Year One, September 20

May the LORD Answer You In the Day Of Trouble!1

When David became king, his people loved him and were in the habit of praying for him. Psalm Twenty is one of the prayer-hymns they used.

  

Psalm 20

As we read this psalm, we will see Jesus and use it to our spiritual benefit.

1 May the LORD answer you in the day of trouble!

May the name of the God of Jacob protect you!

2 May he send you help from the sanctuary

and give you support from Zion!

When Jesus was praying at Gethsemane and facing death on the cross, an angel came from heaven and strengthened him.2 There is no other help like that which God sends and no other rescue like that which comes out of his sanctuary.3 For us, that sanctuary is the person of our blessed Lord who is pictured as the temple and the place of true protection that God has provided. Let us rush to the Cross for support anytime we have a need. Our God will send us help. The world despises our sanctuary help, but our hearts have learned to prize it more than any human aid. They look to human strength or money, but we turn to the sanctuary that is Jesus. 

“And give you support from Zion.” Zion was the hill in Jerusalem where David built his palace. The spiritual City of Zion is the home of our great King. The saints of the Church look to Zion for all blessings.  When we look to the sanctuary in Zion for help, we are looking to the Father to help us through his Son. We have the greatest confidence that he will send the help he has promised. This verse is suitable for a Sunday morning benediction.4 It could be given by the pastor for his people or by the church for its pastor.

3 May he remember all your offerings

and regard with favor your burnt sacrifices!     Selah.

Before going to war, kings offered sacrifices. When their offering was accepted, it was a sign for success in the battle. Our blessed Lord presented himself as a sacrifice that was accepted by the Most High God as a pleasing aroma,5 after which he attacked and defeated the fortified armies of hell. The sacrifice of Christ still perfumes the courts of heaven and continues to make the offerings and worship of his people acceptable. In our spiritual battles, we should never march forth to war until the Lord has given us a sign to proceed. Our faith should be in our bleeding Lord and his sacrifice for us.

4 May he grant you your heart’s desire

and fulfill all your plans!

5 May we shout for joy over your salvation,

and in the name of our God set up our banners!

May the LORD fulfill all your petitions!

6 Now I know that the LORD saves his anointed;

he will answer him from his holy heaven

with the saving might of his right hand.

7 Some trust in chariots and some in horses,

but we trust in the name of the LORD our God.

Chariots and horses were impressive and awe inspiring. Men took great pride in their modern weapons of war; their enemies were terrified by them. But the sharp eye of faith sees far more power in an invisible God than in even a huge army of chariots and horses. The most dreaded war machine in David’s day was the war-chariot, armed with blades that mowed men down like grass. This is what the nations surrounding Israel gloried in and bragged about. But the saints considered the name of Jehovah to be a far better defense. The Lord did not allow the Israelites to keep warhorses, so it was only natural for them to have a great fear of the enemy’s cavalry. We should admire the great faith of the bold singer who scorned even the great horses of Egypt when compared with the Lord of Hosts. Sadly, there are many in our time who profess to be the Lord’s, but are hopelessly depending on other people and act as if they had never known the name of Jehovah at all!

8 They collapse and fall,

but we rise and stand upright.

At first, the enemies of God seem to be winning, but before long they are brought down by either force or their own mistakes. Their position is unsafe, and therefore when the time comes it gives way under them. Their chariots are burned in the fire, and their horses die of disease. Where is their boasted strength now? Those who trust in Jehovah may begin to lose heart as the battle begins, but an Almighty arm lifts them up and they joyfully stand upright. Victory through Jesus is the birthright of his people. The world, death, Satan, and sin, will all be trampled underneath the feet of the champions of faith; while those who trust in human strength shall be ashamed and destroyed forever.

9 O LORD, save the king!

May he answer us when we call
  

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¹ Psalm 20:1

² Luke 22:43

³ sanctuary - The dwelling place of God.The tabernacle is called a sanctuary and the place where God dwells (Exodus 25:8). Also, a shelter, retreat, or place of safety and protection.

⁴ benediction - a short prayer for divine help, blessing and guidance, usually at the end of a worship service.

⁵ pleasing aroma - The Bible speaks of the smell of a sacrifice being pleasing or sweet to God and therefore accepted by him.