for us on the cross, not because of anything He did wrong, but to cover our sin; to pay the debt that we owe. We was literally the burnt offering and He was indeed found acceptable; the perfect, spotless Lamb of God. He was the burnt offering; so many times in the Old Testament we read about God’s burning wrath and judgement that is described as an all consuming fire. Jesus bore that for us, so pause and reflect on that; what Jesus willingly did for us.
May He grant you your heart’s desire And fulfill all your counsel!
This is a request on behalf of the king. King David had one desire, to defend the people of God. They are praying that David’s desire be granted. Here is a wonderful truth: if our desires line up with God’s, we can pray this same prayer in confidence. He will give us what we ask when we are walking in His way and in His Spirit.
Jesus’ desire was the will of God as He went into battle to accomplish our salvation. Remember how He struggled in the garden of Gethsemane? His heart’s desire was that He would fulfill the plan of God. He prayed, Luke 22:42 “Yet not My will, but Yours be done.”
saying, “Father, if You are willing, remove this cup from Me; yet not My will, but Yours be done.”
God has given each of us a purpose to fulfill. Have you ever thought about that? From the youngest in the room which I believe is my son Jermaine to the oldest; but I won’t embarrass anyone. God has given all of us a purpose, a plan, a role in His great plan. Instead of trying to fit God into your plans, what does God want from you? That’s the question we need to be asking. Jesus submitted to the Father and we should do no less.
Going back to Gethsemane, look at what Jesus said in John 17:4.
“I glorified You on the earth, having accomplished the work which You have given Me to do.
God had a plan for Jesus and He wanted Him to complete it. Paul also had a purpose in life. Look at what he wrote at the end of his life in 2 Timothy 4:7.
I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith;
Paul fought the fight of spreading the gospel to the Gentiles, and ran the race that was laid before him, that God had given to him. We need to feel the same way about our lives. What is God asking of us?
Let’s go back to the text and look at verse 5.
We will sing for joy over your victory, And in the name of our God we will set up our banners. May the Lord fulfill all your petitions.
Here is a confident affirmation of victory before the battle even begins. They are shouting for joy because of the coming victory and they are setting up banners in the name of their God, Yahweh. Here we see His personal name mentioned again.
The old Puritan John Trapp said, “Our flags of defiance to the enemy, or our tokens of triumph to God’s glory, who hath given us the victory.” Isn’t that a great idea, flying flags of defiance towards our enemies!? Jesus Christ is our victory and we should boldly proclaim Him.
Raising banners was a sign of victory. Moses declared that one of God’s special names was “Yahweh is my Banner” in Exodus 17. Do you remember the account of the Israelites fighting the Amalekites, where Moses sent Joshua out to fight, and he held his staff over his head? As long as the staff was held up, they were winning the battle. When his arms got tired, Aaron and Hur had to hold his arms up and the Israelites defeated the Amalekites. Afterwards Moses built an altar and declared, “The LORD is my banner.” Now who really won that battle? Was it by the strength of the men or God? It was God who won the victory, and Moses recognized it and gave Him the credit by declaring Him his banner.
They are asking the LORD to fulfill all of King David’s petitions. Jesus also prayed for success at the cross, and it was unthinkable that God wouldn’t answer the prayers of His Son.
King David was confident that God would answer the prayers of His people. Things happen for the kingdom of God when His people pray. He works in and through His people.
Here is where there is a transition to the first person singular. One person, King David or the High Priest makes a declaration during the ceremony. Look at verse 6.
Now I know that the Lord saves His anointed; He will answer him from His holy heaven With the saving strength of His right hand.
David was God’s anointed one. That was a picture of a spiritual anointing from the Holy Spirit needed for leading God’s people as king. Then would come the ultimate anointed One, the perfect King, the Christ, the Messiah. Yes, God saved His anointed kings of Israel but it is even more true that He saved Jesus Christ, the ultimate and perfect anointed One.
And look how the anointed is saved, by an answer. In verse 1 they say, “May the LORD answer you,” and now there is a declaration that, “He will answer.” God does not remain silent towards His anointed. He answered King David in his time of trouble and He answered Jesus as He was headed towards the cross. He would answer King David with power from heaven and He also answered with power Jesus Christ. Both of them He saved; He saved King David from his troubles and saved Jesus Christ from death.
God saves His anointed. He saved King David, and Jesus His Son, but He also saves us who have believed. We have been anointed by the Holy Spirit, 1 John 2:20.
In verse 7 we transition back to the people speaking on David’s behalf.
Some boast in chariots and some in horses, But we will boast in the name of the Lord, our God.
Some here is referring to their enemies, and there is a contrast between their enemies and those who fear God. Their enemies were boasting and confident in their military power and resources. Chariots and horses were the strongest, most powerful, and most fearful military means at that time. It was the same then as it is today, they are trusting in what they can see, and what they believe will save them.
On the other hand, the Israelite military consisted almost entirely of foot soldiers. Foot soldiers don’t stand a chance against cavalry and chariots. But God had instructed the Israelite kings not to accumulate large numbers of horses. Deut. 17:16 says,
“Moreover, he shall not multiply horses for himself, nor shall he cause the people to return to Egypt to multiply horses, since the Lord has said to you, ‘You shall never again return that way.’
They were not to accumulate horses because then they might begin to trust in their military strength instead of God. They had no need to fear opposing stronger military forces. They were to remember that it is ultimately the strength of God who saves. God had already defeated the entire Egyptian military, consisting of over 600 chariots, when they were fleeing Egypt, with no military, women and child, trapped at the Red Sea. God saved them, God wants to save His people, and if He could save them then, He could defeat any forces attacking David even with superior might. The apostle Paul said in Romans 8:31
What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us?
They are boasting in their chariots and horses but God’s people boast in Him alone who can save in any situation. There is a strong contrast here. Our trust is in the LORD our God. They believe in what they can see, or what they have, but we trust in God alone.
A horse is a false hope for victory; Nor does it deliver anyone by its great strength.
A false hope! It might seem like you have strength, you can be confident in your situation, but it is a false hope.
It is so easy to get our focus off of God and onto ourselves, and our strength, and what we have and what we can do. But can you sense a triumphant defiance here? We need to be standing confidently behind His banner, placing our trust entirely in Jesus.
Verse 8,
They have bowed down and fallen, But we have risen and stood upright.
The enemy stand in their arrogance and military strength now, but will end up bowing down in worship to God and experiencing ruin and defeat. God’s people are humbly bowing down now in worship and will later stand in victory.
Isn’t this so true? People who have it all and think that they have it all figured out now will one day bow the knee and acknowledge Jesus Christ as Lord, and will meet eternal destruction and ruin. We who believe, have surrendered ourselves to God, are worshiping now and humbly accepting the way the world treats us but we know one day it will be worth it all and we will rise up and live with our Lord and Savior forever and heaven in His kingdom.
This is true. Paul wrote this in Philippians 2:9-11.
For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
So you can either choose to surrender to Him now, worship and bring Him glory as He deserves, or live life now how you want to live it, but one day you will bow but then will be separated from Him forever and receive the just punishments for your sins, an eternity of pain and suffering. That is a choice you have to make.
Look at the last verse.
Save, O Lord; May the King answer us in the day we call.
God is sovereign because He hears prayers and He is able to answer them. David can plan his strategy but the LORD alone can determine the outcome.
And the actual saving hadn’t happened yet. God assured them of victory but they still had to go out to battle and claim the victory. They still needed to trust God and keep their confidence in Him.
So this Psalm tells us of King David’s victory. It points to Jesus’ victory at the cross. It also demonstrates that we can have victory as well as God’s people.
So how are you doing this morning? Where are you placing your trust? I don’t know what you’re all going through but I’m sure you have some troubles in your life. We live in a fallen world, full of sin, and on an earth that is cursed. We have physical sickness and pain because of that curse. We are persecuted by others because of our faith in God. There is fear being spread in the media and the future looks very bleak. Amidst this, in life, where do you find yourself placing your trust? Is it in yourself, family, your bank account, your job, the government, the military, or is it in the God who alone can save? Be confident of His promises. Stand firmly behind the banner of His name and He won’t let you down.
Prayer - Father, I pray for anyone here who has not placed their trust in Jesus, that they would do so today. Jesus is the only name by which we may be saved from our sin. For those of us who have believed upon Christ, I pray that we would share in the surpassing victory He accomplished at the cross. As we read this morning, some people trust in chariots and some in horses, but that will not be us. We will stand behind your banner and trust in Your name, the God alone who can deliver and save. Thank you for these wonderful truths. I pray in Jesus name amen.
Benediction - Go forth this week placing your trust fully in the name of our God.