Psalm 20 – A Song of David
Psalm 1, 6-7, “May the Lord answer you in the day of trouble! May the name of the God of Jacob protect you! …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. Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God.”
David had a great deal of trouble in his life not unlike his ancestor Jacob. Despite his great ability and fearlessness as a warrior he came to understand that he needed the help of the Lord in the battles of war and of life. And so, he encourages us likewise to turn to the Lord in times of trouble. Are you learning to do that in your life?
It’s interesting that David asked us to call on the ‘God of Jacob’. This patriarch had two names, ‘Jacob’ the one given by his father Isaac and ‘Israel’ the one given later by God meaning ‘prince with God’. So, it’s good to see, in this psalm, David using the name Jacob, the one that emphasizes his frail humanity. It seems that this name was connected to his act of having held on to his brother’s heel as his twin Esau was being born (Genesis 25:26). The name could mean ‘heel catcher’ or one who trips up another or even just the characteristic of being crafty. And indeed, this was a rather accurate picture of how Jacob lived his early life – trying, on his own, to influence outcomes for his benefit. Despite his belief in God, he had a strong confidence that he could handle most things in life on his own. Do you see something of yourself in that picture?
In verse 7 David speaks of the power of the best military tactics and equipment of the day, using chariots and horses, to win battles in war. But then speaks of something much better. Whether it’s war or some other problem that threatens to overwhelm us – it always best to put our trust in the LORD our God – Yahweh Elohim, as it says in Hebrew (the Almighty, Self-existent One). David had tried it both ways and speaks from experience when he says, “He will answer…from his holy heaven with the saving might of his right hand.”
Regardless of their failures both these men came to realize that God loved them, and that they could fully trust him. Surely, we, as well, can trust the One who gave his son to die for us. So, let’s develop a new habit of not waiting until we’ve exhausted all our own alternative solutions before turning to the Lord for help. Let us learn to make it the first thing we do for our God delights to answer prayer.
Ps 35:27, “Let those who delight in my righteousness shout for joy and be glad and say evermore, "Great is the Lord, who delights in the welfare of his servant!"
