PSALM 20
Children of Israel prays for David verse 1- 3
The LORD heard you in the day of trouble
the name of the God of Jacob defend thee
send your help from the sanctuary
and strengthen you out of Zion
remember all your offerings
and accept your burnt sacrifice Selah
Children of Israel want David’s prayer answered verse 4- 5
Grant you according to your own heart – and fulfill all your counsel
we will rejoice in your salvation
and in the name of our God we will set up our banners
the LORD fulfill all your petitions
Children of Israel know that David is LORD’S anointed verse 6- 8
Now know I that the LORD saves HIS anointed
HE will hear him from HIS holy heaven with the saving strength of
HIS right hand
Some trust in chariots – some in horses
BUT we will remember the name of the LORD our God
they are brought down and fallen
BUT we are risen – and stand upright
Children of Israel want David to hear verse 9
Save – LORD – let the king hear us – when we call
COMMENTARY:
DAILY SPIRITUAL BREAKFAST: Young Believers
: 1 The LORD hear you in the day of trouble, the name of the God of Jacob
defend you. (6869 “trouble” [tsarah] means distress, affliction,
adversity, anguish, tribulation, an event causing distress or pain, or
calamity)
DEVOTION: Each day is a new day with the LORD in the lives of those who have a genuine faith in Jesus Christ. Our daily relationship means a lot to the LORD. HE wants us to have a daily relationship with HIM that include times of prayer and times of studying HIS word the Bible and times when we witness to our friends and relatives about HIS love for them as well.
However, there are times when HE allows us to go through rough times in our relationship with those around us and on those times, we need HIS special help to make sure that we are able to have victory over whatever trial HE allows in our lives to cause us to grow closer to HIM.
Every believer has a day or two of trouble in their Christian life. It is normal but on those day those who are believers need to turn to HIM with confidence that HE is there to help them through whatever HE allows in their lives.
Do you believe this? Has HE helped you through bad times? Has HE provided strength each time you need it? If this is true than we should be regularly thanking HIM for HIS help on those days.
David is going to one of those bad days and he wants the LORD to hear his prayer for help. He wants the LORD to defend on those days.
CHALLENGE: What do you do on days of trouble? Do you try to do it on your own or do you call on the LORD and wait for HIS answer on how to handle it?
DAILY SPIRITUAL LUNCH: Transitional Believers
: 5 We will rejoice in thy salvation, and in the name of our God we will set up our banners: the LORD fulfil all thy petitions. (4862 “petitions” [mish’alah] means request, desire, inquire or appeal)
DEVOTION: The children of Israel have gathered to pray for their king. There was a battle coming. They wanted victory for their nation and their king. They knew that the LORD is the only one who can assure a victory.
The people are blessing their king. In this case it is David. They want the LORD to provide victory for David in all his battles. They want to be part of the victory by shouting for joy with him. They realize that all victory comes from the LORD.
As they go to the tabernacle, they sing praises to the LORD. They want the LORD to fulfill all the requests of their king for victory. They are praying this prayer for their king.
Our prayers are to be for our leaders. We should be praying for our spiritual leaders that they will have victory over the battles they face. We don’t have a king of a nation that honors the LORD. We have world leaders who are not honoring the LORD. Some have the appearance of being followers of the LORD but their actions don’t prove that out. Those who are truly honoring the LORD should have us praying for them to success. Those who are not followers of the LORD we are to pray for as well. Our prayers should be for their salvation.
We are to pray for our leaders. Let the LORD deal with their decisions. Our main prayer request should be that many should become followers of the LORD. Remember they will not hear unless there is a preacher. We can be a witness for the LORD. Are we praying that the LORD will use us to reach people for HIM?
The battles we are fighting are spiritual. Even the ones that we think are physical are spiritual. Our prayers should be that the LORD would give us victory. Let us rejoice in the salvation of those around us!!!
When our leaders are not honoring the LORD we still have the responsibility to pray for them. If our church leaders are not honoring the LORD we need to see that they are removed. If we can’t remove them then we must find a place that is honoring the LORD. CHALLENGE: Many church leaders are not honoring the LORD with their teachings. Victory is promised only to those who honor the LORD.
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: 6 Now know I that the LORD saves HIS anointed, HE will hear him from
HIS holy heaven with the saving strength of HIS right hand. (6030 “hear”
[‘anah] means to respond to a signal or request, answer, to give
evidence, testify, to lift up the voice, to begin to speak, or respond as a
witness)
DEVOTION: One of the beliefs of king David was that the LORD responds to the prayers of HIS people. David is one of the followers of the LORD. HE wants the LORD to respond to his prayer.
David was the king of Israel and knew that he needed the LORD to help not only in battles but also in his daily duties as the king of a nation that was supposed to be one that worshiped the LORD alone.
This didn’t happen most of the time for the children of Israel and it is not happening today in many churches that say they believe in Jesus Christ. The enemy, the devil, tries to make it so that most of those who claim to follow the LORD are not really depending on HIM completely.
David wanted to depend on HIM completely at times but there were times when he also was not following the LORD as he should. This was not one of those time periods.
Just like David we have times when we are not listening to the LORD as we should but then we want HIS help and want HIM to help right away. If we are not consistent in our times of prayer and Bible study we stray from the LORD and HE will not hear us if there is no confession of sin.
David had these occasions and so do we. Our relationship with the LORD is one that needs our attention 24/7 if we are going to see HIS blessings in our lives and in the lives of those we are praying for on a regular basis.
CHALLENGE: Is the LORD hearing our prayer requests today? Our we looking to HIM regularly for help or are we trying to do it on our own?
DAILY SPIRITUAL SUPPER: Mature Believers
:7 “Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: But we will remember the
name of the Lord our God.” (Remember, 2142 זָכַר, [zakar], to cause to remember, remind, to cause to be remembered, keep in remembrance, to mention, to record, to make a memorial, make remembrance)
DEVOTION: This psalm is about whom (or what) we put our confidence and trust in. In our culture, if someone were writing about what most people put their confidence in, it would be in our money (home, cars, retirement accounts, savings, etc.). We all hope for the day to come when we will be financially independent and have all the stuff we want. In that sense, we are just like the rich man that Jesus talked about (Luke 16:19-31), and the man who died wealthy (Luke 12:16-21). It is not money that is sinful, but the love of it and trusting in it (1 Timothy 6:9-10).
So this psalm challenges us by asking what the source of our strength is. Is it our own strength and resources, or is in God and HIS intervention? One of the challenges in putting all our confidence in God’s intervention is that HE may or may not act in the timeframe that we want HIM to. That is when the true test of faith occurs. God always proises to make things right, but not always when we think that HE should.
This brings us to the dilemma that we face in our lives. We are taught that “God helps those who help themselves.” However, this statement shows how self-reliant we can become. On the other hand, we have those who tell us, “Let go, and let God.” That sounds like we have no responsibility for what occurs in our lives, and that we are to become completely passive. God’s desire is for us to be actively involved in the accomplishment of HIS will both in our own lives and in the lives of others, based on HIM placing the right desires in our hearts (Philippians 2:12-13).
What we put our trust or confidence in is ultimately what we put the majority of our time and energy into thinking about (remember). If we remember that great things God has already done for us, we will want to think about HIM more and more. What one thing other than God are you currently putting your trust and confidence in? Does HIS kingdom mean more to you than anything else?
CHALLENGE: If not, confess this and ask HIM to give you a greater desire to put your trust in HIM. (Dr. Marc Wooten – board member)
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: 8 “They have bowed down and fallen, but we have risen and stand
upright.” (NKJV (6965 קוּם, קָמָי, תְּקֹומֵם [quwm /koom/] to cause to
arise, raise. 1E2 to raise, set up, erect, build. 1E3 to raise up, bring on the scene. 1E4 to raise up, rouse, stir up, investigate. 1E5 to raise up, constitute. 1E6 to cause to stand, set, station, establish. 1E7 to make binding. 1E8 to carry out, give effect to. 1F (Hophal) to be raised up. James Strong, Enhanced Strong’s Lexicon.)
DEVOTION: So many times, in our lives we depend on the strength of something or someone instead of trusting the Lord for the way, answer or deliverance. The psalmist had seen the enemies of Israel depend upon the strength of horses, chariots and armies and he had also seen the weakness of his own people going against the arrogant, powerful forces. The amazing thing was that God gave the weak the victory and the humble the spoils.
Ultimately, the strength of the king was the strength of God, not that of a horse. The enemy, now standing in their arrogance and might, would bow down and fall (v 9), whereas the king and his people, now bowed down in the worship of God, would ultimately stand upright in victory.
CHALLENGE: As we see the strong parade around in their strength do we believe God can raise up the weak and have us to stand with Him victorious? On bended knees the battles are won or lost. Spend some time with the Lord bowed before the King of Kings today! (Dr. Brian Miller – board member)
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DISCIPLINES OF THE FAITH:
BODY
Chastity (Purity in living)
Fasting (Time alone with LORD without eating or drinking)
Sacrifice (Giving up something we want to serve the LORD)
Submission (Willing to listen to others and LORD)
Solitude (Going to a quiet place without anyone)
SOUL
Fellowship (Gathering together around the Word of God)
Frugality (wise use of resources)
Journalizing (Writing down what you have learned from the LORD)
Study and Meditation (Thinking through your study in the Word)
Secrecy (Doing your good deeds without others knowing but God)
SPIRIT
Celebration (Gathering around a special occasion to worship LORD)
Confession (Tell the LORD we are sorry for our sins on a daily basis)
Prayer (Conversation with God on a personal level)
David regarding prayer of LORD’S people verse 1- 9
Wants the LORD to hear believers
when they are in trouble
Wants the LORD to defend believers
Wants the LORD to send help
Wants the LORD to strengthen
Grant desires of heart
Fulfil all HIS counsel
Petitions fulfilled
Hears prayers in heaven
Believers need to call on the LORD
Silence (Letting the LORD deal with some problems and needs)
Worship (Time to praise the LORD alone or in a group)
Sanctuary verse 2
Offerings verse 3
Burnt sacrifices verse 3
Rejoice in salvation verse 5
Set up banners verse 5
Call on the LORD verse 8
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DOCTRINES OF THE FAITH:
Scripture (66 inerrant books of the Bible)
God the Father (First person of the Godhead)
LORD – Jehovah (Covenant keeping, Personal) verse 1, 5- 7, 9
God – Elohim (Creator, Sovereign) verse 1, 5, 7
God of Jacob verse 1
Saves HIS anointed verse 6
Hears prayers in holy heaven verse 6
Saving strength of HIS right hand verse 6
LORD our God verse 7
King verse 8
God the Son (Second person of the Godhead –God/man, Messiah)
God the Holy Spirit (Third person of the Godhead – our comforter)
Trinity (Three persons of the Godhead who are co-equal = ONE God)
Angels (Created before the foundation of the world – Good and Evil)
Man (Created on the sixth twenty-four hour period of creation)
Sin (Missing the mark set by God on man and angels)
Trust in chariots verse 7
Trust in horses verse 7
Brought down verse 8
Fallen verse 8
Salvation (Provided by Christ’s death on the cross for our sins)
Defended verse 1
Help verse 2
Counsel verse 4
Rejoice verse 5
Salvation verse 5, 6, 9
Prayer verse 5
Anointed verse 6
Remember the name of LORD our God verse 7
Stand upright verse 8
Israel (Old Testament people of God)
Zion verse 2
Set up banners verse 5
King verse 9
Church (New Testament people of God)
Last Things (Future Events)
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QUOTES regarding passage
4. Although, in the Hebrew, grant you your heart’s desire differs slightly from the expression in 21:2, it beautifully links the two psalms as prayer and thanksgiving on either side of a crisis. Plans is the word sometimes translated as counsel or strategy: cf. Isaiah 11:2; 36:5, where the limitations of human planning, recognized in the psalm, are exposed from above and below. (Kidner, D. (1973). Psalms 1–72: an introduction and commentary (Vol. 15, p. 119). Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.)
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20:1–4. In intercessory prayer the congregation prayed in unison that God would answer their king’s request for victory and protection (v. 1), and send him help from the sanctuary (the tabernacle), the dwelling place of God (v. 2). They prayed that his sacrifices which accompanied his prayer would be acceptable (v. 3), and that his heart’s desire would be fulfilled (cf. 21:2) and his plans would be successful (20:4). (Ross, A. P. (1985). Psalms. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 1, p. 808). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)
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Ver. 4. Grant thee according to thine own heart, &c.] Which is to see his seed, the travail of his soul, and to have the pleasure of the Lord prosper in his hand; to have all his people called, preserved, and glorified. And fulfil all thy counsel; whatever was agreed upon in the council and covenant of peace between him and his father, relating to his own glory, and the salvation of his people. (Gill, J. (1810). An Exposition of the Old Testament (Vol. 3, p. 610). London: Mathews and Leigh.)
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4. “Grant thee according to thine own heart, and fulfil all thy counsel.” Christ’s desire and counsel were both set upon the salvation of his people; the church of old desired for him good speed in his design, and the church in these latter days, with all her heart desires the complete fulfilment of his purpose. In Christ Jesus sanctified souls may appropriate this verse as a promise; they shall have their desire, and their plans to glorify their Master shall succeed. We may have our own will when our will is God’s will. This was always the case with our Lord, and yet he said, “not as I will, but as thou wilt.” What need for submission in our case; if it was necessary to him, how much more for us!
5 We will rejoice in thy salvation, and in the name of our God we will set up our banners: the Lord fulfil all thy petitions. (Spurgeon, C. H. (n.d.). The treasury of David: Psalms 1-26 (Vol. 1, p. 301). London; Edinburgh; New York: Marshall Brothers.)
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2–4. God the Father promised to be with his Christ through the whole of his undertaking. Psm. 89:22, &c. But observe how the church hath an eye to the merits of Jesus’s obedience and sacrifice. And what the heart’s desire of Jesus was, is read to us in every part of the Bible. The promises of God are also in covenant to the same. Psalm 21:2. Isaiah 53:10. (Hawker, R. (2013). Poor Man’s Old Testament Commentary: Job–Psalms (Vol. 4, p. 222). Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software.)
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FROM MY READING:
(Remember the only author that I totally agree with is the HOLY SPIRIT in the inerrant WORD OF GOD called THE BIBLE! All other I try to gleam what I can to help me grow in the LORD!!)
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We have been raised up with Christ and should seek the things above.
INSIGHT
It is possible to be one place physically and another place mentally. It happens every Sunday morning in church. Bodies warm the pews while minds roam the kitchens and golf courses of the nation. In a graver example, prisoners of war survive by taking themselves mentally into another world away from the prison and there find meaning and solace. We, as Christians, are to do the same. We are to take ourselves out of the physical world, into the spiritual world, and operate according to its values, truths, and realities. “If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth” (vv. 1-2). (Quiet Walk)
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ASSURANCE IN PRAYER
Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God. And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight. 1 John 3:21-22
Over and above my confidence is my right of access; I must have assurance with regard to my petitions.
James puts it like this: “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God….” But notice this: “But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord” (James 1:5-7). If you are uncertain, doubtful, or hesitant and lacking assurance in your petition, you will not get your request, says James. Listen to the psalmist in Psalm 66:18: “If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me.” If I go to God with a double mind, holding on to my sin and knowing that I am living a wrong life, I will not have confidence in my prayer. “God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things” (1 John 3:20); if I am condemning myself and know I am wrong, how much more so must God.
Now I think that our Lord Himself has answered this question in John’s Gospel. He put it like this: “If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you” (John 15:7). Or again: “I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain; that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you” (John 15:16).
If I am keeping God’s commandments, then I can be certain that my life is being controlled by the Holy Spirit, and therefore I know that any petitions and desires I may have were created in me by the Holy Spirit.
A Thought to Ponder: If I go to God holding on to my sin and knowing that I am living a wrong life, I will not have confidence in my prayer.
(From Children of God, pp. 129-130, by Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones)
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The Joyful Sound
“Blessed is the people that know the joyful sound: they shall walk, O LORD, in the light of thy countenance.” (Psalm 89:15)
Many have been the Christians who have joined in singing “We have heard the joyful sound: Jesus saves; Jesus saves!” Not all have known, however, that this beautiful phrase comes from a great psalm extolling God’s marvelous works of creation and then His promises of redemption.
“The heavens are thine, the earth also is thine: as for the world and the fulness thereof, thou hast founded them. The north and the south thou hast created them” (Psalm 89:11- 12). Earlier verses note that “the heavens shall praise thy wonders, O LORD” (v. 5), speaking of the angels, “the sons of the mighty” (v. 6), literally, “the sons of God.” It is exciting to realize that the very first “joyful sound” was heard when God “laid the foundations of the earth.” Then it was that “the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy” (Job 38:4, 7).
There was also a joyful sound when Christ was born, and the angel came bringing “good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born…a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord…And suddenly there was…the heavenly host praising God” (Luke 2:10-11, 13).
Whenever a soul is saved, there is another joyful sound: “Joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth,” said Jesus (Luke 15:7). Finally, there will be a most wonderful sound of joy on Earth when the Lord comes again. “And the ransomed of the LORD shall return, and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads: they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away” (Isaiah 35:10). Therefore, even now, “my soul shall be joyful in the LORD: it shall rejoice in his salvation” (Psalm 35:9). (HMM, The Institute for Creation Research)
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David prepares for building a temple, but God tells him that David’s son will build it.
INSIGHT
With all his heart, David wants to build the temple of God. Yet because David is a man of war, God reserves that privilege for David’s son Solomon, whose very name means “peace.”
While David cannot actually build the temple, he does draw the plans and begins amassing the materials. And Solomon’s job is much easier because of David’s work.
In fact, the Lord commends David’s deep desire to build the temple even though he is not permitted to do so (see 2 Chronicles 6:8.)
There may be things in your heart that you would like to do for God that you cannot do. Even so, it is good that it is in your heart to want to do them. (Quiet Walk)
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THE GOSPEL OF LIGHT
I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
John 14:6
Are we all doomed to perpetual blindness and darkness? There is but one hope. There is but one answer. There is but one cure. According to the Gospel, Jesus of Nazareth was the only begotten Son of God. He came down to earth because of the blindness of mankind, because man had been deluded by the god of this world. He came and brought that treatment that alone can avail. He has removed by His sacrificial, atoning death and His resurrection the stain of the guilt of sin. He has given new life and power to our diseased and paralyzed spiritual optic nerves. He enables us to see God, to behold the Father’s face. And, looking at Him, the light of the eternal countenance irradiates our whole being.
He said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me” (John 14:6). And that statement has been verified in countless thousands of experiences. He said that He was “the light of the world” (John 8:12) “and that anyone who followed Him need no longer walk in darkness but will have “the light of life” (John 8:12). It is He alone who can reconcile us to God and enable us to see and to know God. The message of the gospel therefore to this modern, distracted world is that in simplicity it has but to offer this prayer:
Holy Spirit, truth divine,
Dawn upon this soul of mine.
Word of God and inward light,
Wake my spirit, clear my sight.
The gospel states with assurance that all who offer this prayer in sincerity and truth will be able to say with the apostle Paul that “the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ” (2 Corinthians 4:6) has shined into their hearts.
A Thought to Ponder: Jesus Christ alone can reconcile us to God and enable us to see and to know God. (From Truth Unchanged, Unchanging, pp. 103-104 by Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones)
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The Faithful Saying
“It is a faithful saying: For if we be dead with him, we shall also live with him: If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us: If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself.” (2 Timothy 2:11-13)
This saying may have been a song or other memory device that Paul recommended as a summary of doctrine. It expresses important elements of saving faith. First, Christ’s vicarious death gives us eternal life in Him. We “who were dead in trespasses and sins” (Ephesians 2:1) have been created “in righteousness and true holiness” (Ephesians 4:24) and have “passed from death unto life” (John 5:24).
Second, standing with Christ in this life attests to our reigning with Him in the next. The “persecutions and tribulations that [we] endure” are a “manifest token of the righteous judgment of God, that [we] may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which [we] also suffer” (2 Thessalonians 1:4-5).
Also, denying Christ in this life will ensure that He will deny us for eternity. “Whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven” (Matthew 10:33). “He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels” (Revelation 3:5).
Finally, even our unbelief will not affect Christ’s faithfulness. “For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen” (2 Corinthians 1:20). “Thy word is true from the beginning: and every one of thy righteous judgments endureth for ever” (Psalm 119:160). “For I am the LORD, I change not” (Malachi 3:6).
May this faithful saying be your foundation in faith. It is a guide to salvation and an anchor for eternity. (HMM III, The Institute for Creation Research)
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