Boast in the Lord - Psalm 20

Introduction

Christians struggle with connecting the Old Testament and New Testament. We believe that there’s some passages in scripture that applied to them back then, but not to us today. In reality, all Scripture applies to us today through Jesus. Some scriptures are harder to apply than others. But instead of doing the hard work of living under the whole counsel of God, we ignore the parts of the Bible we don’t want to work at understanding. We start with Leviticus and Numbers, then the Psalms and Paul’s letters. Like a college student who only eats chicken nuggets and French fries, we reject the buffet of goodness from God and leave all the weaker because of it.

The Passage

For the choir director. A Psalm of David.

May the Lord answer you in the day of trouble! May the name of the God of Jacob set you securely on high! May He send you help from the sanctuary And support you from Zion! May He remember all your meal offerings And find your burnt offering acceptable! Selah. May He grant you your heart’s desire And fulfill all your counsel!

We will sing for joy over your victory, 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. Some boast in chariots and some in horses, But we will boast in the name of the Lord, our God. They have bowed down and fallen, But we have risen and stood upright. Save, O Lord; May the King answer us in the day we call. Psalm 20 

Explanation of the Passage

David likely wrote this psalm to be sung before a battle. The Psalm begins with worshippers waiting on God to meet and expecting Him to bless us, then the Psalm moves to our response to God. It has two movements. In the first section (vv. 1-4), David talks about the Lord and what we want Him to do when He meets with us. In the second (vv. 5-9), David shows how we respond to the Lord in praise.

In the first section, we find that the purpose of the Psalm points to some distress God’s people experienced (v.1). They go to God and wait on Him to send help (v.2). As the soldiers wait on the battlefield, they hope God remembers their past faithfulness and sacrifices (v.3). They hope God instructs them and gives them all the counsel their hearts desire (v. 4). So, when we meet with God for help, we hope and expect Him to help us.  

In the second section, worshippers respond with joyful praise like a choir and lift up their banners like an army in hope that God answers their requests (v. 5). Their hope is secure because God has saved His messiah and has answered Him from heaven (v.6). Because God saved His messiah, the people in distress remember God’s strength, not the power of chariots, tanks, or submarines (v.7). Their enemies fall while they stand proud on the battlefield (v. 8). God saves through His King on the day we call for Him (v. 9).  

The Lord serves you through the worship of His son when you’re troubled.

 Jesus Saves from Zion

Jesus said on the Emmaus road that all scripture speaks about Him (Luke 24:44-45). In the Newer Testament, the Apostles give us a good template on how to interpret the Older Testament as testifying about Jesus. For example, the Newer Testament understands Psalm 2 as explaining the crucifixion, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus ( ).

 With this in mind, look at verse 6. God saves anointed one. No doubt, David refers to himself. God took the anointing away from Saul and appointed him to be king over Israel. As Saul persecuted David in 1 Samuel, God vindicated him time and time again. In the Newer Testament, Jesus enters the scene as the Son of David and God’s own messiah (Matthew 3:17). Like David, Jesus was persecuted by the false kings of Israel, the Sanhedrin. Also like David, God vindicated Jesus. But God vindicated Jesus in a special way. He raised Jesus from the dead and gave Him the throne of heaven and earth. Because God saves Jesus, He will save us. When we call on God, king Jesus answers (v.9).

We Worship on Mt. Zion

In the Newer Testament, we learn that our worship on the Lord’s Day enters us into the heavenly Mt. Zion (Hebrews 12:22). The Lord wants us to know that Mt. Zion in the Older Testament was a template for the church in the Newer testament. When we read about the worship on Mt. Zion, we should look and see if there’s anything that applies to us today. Look at verse 2. One thing we should understand is God gives us worship on the Lord’s Day to send us help.

Now, what kind of help does God send us? He helps sinners through sacrifice of Jesus. He is the Passover lamb who covers us from the wrath of God (John 1:29). He is atoning sacrifice for our sins (1 John 2:2). David mentions two sacrifices in verse 3, the meal offering and the whole burnt offering. Sometimes these are called the tribute offering and the ascension offering. The ascension offering was the main sacrifice in the older covenant. The priest would cut up the animal, rearrange it, then burn it up. The smoke from the ascension offering would combine with the incense smoke in the temple symbolizing the unity the worshiper now has with God. The tribute offering was typically given to show thanksgiving after the Lord blessed the harvest. In the Newer Testament, both sacrifices continue through Christ. In Him we offer ourselves as living sacrifices (Romans 12:1). Jesus, our high priest, takes the word, which is sharper than a sword and cuts us like an ascension offering (Hebrews 4:12). When the pastor preaches God’s word to God’s people, Jesus is cutting them open with his priestly instruments. We, then in response to His blessing offer our tithes and offerings to the Lord (2 Corinthians 9:7).

 Notice this kind of help isn’t what a lot of you want. Some of you want Sunday worship to have the feel-good music you listen to on His Radio. Others of you want the sermon to be practical like a self-help book or inspiring like a tear-jerking movie. Instead, the Lord helps you by inviting you on high in His throne room (v.1). Instead of giving you a ten-step plan to grow your business, He counsel’s you to be a better person (v. 4). He gives you all your heart needs (v.4).

Notice the back and forth nature in this Psalm. God answers us in our trouble (v.1). We praise God for helping us (v.5). When the Lord remembers us in our worship, He finds it pleasing and acceptable (v.3; literally “makes Him fat”). The day of our distress (v. 1) is the same day we call (v.9), which is the same day God answers us. It is today, the Lord’s Day, the day of worship and praise and rest and celebration when we give our troubles to God and He gives us songs to sing.

Worship is Political

Notice in verse 7, that some boast in chariots and horses. You cannot separate worship from politics. Eventually, what you worship will eventually affect how you vote, and what you expect from your kings. When men fail to worship God, they eventually worship other men as gods. The temptation for sinful men when they fail to worship God is to worship kings who have chariots and horses.

Conclusion

We worship a king too. He rules heaven and earth (Matthew 28:20). When sinful men seek to establish a cult out of presidents and politicians and billionaires, we respond with worshipping the king of kings and Lord of lords. Those who worship and depend on presidents fall down while we rise and stand up right. We should call all people and kings to worship Jesus to be under His lordship so they can remain standing too.