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.
God Save the King!
Plato once remarked, “Only the dead have seen the end of war.”
The psalm presupposes that a battle or military campaign is about to begin, though no details are provided. From a military perspective, such a battle required careful planning, well-trained troops, superior military resources (e.g. chariotry) to those of the enemy, and the courage to fight. But in Israel, something more was required before departure for battle. It was fundamental to the faith of the Hebrews that success in battle depended primarily upon God, not only upon military planning and strategy. And so, before a campaign could commence, there must first be a retreat to the temple.
This passage tells us three contrasting things about the community of believers: 1) We are fighting but we have won (we are militant and triumphant) 2. We are a small part of the big picture (we are a particular expression of the universal church) 3. The are deeper things at work than our eyes can see (we are part of the visible and invisible church).
A fundamental characteristic of the experience of ancient Israel was the frequency of warfare. It characterized the historical experience of Israel, as it did that of all nations in the ancient (and modern) world. The practice of warfare in ancient Israel was intimately related to religion; the Lord, a “Warrior” or “Man in Battle,” participated with his people in the experience of warfare (Exod 15:3).
1. We are militant, yet triumphant
The first verse is a statement of the difficulties of life (“day of trouble”), and yet it honestly realizes that in the midst of trial there is triumph (“May the Lord deliver you”).
2. We are a particular body of believers, yet part of the universal body of believers
Every Israelite would have been arrayed for a fight, yet each one would have had a particular task and a particular expression that was unique to them and necessary for the proper functioning of Israel. Modern denominationalism can be much like this ancient tribalism, acknowledging that each tribe may have its emblem and standard but meanwhile centring around the Banner of Christ. Regardless of their expertise or their tribal affiliations each swore allegiance and sought help from the Messiah (lit. “anointed”)(v6). Any help sought from Zion (v2) is now seen as sent from heaven itself.
3. The Invisible intersects with the Visible
Israel through this psalm acknowledges that it must “retreat to advance.” Before Israel can face their enemy, they must face their God. Any soldier worth his weight would weigh up a situation and come up with a plan taking into account the enemies capabilities (“some trust in chariots and some in horses”). Chariots and horses were the most formidable force of ancient times, but they brought memories to Israel of miraculous victories, e.g. at the Red Sea and the river Kishon (Exod. 14; Judg. 4). Israel recognises that their weakness is in fact their strength.
We see the invisible intersect with the visible supremely on the Cross. The victories of our King are imputed to us, our defeats and shame are laid on him. Our Champion has won the day and we did not even lift a finger in our struggle. The Psalm ends with the phrase which it coined and is immortalised in almost every western coronation service: “God Save the King!”
May we see the King and His Kingdom intersect with our lives. May we see his triumph in the midst of our trials. May we see our particular story collide with God’s Great Story. “God Save the King!”