Reflections on Psalms 20

 Psalms 20(Contemporary English Version)

1. (A psalm by David for the music leader.) I pray that the LORD will listen when you are in trouble, and that the God of Jacob will keep you safe.
   
2. May the LORD send help from his temple and come to your rescue from Mount Zion.
   
3. May he remember your gifts and be pleased with what you bring.
   
4. May God do what you want most and let all go well for you.
   
5. Then you will win victories, and we will celebrate, while raising our banners in the name of our God. May the LORD answer all of your prayers!
   
6. I am certain, LORD, that you will help your chosen king. You will answer my prayers from your holy place in heaven, and you will save me with your mighty arm.
   
7. Some people trust the power of chariots or horses, but we trust you, LORD God.
   
8. Others will stumble and fall, but we will be strong and stand firm.
   
9. Give the king victory, LORD, and answer our prayers.

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While David authored this Psalm, he was joined in voicing it by a congregation of people who gathered with him to invoke God's intervention on his behalf as he went to war. The basis of this request for God's help in battle was the king's faithfulness in offering his burnt offerings in worship. (20:3) Because David offered his burnt offerings to the Lord, the psalm asks that God give the king his, "heart desires and fulfill (his) whole purpose."

Having made this brief request, the people then anticipated the Lord's fulfilling of their request by giving the king victory in battle. They envisioned themselves shouting for joy at the king's victory and lifting a banner "in the name of our God." Further confidence in the Lord's granting of their request is stated in verse 6, "He will answer him from His holy heaven with mighty victories from His right hand."

The people gave a statement of their faith and trust in the Lord in the final verses of the psalm, stating that it was not chariots and horses in which they took pride, but in the "name of the Lord our God." It will be by His right hand and not by their weaponry that the enemy will "collapse and fall," and they will "rise and stand firm." (20:8) The psalm closes with a repeat of their request that the Lord give "victory to the king!"

David was faced with a situation not of his choosing - he was under attack by an enemy army. He was not attempting to expand his kingdom but to defend it. Thus, this request of the Lord was not one of helping him to prosper but of helping him to survive. We, too, can approach the Lord with our petition for His help with greater confidence that He will defend us than that He will prosper us, though He does also help us to prosper.