Jesus throughout the Scriptures: Psalms 2 (3)
Pray Psalm 20.5, 6.
We will rejoice in your salvation,
And in the name of our God we will 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 strength of His right hand.
Sing Psalm 20.5, 6.
(St. Leonard’s: May the Mind of Christ, My Savior)
In Your Name we raise our banners; LORD, fulfill our every prayer!
Saved are we in glorious manner, free from every care.
Read Psalm 20; meditate on verses 7-9.
Preparation
1. To whom is this psalm addressed?
2. On what did David say He would rely?
Meditation
This psalm makes my head spin because of the various changes of perspective. All the “yous” of verses 1-5 are singular. To whom is David talking? The “we” in verse 5—does that include David and the one he’s addressing or some other group? The “I” in verse 6 is David, but who is “His anointed”, the “him” (v. 6) whose prayers God answers from heaven? “We” again in verse 7, but who? “They” in verse 8 is contrasted with “we” in that verse who “have risen and stand upright.” And who is the “King” in verse 9 who answers “we” when they call?
See what I mean? Perhaps David is speaking to himself (“you”), using himself as a representative of the whole of God’s people (“we”), or thinking of himself (the King) in the third person? Is David the “anointed” one—anointed as king over God’s people, or does this refer to God’s Messiah, as in Psalm 2? And is the King in verse 9 also the LORD in that same verse?
The one solid focal point in this prayer is God, the LORD, the King Who answers prayer, Who hears the prayer of His anointed king (David)) and His Anointed One (v. 6: “Ask of Me, and I will give You the nations…” Ps. 2), and Who turns the saving strength of His right hand to fulfill that request.
God sees. God hears. God answers. God saves. That’s all we need to know. Nothing else can save us. Trust Him (v. 7).
Treasure Old and New: Matthew 13.52; Psalm 119.162
David first makes these observations about God’s care for His Own:
“May the LORD answer you…defend you…send you help…strengthen you…remember all your offerings… May He grant you according to your heart’s desire, and fulfill all your purpose” (Ps. 20.1-4).
“Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for them is that they may be saved” (Rom. 10.1).
“Trust in the LORD, and do good; dwell in the land and feed on His faithfulness.
Delight yourself also in the LORD, and He shall give you the desires of your heart” (Ps. 37.3, 4).
“Obey and observe all these words which I command you, that it may go well with you and your children after you forever, when you do what is good and right in the sight of the LORD your God” (Deut. 12.28).
Then He writes about trust:
“Some trust in chariots and some in horses;
but we will remember the Name of the LORD our God” (Ps. 20.7).
“Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help, and rely on horses,
who trust in chariots because they are many, and in horsemen because they are very strong,
but who do not look to the Holy One of Israel, nor seek the LORD!” (Is. 31.1).
“The horse is prepared for the day of battle, but deliverance is of the LORD” (Prov. 21.31).
Then he expounds upon the Holy One Who will redeem us:
“Save, LORD!
May the King answer us when we call” (Ps. 20.9).
“Seek the LORD while He may be found, call upon Him while He is near” (Is. 55.6).
“I AM the Good Shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own.
As the Father knows Me, even so I know the Father;
and I lay down My life for the sheep” (Jn. 10.14, 15).
“And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His Name JESUS,
for He will save His people from their sins” (Matt. 1.21).
How firm a foundation, ye saints of the Lord,
Is laid for your faith in His excellent Word!
What more can He say than to you He hath said,
To you who for refuge to Jesus have fled?
The soul that on Jesus hath leaned for repose,
I will not, I will not desert to his foes;
That soul, though all hell should endeavor to shake,
I’ll never, no, never, no, never forsake!”
(Rippon’s selection of Hymns, 1787)
Reflection
1. Which part of Psalm 20 most speaks to you about God’s loving and saving care?
2. What can you do to stay more focused on Christ and His salvation throughout the day?
3. Whom will you encourage today to rejoice in the saving love of Jesus?
The Spirit of prophecy rises from what related to the king, to that which is peculiar to Christ; none other is blessed for ever, much less a blessing for ever. Matthew Henry (1662-1714), Commentary on Psalm 20.1-6
Pray Psalm 20.1-5, 7-9.
Rejoice in the Lord and His salvation as you lay your troubles, trials, disappointments, setbacks, and failures at His feet. Renew your commitment to Him and to being His witness, and call on Him to keep you upright in His path throughout the day.
Sing Psalm 20.1-5, 7-9.
(St. Leonard’s: May the Mind of Christ, My Savior)
Jesus, Savior, hear my pleading, set me safely, LORD, on high;
help me by Your gracious leading and receive my cry.
May You by Your Church support me; gladly, LORD, receive my praise
may my thanks a good report be with You all my days.
Grant my every earnest longing. Let my counsel be fulfilled.
May I joyous song be strong in, living in Your will.
Answer from Your holy heaven, save us by Your mighty hand!
Some to earthly boasts are given; in Your grace we stand.
They have bowed and fallen, Savior, while we rise and stand upright;
grant to us Your royal favor, hear us day and night.
T. M. and Susie Moore
If you have found this meditation helpful, take a moment and give thanks to God. Then share what you learned with a friend. This is how the grace of God spreads (2 Cor. 4.15).
For more teaching about the subject of this series, “Jesus throughout the Scriptures”, download our free ReVision study, “We Would See Jesus”, by clicking here.
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Except as indicated, all Scriptures are taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. For sources of all quotations, see the weekly PDF of this study. All psalms for singing are from The Ailbe Psalter.
