Psalm 20
Intercession is our duty and our privilege. Trust in God
secures success. May we be encouraged to pray and not to faint!
1, 2. "May the Lord hear you in the day of trouble;
may the name of the God of Jacob defend you. May He send you help from the
sanctuary, and strengthen you out of Zion."
David desires entreaties for himself, and suggests
petitions for his praying people. He was tossed on the waves of
ever-swelling trouble. At home and abroad, there was the incessant noise of
war. He knew the only source of true success. He excites others to besiege
heaven for him.
In his kingly office he was a clear type of Christ. In
this type David's great Lord and Son stoops to solicit prayer. He stands
before us as one in need; troubles grow thick around Him; the whole
artillery of hell assails; He looked to heaven, and asks others to desire
audience for Him. We can look back and see how answers came. All the
perfections of God which constitute His name came forth in His behalf. The
God of Jacob was His shield. The heavens opened. A ministering angel
hastened to uphold the prostrate God-man.
3. "Remember all Your offerings, and accept Your burnt
sacrifice."
In this petition faith looks onward to the great
redeemer. Jesus indeed made offering to God. He offered Himself the victim
upon the altar. He laid down His life a whole burnt-sacrifice. He fulfilled
all which every blazing altar and every bleeding victim had prefigured; He
was not spared. Avenging wrath descended, and fullest penalty was inflicted.
Justice presented scales, and they received their whole demands.
It is our joy to know that the shed blood prevailed. Each
faithful suppliant can remind our God that full atonement has been made for
every sin; that all due wrath has been expended on our surety; that His
death is our death; His sufferings are our sufferings; His payment is our
payment; the curse inflicted upon Him is our redemption. We may kneel
joyfully before the throne, and with assurance cry, "remember the offering
of the dying Jesus; accept the burnt-sacrifice of the atoning Lamb."
4. "Grant according to Your own heart, and fulfill all
Your counsel."
The heart of Christ is fixed on God's glory. He cries,
"Your law is within My heart." His burning desire was that all God's
attributes should receive honor from His work. This glory is secured when
mercy and truth meet together; righteousness and peace kiss each other. All
His desire shall be accomplished. He shall see of the travail of His soul
and shall be satisfied. Success shall gloriously crown His work. The
Gospel-scheme shall triumph.
5. "We will rejoice in your salvation, and in the name
of our God we will set up our banners; the Lord fulfill all your petitions."
The Church beholds salvation won and all desires of
Christ fulfilled. It is a wondrous, precious, glorious sight. God is
honored; Christ is magnified; sinners are saved. What is the feeling which
breaks forth? It is joy—joy unspeakable and full of glory. Let every heart
be glad, let every lip sing praise. In knowledge of this manifested glory
let us unfold the banner; let us press to the ranks of the redeemed; let us
march in happy fellowship to Immanuel's land.
6. "Now know I that the Lord saves His anointed; He
will hear him from His holy heaven with the saving strength of His right
hand."
The life in the believer's soul, his clear perception of
redemption's truth, his realizing views of deep interest in Christ, leave no
doubt that Christ was heard in all His prayers, and that God put forth all
the strength of His right hand to bring Him through His work. Oh! blessed
knowledge of all precious truth!
7, 8. "Some trust in chariots, and some in horses; but
we will remember the name of the Lord our God. They were brought down and
fell; but we have risen, and stand upright."
The folly of carnal confidence is next portrayed. Except
the Lord be on our side, the multitude of warlike equipment are as the chaff
before the wind. The Lord speaks, and Pharaoh and his hosts fall an easy
prey to the unsparing sea, while Israel, relying on their God, stand
conquerors on the shore, and sing the song of triumph.
Holy Spirit! open our eyes to see our nothingness in
ourselves! Our best is worthless. May we shun all fancied righteousness, and
fix adoring thoughts on the great name and saving work of Jesus!
9. "Save, Lord! let the King hear us when we call."
Salvation should be the first and foremost, the sum and
substance, of our every desire. What will all earth, and all earth's
treasures, and all earth's pleasures profit, except our souls be saved! For
salvation let our cry besiege heaven's gates. Happy the thought that on the
throne a King is seated who never casts out prayer! Let us come boldly, and
pray diligently. Calling in Christ's name, we cannot fail. We have a motto
for this day and evermore—"Save, Lord! let the King hear us when we call."