Skip to main content

Psalm 20 - Trust in the Lord our God

Psalm 20

 Trust in the Lord our God

 Introduction
Psalm 20 is written, again, by David. It is likely to be a Pilgrimage Psalm, judging from the content.

Summary
v1-5 Benediction - May the Lord grant all your requests
v6-8 Trust in God
v9 Closing

May the Lord grant all your requests
David starts Psalm 20 with a benediction-looking segment. Here he tells someone (probably the nation of Israel in general) - May the Lord...
1. Answer you when you are in distress
-This seems to be David's favorite line. He often uses it in his own prayers - "Lord, help me for I am in distress", is a generic line in many of David's Psalms.

2. Protect you
- David prays for God's protection over this unknown person. Again, very generic.

3. Send you help from the sanctuary and grant you support from Zion
- These 2 are one and the same. The sanctuary refers to God's holy hill - Zion. David prays that God sends help from above - divine help above what the world can offer. Possibly David is also referring to the Messiah.

4. Remember all your sacrifices and accept your burnt offerings
- In David's time, these were considered acts of repentance, and God gave forgiveness for the peoples' act of repentance. David here is praying that God will always forgive this person, never rejecting the act of repentance (which God does have the right to do so!)

Trust in God
David's next section is on placing his full trust in God. Here are his reasons.
1. The Lord saves His anointed
- By anointed, David obviously doesn't just mean himself and Saul, but also anyone who is chosen by God - by right, the entire nation of Israel (although he "judges" them for awhile due to their bad behavior later on).

2. He answers him (anointed) from His holy heaven with the saving power of His right hand
- This coincides with point 3 above - that God answers from heaven, with the best of His ability (which is, technically, unlimited, but as a descriptive phrase, of course).

He ends with this fantastic statement.

Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God. They are brought to their knees and fall, but we rise up and stand firm.
He describes two things we can trust in - the most powerful things known to man (at that time, chariots and horses), or God Himself. He contrasts the results, and how the people who trust in the things of the world fall.

Closing
David ends off, asking God to answer them when they call.

Question
What do we put our trust in?
- Financial stability? House? Car? Family? Friends?

What is God's promised result for our trust in these things?
- God promises that our trust in these things is futile. Eventually, all these things will fade. None of these things are of eternal value.

In what ways can we trust God more?
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Luke 22:35-53 - Jesus arrested

Luke 22:35-53 [35] And he said to them, “When I sent you out with no moneybag or knapsack or sandals, did you lack anything?” They said, “Nothing.” [36] He said to them, “But now let the one who has a moneybag take it, and likewise a knapsack. And let the one who has no sword sell his cloak and buy one. [37] For I tell you that this Scripture must be fulfilled in me: ‘And he was numbered with the transgressors.’ For what is written about me has its fulfillment.” [38] And they said, “Look, Lord, here are two swords.” And he said to them, “It is enough.” (ESV) [39] And he came out and went, as was his custom, to the Mount of Olives, and the disciples followed him. [40] And when he came to the place, he said to them, “Pray that you may not enter into temptation.” [41] And he withdrew from them about a stone's throw, and knelt down and prayed, [42] saying, “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.” [43] And there appeared t...
Post a Comment
Read more

Mark 9:2-13 - The transfiguration

This passage tells of Peter, James and John following Jesus to a high mountain alone. Again, it is only the "inner circle" of the disciples who get to witness this event. As Jesus prayed, His appearance was changed to one radiant and intensely white - an allusion to His holiness. Moses and Elijah also appeared and talked to Jesus about His coming death. Why Moses and Elijah? (note: speculation here) Moses is the giver of Old Testamental law and is instrumental in Christ's fulfillment of the OT Law, and His replacing of it. Elijah is the symbol of faith of the OT - never going against God but suffering many things for His sake, and at the end being taken up to heaven without actually dying. They talk to Jesus, and Peter suggests that they make 3 dwellings for them to stay. However, that is clearly not God's intention, and God speaks clearly to them, telling them Jesus is His beloved Son, and to listen to Him. At this point, Moses and Elijah disappear. Jes...
Post a Comment
Read more

Psalm 39 - The measure of my days

Psalm 39 -  The measure of my days Introduction Psalm 39 is written as a lament Psalm by David. David starts off the Psalm with a declaration of his commitment to stay silent in the face of the wicked. Possibly a reason for this is because he does not want to have any interaction with them, or perhaps they are twisting his words too much. However, in his silence, he says his plight gets worse. The next part is the kind of "emo" sounding part, where he asks God to let him know how long his days are and how he will die - in the hope that he will leave this world behind for a better place. He finally ends off with praise to God for His holiness and deliverance. How applicable is this today? Where God's holiness has not changed, how we relate to the wicked definitely has. Because of the coming of Jesus Christ, we wicked people have a chance to accept God's love and grace. As Jesus said, it is not the healthy who need the doctor, but the sick. No longer do we distin...
Post a Comment
Read more