April 30, 2023 -- Psalm 20 -- The Psalm Series: A Prayer for Militaristic Times

People loved by the Father, in the Spirit's power: Sh'ma ~ hear and obey Jesus!

To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David.

20 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!
3 May he remember all your offerings
    and regard with favor your burnt sacrifices! Selah

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.
8 They collapse and fall,
    but we rise and stand upright.

9 O LORD, save the king!
    May he answer us when we call.

Psalm 20 ESV

What is the difference between the words “can” and “may”? In a psalm-prayer like this one, the distinction is important. If you ask “can the LORD answer you in the day” you are asking a question of possibility. If you ask may the LORD answer you it permission seeking. He Who has the power is being approached with the plea to bring His great power and help to bear on behalf of His people. 

This is a military prayer. The great king David is teaching his people to pray for his successes in battle. The people of God are to be a nation that receives people who are refugees from the godlessness of the others nations all around them. They are to be a people who defend their borders because this land is His gift to His people. They are to be a people who, directed by the LORD, go out against the enemies of the LORD. By Spirit-inspired prophecy David is teaching the people of Israel one of his descendants would be the lasting King, Jesus.

Now believers pray to the Father through the power of David’s greater descendant, Jesus. We appeal to Him that He will hear His people in the day of trouble. As He has, through-out all the generations heard and answered His people, He will again hear and answer His people.

The people of the LORD, know He has set His banner over them. He has won the battle and He will bring His troops to full victory. The warfare is intense precisely because the enemy has been thrown against the ropes so this is the final round. But the outcome is sure, Jesus will be recognized as LORD over all and every enemy will be thrown down to their knees in acknowledgement of His splendour. Believer, pray to the King of Glory for His great power and victory to be revealed in your life as you battle 1. sins of the flesh, 2. peer pressure of the world and the tyranny of nations who hate God, and 3. the schemes of the Devil. Now you understand, with these three forces arrayed against you, the need for urgent prayer, for gathering with the people of God to worship Him and be reassured of His great power and sure victory.

Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your Name.
Your kingdom come, Your will be done,
   on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread,
   and forgive us our debts,
   as we also have forgiven our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation,
   but deliver us from evil.
For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory,
   now and forevermore. Amen.

https://youtu.be/zhMFifugZ8o "A Mighty Fortress is Our God"
 

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