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Some take pride in chariots, and others in horses, but we take pride in the name of the LORD our God.

-Psalm 20:7

Psalm 20 is crazy rich with imagery and profound depth. As is true with all of Scripture, a superficial reading does it no justice. The overarching tone and point of the Davidic psalms is frequently established at the onset. In Psalm 20:1, David writes:

“May the LORD answer you when trouble comes.”

Firstly, David didn’t set out to write a critique of prosperity gospel. No such nonsense existed in his day. It simply turns out the authentic pursuit and worship of God exposes heresy and foolishness quite naturally. David wrote candidly, “...when trouble comes.”

He made no mention of exemption from struggles, sufferings, or trials for those blessed with the gift of faith. Nowhere in Scripture is there the implication or suggestion that tithes, offering, or sacrifices insulate or stave sufferings.

David, God’s anointed, lived and served to advance God’s Kingdom and foreshadow the promised Messiah. As is evident in Psalm 20, David prepared for and fully expected opposition, battle, struggles, and troubles in life.

The fool is right in his own opinion, but the one who listens to advice is truly wise.

Proverbs 12:15

Psalm 20 is rank with battle imagery. There is reference to anticipation of victory (vv 5, 6, 9), to horses and chariots (v.7), and to the opposition’s imminent collapse and fall (v.8). One of the most sobering realizations is that David’s song of praise, his psalm, was written for his friends - those faithful men following him into battle.

Next, David’s prayerful song states, “May the LORD answer -you- when trouble comes.” David does not sing, "LORD, answer them when trouble comes." Do you see the difference? It's as if David is singing a prayerful song of praise directly to his men. Those men, with whom he is about to go into battle, are the audience. “May the LORD answer -you- when trouble comes.”

How comforting it must have been to experience God's anointed one - their king - standing with them on the eve of battle hearing him sing, “May the LORD answer -you- when trouble comes.” David simultaneously upheld God as the omnipresent and omnipotent Sovereign of the universe and provoked his army to pray.

David prayed that God would listen, hear, answer, protect, help, sustain, remember, accept, give, and fulfill the “whole purpose” of those devout friends following him into the pending battle. That “whole purpose” is revealed in v.5 when David writes, “Let us shout for joy at Your victory and lift the banner in the name of our God!”

David’s certainty is unflappable. In v. 6 he states, “Now I know the LORD gives victory to His anointed; He will answer him from His holy heaven with mighty victories…” This was the identic confidence displayed previously when David heard Goliath spew blasphemies against God. To which David responded, “Who is this uncircumcised Philistine that he should defy the armies of the living God?” Then David defiantly touted, “You (Goliath) come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the LORD Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied! This day the LORD will deliver you into my hands…”

A ruddy teenage boy, armed only with a sling and his absolute confidence in God Almighty, effortlessly erased the Philistines' undisputed super-heavyweight champion!

David wasn’t perfect though. His story is tainted with adultery, murder, and a seemingly innocuous census. Those failures came at times when, like enemies who trusted and took pride in chariots and horses, he failed to take pride exclusively in the name of the LORD. David, like us, wasn’t perfect. But he foreshadowed Jesus, i.e. God, who is perfect.

Like David, King Jesus prayed for us, His army of holy warriors, on the verge or in the thick of life's battles, struggles, troubles, doubt, fear, and worry. Jesus prayed, "Stand firm, and you will win life." The Apostle Paul echoed this in writing, "But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ."

If you are truly part of His salvation army, someone living the Gospel, someone invested in His mission to bless all the families on earth, and someone advancing His Kingdom - then you are either on the verge of battle or already in the thick of it. Christ, our Anointed One, has a prayer for those who joyfully follow Him victoriously into battle:

I will answer you when trouble comes.

I, Jacob’s God, will protect you.

I have sent you The Helper from heaven’s sanctuary.

I will sustain you.

I am your perfect Sacrifice; your Burnt Offering.

I am giving you exactly what the heart I created truly desires.

Shout for joy at the victory you have in Me.

Lift up My Name as your battle standard.

Take pride in the Name of the LORD your God.

I will surely answer you on the day you call.

Psalm 20 is a rich and vivid song of stark contrasts. There are those who “rise and stand firm,” reveling in certain victory amid the swarm of chaos, confusion, opposition, and sufferings. There are also those in opposition to God who “collapse and fall,” for taking pride in chariots and horses - false gods and idols.

What are the thoughts consuming your mind and heart today? Is it the promotion at work? The kid’s sports championship? The new house or car? Your health or financial security - or lack thereof? What is the bulk of your effort and energy going into? Whose kingdom are you actively and personally invested in; His or yours?

Now fill in the blanks:

I've been taking pride in ___________ and in _____________, but the trusted servants and victorious army of King Jesus take pride exclusively in the name of the LORD their God.

When you examine your vocation, occupation, and ministry… what, or Who, are you really putting your trust in? What are you taking pride in?

Does your life truly lift up Jesus Christ as your banner?

Blessings,

-Kevin M. Kelley

aMostUnlikelyDisciple.com