Book of Psalms Psalms 20-21

Transcription

1 Book of Psalms Psalms Victory Belongs to the Lord Psalm 20 and 21 are both battle songs and they share the same theme of trusting God for victory. Apparently Psalm 20 was a prayer song before battle and Psalm 21 was a victory song after battle. Both are classified as royal psalms referring directly to King David and indirectly to Jesus Christ our victorious King of Kings. God s Chain of Command: The Lord is Commander-in-Chief David is the King-General He was Israel s greatest king. He was a warrior-king. The people of Israel are soldiers in God s army God had reminded His people to trust Him in battle. Deuteronomy 20:1-4 1 When thou goest out to battle against thine enemies, and seest horses, and chariots, and a people more than thou, be not afraid of them: for the LORD thy God is with thee, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt. 2 And it shall be, when ye are come nigh unto the battle, that the priest shall approach and speak unto the people, 3 And shall say unto them, Hear, O Israel, ye approach this day unto battle against your enemies: let not your hearts faint, fear not, and do not tremble, neither be ye terrified because of them; 4 For the LORD your God is he that goeth with you, to fight for you against your enemies, to save you. Psalm 20 Prayer before the Battle In this psalm the pronoun thee (you) refers to King David. God s people were concerned as David prepared to lead the nation into battle. The people were confident that the Lord would do seven things for their king (vs. 1-5): 1. The Confidence of God s People (20:1-5) A. May the Lord hear your (King David s) prayer B. May the Lord keep you safe They were concerned for David s physical safety. C. May the Lord send you help David needed God s help to lead and make wise decisions in battle. D. May the Lord give you strength David needed strength of character. E. May the Lord accept your worship They wanted David s spiritual life to be strong. F. May the Lord grant your desires Psalms 37:4 Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart. G. May the Lord bless your plans David planned his strategy, but the Lord determined the outcome.

2 2. The Confidence of God s King (20:6-9) David was totally confident in the Lord and the victory He would provide. A. The truth David expressed (20:6) He was sure about the place of victory and the power of victory. The people prayed for God to send help from Zion, but David knew that God lived in heaven and that was the source of his help. Solomon later expressed his confidence in 1 Kings 8: If thy people go out to battle against their enemy, whithersoever thou shalt send them, and shall pray unto the LORD toward the city which thou hast chosen, and toward the house that I have built for thy name: 45 Then hear thou in heaven their prayer and their supplication, and maintain their cause. B. The trust David exercised (20:7) Trust means to depend on, to rely on. There is a difference in belief and trust. Belief can be intellectual. Trust is personal. Trust means resting the full weight of our confidence on the Lord, counting on Him alone to deliver us. The key to Psalm 20 is the name of the Lord (vs. 1, 5, 7). Psalms 9:10 And they that know thy name will put their trust in thee: for thou, LORD, hast not forsaken them that seek thee. Psalms 33:21 For our heart shall rejoice in him, because we have trusted in his holy name. Psalms 44:5 Through thee will we push down our enemies: through thy name will we tread them under that rise up against us. The name of the Lord stands for His nature, His character, His reputation. God s name and reputation were on the line as David and the nation prepared to go into battle. David understood the secret to victory was having God fight for him. 1 Samuel 17: Then said David to the Philistine, Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied. 46 This day will the LORD deliver thee into mine hand; and I will smite thee, and take thine head from thee; and I will give the carcases of the host of the Philistines this day unto the fowls of the air, and to the wild beasts of the earth; that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel. 47 And all this assembly shall know that the LORD saveth not with sword and spear: for the battle is the LORD'S, and he will give you into our hands. The name of God is a prominent name (appears often in Scripture), a pre-eminent name (above all others), a powerful name (conquers every enemy), a proven name (tried and tested by God s people through the ages), and a personal name (vs. 1, the God of Jacob, and vs. 5, 7 the name of our God ). Let all things be done in His name. Let our trust be in His name. Let prayers be lifted in His name. Let our songs be sung in His name. Let our joy be found in His name. C. The triumph David expected (20:8-9) In the same way King Hezekiah expected God to bring victory when Sennacherib invaded Judah. 2 Chronicles 32:7-8 7 Be strong and courageous, be not afraid nor dismayed for the king of Assyria, nor for all the multitude that is with him: for there be more with us than with him: 8 With him is an arm of flesh; but with us is the LORD our God to help us, and to fight our battles. And the people rested themselves upon the words of Hezekiah king of Judah. Psalm 21 Praise after the Battle After the victory was won, King David celebrated God s strength and faced his future battles with complete confidence. 1. Celebration of past victory (21:1-6) Salvation means deliverance, victory. David had asked God to spare his life and the Lord answered that prayer. The golden crown was a symbol of victory and God s goodness. This victory was like a second coronation.

3 2. Anticipation of future victories (21:8-13) David would not be moved (shaken) by his enemies (vs. 7) because his faith was in the Lord. The Lord s right hand (vs. 8) is more than a symbol of power. It speaks of God s active involvement on behalf of His people. TRUTH FOR TODAY: We need to pray for our leaders. 1 Timothy 2:1-2 1 I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; 2 For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. We need God s help in our battles. David and his people fought real enemies (Canaanites, Philistines, etc.). Today we still face real enemies and real battles, and though our enemies are different, we must depend on the Lord for victory. Our main enemies are the world, the flesh, and the devil. Ephesians 6:12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. We have certain victory over our enemies. Romans 8:37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. 2 Corinthians 2:14 Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place. Ephesians 6: Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. 11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 1 John 5:4 For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. We must pray and praise God for victory. Remember to ask for His help before the battle and don t forget to thank Him after the victory has been won. Stand up, stand up for Jesus, ye soldiers of the cross; Lift high His royal banner, it must not suffer loss. From vict ry unto vict ry His army shall He lead, Till every foe is vanquished and Christ is Lord indeed. Stand up, stand up for Jesus, the trumpet call obey; Forth to the mighty conflict, in this His glorious day. Ye that are men, now serve Him against unnumbered foes; Let courage rise with danger and strength to strength oppose. Stand up, stand up for Jesus, stand in His strength alone; The arm of flesh will fail you, ye dare not trust your own. Put on the gospel armor, each piece put on with prayer; Where duty calls or danger, be never wanting there. Stand up, stand up for Jesus, the strife will not be long; This day the noise of battle, the next, the victor s song. To him who overcometh a crown of life shall be; He, with the King of Glory, shall reign eternally.

4 Book of Psalms Psalms Victory Belongs to the Lord Psalm 20 and 21 are both battle songs and they share the same theme of trusting God for victory. Apparently Psalm 20 was a prayer song before battle and Psalm 21 was a victory song after battle. Both are classified as royal psalms referring directly to King David and indirectly to Jesus Christ our victorious King of Kings. God s Chain of Command: is Commander-in-Chief is the King-General are soldiers in God s army Deuteronomy 20:1-4 1 When thou goest out to battle against thine enemies, and seest horses, and chariots, and a people more than thou, be not afraid of them: for the LORD thy God is with thee, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt. 2 And it shall be, when ye are come nigh unto the battle, that the priest shall approach and speak unto the people, 3 And shall say unto them, Hear, O Israel, ye approach this day unto battle against your enemies: let not your hearts faint, fear not, and do not tremble, neither be ye terrified because of them; 4 For the LORD your God is he that goeth with you, to fight for you against your enemies, to save you. Psalm 20 In this psalm the pronoun thee (you) refers to King David. God s people were concerned as David prepared to lead the nation into battle. The people were confident that the Lord would do seven things for their king (vs. 1-5). 1. The Confidence of (20:1-5) A. May the Lord B. May the Lord C. May the Lord D. May the Lord E. May the Lord F. May the Lord G. May the Lord 2. The Confidence of (20:6-9) A. David expressed (20:6) He was sure about the place of victory and the power of victory.

5 B. David exercised (20:7) Trust means to depend on, to rely on. There is a difference in belief and trust. Belief can be intellectual. Trust is personal. Trust means resting the full weight of our confidence on the Lord, counting on Him alone to deliver us. The key to Psalm 20 is the name of the Lord (vs. 1, 5, 7). Psalms 9:10 And they that know thy name will put their trust in thee: for thou, LORD, hast not forsaken them that seek thee. Psalms 33:21 For our heart shall rejoice in him, because we have trusted in his holy name. Psalms 44:5 Through thee will we push down our enemies: through thy name will we tread them under that rise up against us. The name of the Lord stands for His nature, His character, His reputation. God s name and reputation were on the line as David and the nation prepared to go into battle. David understood the secret to victory was having God fight for him. See 1 Sam. 17: C. David expected (20:8-9) Psalm of past victory (21:1-6) Salvation means deliverance, victory. David had asked God to spare his life and the Lord answered that prayer. 2. of future victories (21:8-13) David would not be moved (shaken) by his enemies (vs. 7) because his faith was in the Lord. The Lord s right hand (vs. 8) is more than a symbol of power. It speaks of God s active involvement on behalf of His people. TRUTH FOR TODAY: We for our leaders. 1 Timothy 2:1-2 1 I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; 2 For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. We in our battles. Ephesians 6:12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. We over our enemies. Romans 8:37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. 2 Corinthians 2:14 Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place. Ephesians 6: Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. 11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 1 John 5:4 For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. We for victory. Remember to ask for His help before the battle and don t forget to thank Him after the victory has been won.