Read Psalm 20:
To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David.
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! 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.
Understand Psalm 20:
I. Pray to the Lord who Hears You (vv. 1-5, 9)
All of us will experience trouble in life. Therefore, we pray in faith for God to answer (vv. 1, 9), to send us help (v. 2), to accept our worship (v. 3), to fulfill our plans (v. 4), and to save us in times of trouble (v. 5). We must not pray to anyone or anything else.
II. Trust in the Lord who Answers You (vv. 6-8)
“Now I know” concludes that salvation is guaranteed. The king will not trust in the military might of chariots and horses, but rather in the name of Yahweh his God (33:16-19; 44:3-7; 147:10-11; Deut 17:16). Earthly strength will fail, but God’s people will stand forever on his firm foundation. This prayer of Psalm 20 will then be answered by the praises of Psalm 21.
| Shared Themes in Psalms 20 and 21 |
| Emphasis on salvation, deliverance, and victory (20:5, 6, 9; 21:1b, 5) |
| Both psalms refer to the king (20:9; 21:1, 7) or to the Lord’s “anointed” (20:6) – Psalm 20 ends “O LORD, save the king!” Psalm 21 begins, “O LORD, in your strength the king rejoices, and in your salvation how greatly he exults!” |
| The king’s “heart’s desire” (20:4; 21:2) and petition/request (20:5; 21:2) |
| The Lord’s right hand accomplishes deliverance (20:6; 21:8) |
| Celebration of the Lord’s strength/power (20:6; 21:1, 13) |
| Emphasis on trust in the Lord (20:7; 21:7) |
Apply Psalm 20:
- Keep a prayer journal and write down at least one prayer a day (with date and details). Review your journal at the end of each week and at the end of each year.
- What are the desires of your heart? Are they trustworthy (Jer 17:9; 1 Kgs 11:4; 1 Cor 4:4-5)? Lay them out before the Lord as an act of humble worship (Ps 37:4-5).
- Describe the joy you experienced as a result of your initial conversion. What brings you joy in your walk with the Lord today (Hab 3:17-19; Phil 4:4-9)?
- What or whom do you trust during times of trouble? What will it take for you to wholly trust in the Lord?
Pray Psalm 20:
- O Lord, answer my prayers and protect me from my enemies (vv. 1-2).
- Receive my heart of worship and grant my deepest desires (vv. 3-4).
- Fill me with the joy of your salvation (vv. 5-6).
- Teach me to trust in your name alone and not in earthly powers (vv. 7-8).
- O Lord, I know that you will save me (v. 9).
Counsel Psalm 20:
Every counselee comes to you expressing personal troubles which often reveal life-dominating sins or debilitating suffering. Show them how to “trust in the name of the Lord our God” instead of in themselves.
* This post has been adapted from a sermon preached by Habtamu Sisay on July 25, 2021.
