Today, Friday November 25
Confident of Victory
Psalm 20:6-9
“Now I know that the LORD saves His anointed; He will answer him from His holy heaven With the saving strength of His right hand. Some trust in chariots, and some in horses; But we will remember the name of the LORD our God. They have bowed down and fallen; But we have risen and stand upright. Save, LORD! May the King answer us when we call.”
In the first five verses the people prayed for the king, their leader! Now in verses 6-9, David is confident of victory as he leads them into battle against the enemy. One great pastor of yesteryear would often say, "Everything rises and falls with leadership", and he was right.
Now the king speaks and assures his people that he is confident of success because the Lord has chosen him ("anointed") and heard his prayers. When we know that we are the Lord’s chosen and anointed people we can be assured that He will take care of us and keep His promises!
The people had prayed "May the Lord answer you in the day of trouble" (v. 1), and David's reply was, "He will answer him from His holy heaven…" (v. 6). The Lord would not only send help from Zion (v. 2) but also from the very throne of heaven! (v. 6). Just as God's hand had reached down and saved David in the past (18:9-18), so His hand would deliver him from the enemy. In the covenant God made with David, He had promised him success in battle (2 Sam. 7:11), and David claimed this promise by faith.
Was the enemy coming with horses and chariots? There was no need to fear, for Israel's faith was in the Lord. Israel's kings were commanded not to acquire great numbers of horses and chariots (Deut. 17:16), a law that Solomon disobeyed (1 Kings 10:26-27). Note that the law of warfare even mentions horses and chariots (Deut. 20:1-4, Deut. 32:20 and 2 Sam. 10:18). God had defeated Egypt's best troops (Ex. 14:6ff; 15:4), and He could defeat the enemy attacking David (Ps. 33:16-17; Prov. 21:31; 2 Kings 19:20-23).
"If God be for us, who can be against us?" (Rom. 8:31). God's people don't boast in their human resources but in the God who alone can save them in every situation. Only this kind of faith will honor the strong name of the Lord. Did you notice that at least three times “the name of God…” is mentioned (vv. 1, 5, & 7)! The enemy might come against us with the great might with their weapons of war but, “we will remember the name of the LORD our God!” The enemy will go down in defeat, but Israel will stand upright as victors.
This chapter ends like it begins, with a prayer and a plea! “Save, LORD! May the King answer us when we call.” David is the king of Israel, but he acknowledges that there is a greater King! And that King is the Lord Jesus Christ! Here David, the people, and the troops acknowledging the sovereignty of the great king of Israel. Unless the Lord is King, there can be no victory.
"For the LORD is the great God, And the great King above all gods" (Psalm 95:3). “Lift up your heads, O you gates! Lift up, you everlasting doors! And the King of glory shall come in. Who is this King of glory? The LORD of hosts, He is the King of glory” (Psalm 24:9-10).
Like David, we might plan our strategy and make our petitions (v. 4), but the Lord alone can determine the outcome. I trust this Psalm will be one that you will read often and make your prayer!
God bless!