1 In times of trouble, may the Lord answer your cry.
May the name of the God of Jacob keep you safe from all harm.
2 May he send you help from his sanctuary
and strengthen you from Jerusalem.
3 May he remember all your gifts
and look favorably on your burnt offerings.Interlude
4 May he grant your heart’s desires
and make all your plans succeed.
5 May we shout for joy when we hear of your victory
and raise a victory banner in the name of our God.
May the Lord answer all your prayers.
6 Now I know that the Lord rescues his anointed king.
He will answer him from his holy heaven
and rescue him by his great power.
7 Some nations boast of their chariots and horses,
but we boast in the name of the Lord our God.
8 Those nations will fall down and collapse,
but we will rise up and stand firm.
9 Give victory to our king, O Lord!
Answer our cry for help.
Psalm 20
Key verse: “We will shout for joy when you are victorious and will lift up our banners in the name of our God. May the Lord grant all your requests.” Psalm 20:5
When was the last time you shouted because someone else experienced a victory? The Christian life should be marked by repeatedly celebrating and sharing in the joy of other people’s success.
If you are self-centered, you will only find joy in your accomplishments. Would you rather have envy, jealousy, and bitterness or a pure joy because of the gifts and opportunities of someone you know?
David writes that we need to be careful to give God the loudest praise. Banners were ways to signify the victory is from the Lord. David also prays for awesome and specific victories in this psalm.
What are some of the desires of your heart? Do you have any friends who are praying for these longings? Do you pray for your leaders and for God’s grace to complete their endeavors? Try rejoicing in someone else’s victories this week as if they were your own.
Read more encouraging times in the Psalms with Jesse in Radiant Commands, an interpretation of Psalm 19
Jesse Bradley is passionate about helping people discover the grace of Jesus- both in practical and eternal ways. He serves as Senior Pastor of Sebastopol Christian Churchin Northern California, with degrees from Dartmouth College and Dallas Theological Seminary. Once a professional goalkeeper in Scotland and Zimbabwe, God redirected him into ministry through a life-threatening illness. He is the author of Rooted In Grace and A New Season. Jesse and his wife, Laurie, have three children.
Have been speaking psalm 20 as part of a father/grandfathers blessing. There is always a place for my individual blessing on each child, but each one ends with psalm 20. Thanks, Enjoyed your thoughts. Bruce