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Psalms

Psalm 20

By Pastor Doug
A prayer of victory over enemies.
This Psalm was a dedication Psalm that was used before going into battle.  This Psalm was likely recited at the dedication prior to war.  See 2 Samuel 10 for an example of when this might have been used.

 

Now, we know David was a warrior and had been to war many times.  We also know that he didn't go to war to conquer foreign lands.  He wasn't the aggressor, he was fighting the Lord's battles.  When someone came against the people or land of Israel or against their allies, then David went out to meet them.

 

When it was reported that an enemy approached or had invaded a city or land, the army was gathered and prepared.  Things moved slow in the war of David's time.  There were chariots and horses but for the most part the armies were vast numbers of troops on foot.  They fought with spears or bows.  Wars were fought up close, they were bloody and grueling.

 

You can imagine the news traveling across the land when David gathered his army.  It would be the topic of every dinner conversation, every shop and every gathering place.  Who was going to war?  Where were they going?  How would it turn out?  What if it went bad?  You can imagine that father's stood proud as their sons prepared for battle and went to serve their king and their land and mothers worried and cried; proud also, but they were sure their son was too young for such things.  Fathers saw young men going to war; mothers saw their baby leaving home and headed toward danger.  But the king would need good men; fighting men; men quick on their feet, fierce in battle and full of courage.

 

There were many preparations made.  But before any other preparation, they needed to know the Lord's will.  King David would only go to war when directed by the Lord.  And he would only go in the way and of the time directed by God.  Once King David had heard from the Lord, it was required that there be a time of dedication.  This would be a time of prayer and sacrifices and burnt offerings.  King David would dedicate himself and the army to the Lord.

   

The people would be there with the king and after he offered his sacrifice and dedication.  The people would then pray for the king and for the army, reciting from Psalm 20.

 

Verse 1…..

 1 May the LORD answer you when you are in distress;
       may the name of the God of Jacob protect you.


 2 May he send you help from the sanctuary
       and grant you support from Zion.


 3 May he remember all your sacrifices
       and accept your burnt offerings.
       Selah


Many great generals believed that the battle was won the Day before.  Preparation and dedication were key.  The people prayed an intercessory prayer for the king seeking the protection of divine providence.  When the army was in distress they would call out to God and the prayer of the people was that he would answer them.  They prayed that the God of Jacob would protect the King and his men.  They asked that help would come from the Sanctuary and from Mt. Zion.


 


The Sanctuary and Mt. Zion was where they saw the presence of the Lord.  They wanted God's help and support because they knew that's where their victory would come from.  They had offered sacrifices to God and burnt offerings before the Lord to be in good standing with him.  When the king was dedicated to the Lord and relying solely on Him to guide his way, God was with him.  When the people were dedicated to the Lord and praying that God would guide their King and his men and that they would be victorious on the battlefield, then God was with them.


 


The faith of the people became a confidence of a king.  Together, they sought after God to lead them in battle and to determine a victory for them.  They were confident in their heart of a victory.


 

Once the people prayed the first 3 verses of the Psalm, then the fourth was probably spoken by the high priest, saying…………

 4 May he give you the desire of your heart
       and make all your plans succeed.


 

And then the fifth verse was spoken by David and his attendants:

5 We will shout for joy when you are victorious
       and will lift up our banners in the name of our God.


And the high priest responded:

May the LORD grant all your requests.


 


Then after the sacrifice had been consumed the high priest recited verse 6: 


6 Now I know that the LORD saves his anointed;
       he answers him from his holy heaven
       with the saving power of his right hand.


 


The success of David's plans was incumbent on the fact that the desire of David's heart was consistent with God's desire.  If God had not moved in his life to bring him to this battle then the battle would be lost.  If David's desires were his own, there was no chance for victory.  However, if God moved him to this place in his life and then placed those desires in his heart, then God would grant him success and the desire of his heart.


 


A heart right with God will succeed in the plans of God.  This army was already counting on a victory and saying they would lift up their banners.  They were planning a victory celebration already.


 


The Lord saves his anointed.  David was anointed by God as the leader and the king of His people.  He wasn't a perfect man but he constantly sought after the God because his heart was forever inclined to the Lord.  And with God anointing your leadership and your plans, what can go wrong?  Their trust was in the Lord.


 


After verse 6 was recited by the priest, the seventh and eighth verses were now recited by David and his men:


 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.


 


And then the ninth verse was a chorus by the entire congregation:


 9 O LORD, save the king!
       Answer us when we call!


 


Men will always tend to trust in their implements of war.  These are the things we see and touch and can control.  But men dedicated to the Lord are tools in his hands.  And when we are the tool in God's hand we don't need to rely on our own abilities or our chariots and horses.  An army that trusts first in chariots and horses will be brought to their knees, but those that trust in the Lord our God will rise up and stand firm.