Psalm 20: God’s Divine Protection For You Now. To read and study the psalms is like coming upon a hidden treasure – the more you study it, the more beautiful and priceless the treasure becomes. The first 19 psalms covered many subjects. Many touched on how to deal with the problems and suffering of life. Psalm 19 was especially beautiful as it pictured the presence of God in His creation.
Now, another treasure is revealed in Psalm 20. This psalm is a song of encouragement, and the structure of the psalm gives some strong indications as to how the song was sung and by whom. The subtitle states that David wrote Psalm 20. David and his army composed this psalm in anticipation of their imminent military campaign against a foreign adversary. The psalm adopts a statement-response structure.
Psalm 20: God’s Divine Protection For You Now
The first five verses were written with such words as: he, you, we, our, and etc. “May the Lord answer you in the day of trouble! And May the name of the God of Jacob set you securely on high!
May He send you help from the sanctuary and support you from Zion! And He remember all your meal offerings and find your burnt offering acceptable! May He grant you your heart’s desire and fulfill all your counsel!
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 petitions.” The same was also used in verses 7-9. Such words indicate that probably the people of David’s army sang the first and last part of the psalm.
However, in verse 6, the psalm changed to the first person, with the word “I”. “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.” The indication was that a high priest, or David himself, sang the response in verse 6.
The poetic picture surrounding the reciting of Psalm 20 is very impressive and beautiful. David and his men were going to war. The people sang for their king before the Lord. The king responded with his faith in the Lord, and the people again sang of their assurance that they had in the Lord.
Psalm 20: God’s Divine Protection For You Now
Many may wonder what possible application such a psalm could have today; but across the centuries, this psalm of David reaches out and touches the lives of people today. Every person has to deal with the struggles of life – whether that person is a Christian or not. However, for a Christian, there is help that will bring victory over the conflicts of this life. Some of that help comes in the form of fellow Christians who can give spiritual support, encouragement, and comfort to those who are struggling – just like fellow soldiers will do in an army.
Then there will be times where a person will be the one in a position to give support and encouragement. Psalm 20 holds the key in understanding how this works. The first 5 verses contain words of comfort and hope that can be given to a brother or sister who is in need. Carefully read the first 5 verses and see how they can be used. All of the good feelings, love, and hope are reflected in those verses.
Verse 6 also applies today just like it did in the past. In the Psalm, David was talking to his people. In David’s time, it was a declaration of his trust in the Lord – “Now I know that the Lord saves his anointed….” As inspired prophecy, David also pointed to the future certainty of Jesus’ victory over death.
Psalm 20: God’s Divine Protection For You Now
Jesus Christ is now the King, and He has plainly said that all authority now belongs to him. Verse 6 reflects the assurance that any of God’s children can have. Whatever will be faced and whatever happens, Christians know that Jesus Christ is King. He is the victor; and, in Him, one can find salvation and victory.
Finally, verse 7-9 are also very appropriate today. “Some boast in chariots and some in horses, but we will boast in the name of the Lord, our God. They have bowed down and fallen, but we have risen and stood upright. Save, O Lord; may the King answer us in the day we call.”
The key to this passage is verse 7. “Some boast in chariots and some in horses, but we will boast in the name of the Lord our God.” Instead of chariots and horses, a Christian can substitute words such as careers, money, power, family, security, happiness, or pleasure. Whatever the words, the principle is still the same. Others may trust in all sorts of things, but Christians trust in the name of the Lord our God. Through God the Father, and His Son, Jesus Christ, the battle is over and the victory has been won!
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