Prayer for Victory Over Enemies
Psalm 20
1 May the Lord answer you on a day of trouble! May the name of the God of Jacob protect you! 2 May He send you help from the sanctuary and support you from Zion! 3 May He remember all your meal offerings and accept your burnt offering! 4 May He grant you your heart’s desire and fulfill your whole plan! 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 desires. 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. 7 Some praise their chariots and some their horses, but we will praise the name of the Lord, our God. 8 They have bowed down and fallen, but we have risen and stood upright. 9 Save, Lord; May the King answer us on the day we call.
It’s interesting to consider what King David was thinking when he wrote this Psalm. It seems from the start there is some form of trouble looming vs1. Some commentators say it was possibly a concern of war from a neighboring country. Not so rare in those days. David is clearly pleading for protection from the name of the God of Jacob. A name not only for the patriarch Jacob but also represents the covenant relational love of his descendants. His position is he is writing to the music director a prayer for protection not merely for the leaders, priests and people, but also for the King, and the greater church. In facing this trouble, David seeks divine assistance from the sanctuary where Gods presence and power reside, including where animals were sacrificed vs3. He also mentions support from Zion representing Jerusalem and a general location of God’s refuge and hope. David would have remembered defeating the Jebusites and capturing Jerusalem as his first battle being King of Israel. The ark was also returned from the Philistines bringing back a place where God’s presence could be experienced and appreciated. David’s prayer continues in verse 4-5 in an encouraging good-willed attitude toward the desires of the King. This section caused me to think…did David have someone praying into his life like this or was he a man of prayer like this? I imagine both are true. To trust in God so much for a Leader, President, or King- to pray that their desires would be realized, that their plans would come true, that he grant them the desires of their heart is truly a prayer of trust. In vs. 5 this also includes congregational singing for joy when God gives victory to the King. Praise and worship should always be a preoccupation and end result of God’s People as well as always a right response. The Israelites would also fly various physical banners (like flags) for a rallying point for victory. Showing their solidarity to the king and God and declaring only the LORD God saves. He finishes the Psalm of Prayer vs 6-9 by saying “Now I know” he saves his anointed, he will answer him from heaven, by his right hand. David is confident in God’s ability to save his chosen King and that he openly communicates with him and gives victory from his right hand of strength and power. Not so with others! Some will trust in their chariots, and some will trust in their horses. This show of military power, a great technique, or personal ability can be deceiving. It can lead to an overconfident trust in individual skill and into a position of great vulnerability even divine judgment. King David may have reflected on God’s salvation of the Israelites in the Exodus story and the military strength of Pharaohs horses and chariots to their destruction. Possibly his memory was drawn to the victory against Goliath where David said “You come against me with sword, spear, and javelin, but I come in the name of the LORD Almighty. Vs. 7-8 David redirects here to return to the divine sense of power and heavenly victory. We will praise the name of the LORD our God, his covenant name represents his power, authority and sovereignty. This would include victory over the enemies of Israel and ruin to those who don’t trust in the LORD. They ultimately will fall, and God’s people and King will stand, may God answer us on the day we call.
This Psalm is a great encouragement and prayer that was true for King David and the Israelites as well as the church today. It does not shy away from the idea of the “Day of trouble” when believers throughout the world suffer and have real enemies, the Lord will answer. He will protect his Church Old and New Testament, his faithful remnant of every tribe and nation and gather them up to himself (Rev 5:9). Jesus also encouraged the disciples “For in this world you will have trouble, but take heart I have overcome the world” (John 16:33) A comforting word in a world of chaos and difficulty and often daunting enemies. He will protect us as well as he says in 2nd Thessalonians 3:3 “For the LORD is faithful, and he will strengthen and protect you against the evil one.” A protection no doubt from the evil principalities and power of the devil. We can gain confidence from David’s example as he prepared for battle. He began by prayer. In the day of distress, he reorientated himself back to asking for divine assistance in remembering God’s faithfulness as his source of strength, power, and victory. For us, Jesus our King is the source of all our strength and victory. We should worship him, sing songs of thanksgiving and gratitude to him for all he has done. Praise be the God of Jacob. Praise Jesus our King of Kings.
Heavenly Father, we reorientate ourselves back to you as being our source of protection and strength. Not having any confidence in our abilities to fight on our own, but we trust in your strength in our lives, in our families, in our worship and our service to you. Please help us to remember your faithfulness and to hear you answer when we call out to you and hold fast to your promises. In Jesus name.