Psalm 20

Psalms 20 and 21 belong together.  Today’s song expresses prayer for the success of the king; next week’s expresses praise for the same.  In Psalm 20 the prayer is that God would give the king his heart’s desire (20:4).  In Psalm 21 God is praised for having given the king his heart’s desire (21:2).

The people pray for the king (v1-5) so that when they call on the king he will be able to help (v9).  The trust of the people is in God (v6-8).  While this Psalm is not specifically Messianic, it is a prayer for David and is most perfectly answered in the Messiah, the future and greatest Son of David.

·       20:1-3: First, the prayer is that God will give the king help from the sanctuary, that God will remember the king’s offerings and sacrifice.  In other words there is a recognition that this is the king of Israel, anointed by God, to rule for God and “in God’s place” over His people.  This is critical.  God had anticipated that the people would want a king even before they entered the land (Deut. 17:14-20).  The time came when the people demanded a king (1 Sam. 8).  It is apparent that their “demand” was a rejection of God (1 Sam. 8:7).  But even so, God chose the king and set the king over them to rule for Him, for God (1 Sam. 12:13).  Even with an earthly king the people were accountable for obedience to God (1 Sam. 12:14-15).  The first king, Saul, was not himself obedient to God and God rejected him.  The second king, David, was a man after God’s heart; God accepted him and established his throne forever in Zion.  Having said all this then, we see why the first request is that the king will be a man who worships God; he will be a man of the sanctuary leading the people spiritually as well as governmentally.  We always remember that Jerusalem, Zion, is both the home of the temple and the home of the palace with the Davidic king!  The two must not be separated.

·       20:4-5: It is with the assumption that the king himself is a man of God that the people can then pray that God will fulfill all his purposes and petitions.  Let us not forget this when it comes time for application.

·       20:6-8: Notice too then the confidence of the people.  They will call on the king, but only because they know the LORD saves His anointed.  As the king rules for God, God will save the king.

This is the explanation.  What about the application?  This can and should guide our praying for our own ruling authorities today, that they would be helped by God as they walk with God.  We should understand that our military is not our confidence in our international dealings.  And there is personal application as well.  Let us not present our purposes and petitions and assume God will honor them if they do not come from an obedient heart and life.  “Delight yourself also in the LORD and He shall give you the desires of your heart” (Ps. 37:4).