Psalm 20

Psalm 20

“May the Lord answer you in the day of trouble!
May the name of the God of Jacob protect you!
May he send you help from the sanctuary and give you support from Zion!
May he remember all your offerings and regard with favor your burnt sacrifices!
Selah

May he grant you your heart’s desire and fulfill all your plans!
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!

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.
They collapse and fall, but we rise and stand upright.

O Lord, save the king! May he answer us when we call.”

Psalm 20

As I read Psalm 20, the first section makes me think of prayers that many of us have prayed for each other and others we love during this season of COVID.  “Lord, please be near friends who are struggling in difficult circumstances.  Lord, please come alongside my loved one who has lost her job.  Lord, please allow this plan to come to fruition.  Lord, restore the health of people I care about!”

Later in the psalm, we see the writer reminding the group of the truth.  “I know that God saves his people.”  And although the psalmist confidently knows that God will answer, he reminds us that our trust is not in physical things or circumstances that bring the victory.  He instead points us to trusting in the name of the Lord.  But what does it mean to “trust in the name of our God”?

During this time of the year when we are approaching advent, I think of the prophet Isaiah’s description of the Messiah:

“and his name shall be called
Wonderful Counselor,
Mighty God,
Everlasting Father,
Prince of Peace…” Isaiah 9:6

The description of Jesus’ character helps to quiet my heart.  THIS is what we are supposed to put our trust in.  Lord, you as my Wonderful Counselor know me so well, and you know the needs of the people I care about.  Lord, you are Mighty and uphold the universe with the word of your power (Hebrews 1:3).  Lord, you are a good and patient Father and you are watching over your people.  Lord, you are a good ruler who wants to rule my heart with peace, not fear. 

Lord, give us grace to point our minds to your truth and trust in your name during this time.

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Genesis 6:7-8