Introduction to Psalm 20
The first part of the chapter (1-5) is a rousing prayer for victory for all who trust in the Name of God. The second part of the chapter (6-9) is an assuring declaration of victory for those who trust in the Name of God. Until you get to verse nine, you almost get a sense that something transpired between verses five and six that caused the writer to drastically shift gears from asking to assurance. It is almost as if there was a battle fought somewhere in between verses five and six. At the beginning, the king is petitioning God; then, from mid-way almost to the end, the king is no longer asking God for victory, but is instead declaring victory with full assurance.
Was there a physical battle taking place? Many! Probably not in the middle of this chapter, although that is certainly possibly seeing that the king wrote many Psalms on the run and on the battlefield. But more likely, this battle took place in the heart and mind of the king, as is the case with most of us today. This is one of the greatest points of this beautiful chapter: When we call on God’s Great Name in prayer, we can be assured that by the time we get off our knees, our focus and perspective will have changed. Not only that, but there is no other way to see victory after we get off our knees, but by calling on God’s great Name(s) in prayer in the first place.
Well what are the Names of God? We will talk about that much over the next 51 weeks. And we will talk much about the word victory. My prayer is that by the end of 2017, when I hear any of God’s great Name(s) or the word victory, they will be as synonymous with one another as gift is with present.
So get ready to join me on this new journey of seeking and just scratching the surface of the greatness in God’s Name(s); and finding assurance of victory – on our knees and on the pavement – through trusting in and calling on that great Name!
Victorious In His name,
Dawn~