Psalm 20 Continued…
Verses 1-3: There can be no doubt that when war looms on the horizon people tend to become more religious [The increase in church attendance following the events of September 11, 2001 would bear this out.]. Even though they may have a double standard for themselves, they expect their leaders to be devout. With war clouds gathering on the horizon, the people of Israel looked to their king. It is uncertain whether the scene of the prayer is the sanctuary in Zion or the vicinity of the battlefield.
Psalms 20:1 May the Lord answer you when you are in distress; may the name of the God of Jacob protect you.
In other words, David says, “You may be successful, you may be skillful, but are you spiritual?” That is what matters in this time of national emergency. Are you in touch with God? Are you able to pray? In verse 1 it is the eve of the battle, and the people are praying; they ask God to answer the king’s prayers and lift him up above the enemy and turn them back in crushing defeat.
Names are often put for persons, and the “name of God” for God (Deuteronomy 28:58). David calls Him the “God of Jacob,” or Israel, partly to distinguish Him from false gods, and partially as an argument to reinforce the prayer, because God had made a covenant with Jacob and his posterity, who are called by the name of Israel (a synonym for Jacob).
“The God of Jacob” is a God of compassion and care. There was nothing deserving about Jacob. He was a scheming, crooked arm-twister, a crafty cattleman, not a bit above lying and cheating if it served his purpose. Yet God met Jacob, they had a wrestling match and God got the best of him; then He molded Jacob, magnified Jacob, and multiplied Jacob. The God of Jacob is the God who loves us in spite of our faults and failings.
“The name of our God” implies personal trust. It is not just a matter of “the name of God.” So often in national life a politician will acknowledge “God” but he will use a term which is vague, general, and indefinite. The politician doesn’t want to offend Jews and Muslims, so he will not pray “in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.” He doesn’t want to offend the atheist so he addresses himself to Providence. That will not do! We must make it personal and use “the name of our God.” God does not want our patronage, and He doesn’t need it; He wants our prayer based on personal trust.
“The name of the Lord our God” implies perfect trust. The name of Jehovah, our Elohim! That is, He is the God of covenant as well as the God of creation. He is the God who has revealed himself; who has given His Word; who has spoken in specific, understandable, moral and spiritual terms. He is the God who is not only there; He is known. And because He is known, He can be trusted—perfectly!
It is a great thing for a nation when its leaders are men who have this practical, personal, and perfect trust in God and who are not afraid to let it be known. In an hour of international crisis nothing else will do. The people of Israel wanted their king to be prayerfully in touch with God.
Psalms 20:2 May he send you help from the sanctuary and grant you support from Zion.
The “sanctuary” was a place where a person could expect to receive an infusion of spiritual power. “Zion” was the great citadel of David, and the military stronghold of Jerusalem. The one could not be divorced from the other, since they were designations for the place of God’s symbolic presence in the ark which David had recaptured and installed in a tabernacle on Mount Zion. The nation’s military and strategic power was essentially linked with the nation’s moral and spiritual power. All the victories of God’s people are from Him and arise out of His gracious acceptance of a perfect sacrifice.
Psalms 20:3 May he remember all your sacrifices and accept your burnt offerings.
In this hour of crisis the people did not want a king who made vague gestures of a religious nature. They wanted a king who knew the power of God and trusted in Him. The king’s faithful obedience in bringing “offerings” and “burnt sacrifices” is presented as a special reason why the Lord should remember him with favor.
Since there is a “Selah” at the end of the verse, that is, a pause preceded by a blast of loud music, it may be that at this point in the proceedings a priest offered up a “burnt offering” on behalf of the young man seated before him on the throne. Then there would follow a recitation of the prayer we find at verse 4. Human beings can sure make stupid plans, but, says our poet, God can overrule even these and make them into something good.
PRAY
Father may we have leaders who pursue you with all of their hearts.