Psalm 20 Continued…
In verses 6-9 the speaker is no longer the people but the king or a prophet.
Psalms 20:6 Now I know that the Lord saves his anointed; he answers him from his holy heaven with the saving power of his right hand.
It is not clear whether the king, or possibly a prophet present at the liturgy, is speaking; in either case the note of confidence is intended for the Lord’s anointed one, whom the Lord will answer from heaven by mighty acts of salvation.
The people looked to the king; the king looked to the King of kings. Interesting enough, the word “saves” is in the past tense. David expressed the truth that the battle was already won because of God’s power and faithfulness, and His love for David and His people. The actual deployment of the army on the battlefield was a mere formality. The battle had already been won the moment the people expressed a sense of their need of God, the moment the king prepared himself to pray.
Kings were “anointed,” priests were “anointed,” and individuals chosen for special duties were “anointed.” God chose David, and this anointed king has now regained his certainty of faith. I know, he says, that God will not let me down. He could say that with certainty because, in the covenant God made with David, He had promised him success in battle (2 Samuel 7:11), and David claimed this promise by faith.
Psalms 20:7 Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.
The pronouns are important. David says: “They are trusting in their armaments and in their mobility, but we are trusting in the name of Yahweh our God.” This is the only kind of boasting allowed a believer: “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith — and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.” (Ephesians 2:8-9). Israel’s kings were commanded not to acquire great numbers of horses and chariots (Deuteronomy 17:16), a law that Solomon disobeyed (1 Kings 10:26-27).
In today’s world, a country which does not have a powerful arsenal with which to confront aggressors would be acting foolishly. David did not disband his armies simply because he had faith in God. But neither did he put his trust in troops as his first and main line of defense. He had some able generals. There was Joab, as tough as any leader who ever took his troops into battle. There was Asahel and Shammah and Benaiah and Abishai.
But David’s trust went far beyond men like that: his trust was in the name of the Lord his God. God’s people, in every age, don’t boast of their personal resources, but in the God who alone can save them in every situation.
PRAY
Father, I thank You that You are the God of the impossible. You can do anything. I want to trust in Your ability and not my own. Teach me to see difficulties in my life from Your perspective. Help me to focus on You and Your power.