Psalm 20

Trusting in God's Strength and Salvation

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Introduction

This Bible study highlights the themes of trusting in God's strength and salvation, seeking His help and protection, and finding joy in His faithfulness. It emphasizes the contrast between earthly reliance and trust in the name of the LORD. The New Covenant perspective invites us to put our trust in Jesus Christ, the ultimate source of strength and salvation, and to call upon His name for deliverance and guidance in our lives.


Section 1: A Prayer for God's Help (vs 1-5)

"May the LORD answer you in the day of trouble; may the name of the God of Jacob protect you. May He send you help from the sanctuary and sustain you from Zion. May He remember all your offerings and accept your burnt offering. May He give you the desire of your heart and make all your plans succeed. We will shout for joy when you are victorious, and in the name of our God, we will set up our banners. May the LORD fulfill all your petitions."


Talking Points:

- The prayerful plea for God's assistance and protection during times of trouble.

- Seeking help and sustenance from God's sanctuary and recognizing the significance of offerings.

- The expression of joy and celebration in the anticipation of victory and the fulfillment of petitions.


Harmony: 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 (BSB), "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God."


Questions:

- In what situations do you find yourself seeking God's help and protection the most?

- How does the idea of offering and presenting your heart's desires to God resonate with you?

- How can we cultivate a sense of joy and celebration, even before victory is fully realized, based on our trust in God's faithfulness?


Section 2: Trusting in God's Strength (vs 6-8)

"Now I know that the LORD saves His anointed; He answers him from His holy heaven with the saving power of His right hand. Some trust in chariots and others in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God. They collapse and fall, but we rise up and stand firm."


Talking Points:

- The affirmation of God's salvation and His response to His anointed ones.

- Contrasting the misplaced trust in earthly possessions and human strength with the unwavering trust in the name of the LORD.

- The assurance that while others may fall, those who trust in God will rise and stand firm.


Harmony: Proverbs 3:5-6 (BSB), "Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight."


Questions:

- How does the knowledge of God's saving power and His response to His anointed ones impact your trust in Him?

- In what areas of your life do you find it challenging to trust in God's strength rather than relying on earthly means?

- How can we develop a deeper level of trust and reliance on God in our daily lives?


Section 3: A Plea for Victory and Blessing (vs 9)

"O LORD, save the king! Answer us when we call!"


Talking Points:


Harmony: Romans 10:13 (BSB), "For 'Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.'"


Questions:


Summary

Psalm 20 provides a powerful meditation on prayer, divine deliverance, and kingship, themes that find their ultimate expression in Jesus Christ.

The psalmist's prayer for protection, help, and support (Psalm 20:1-2) echoes the intercessory role of Jesus, who not only prays for His followers but is also the mediator between God and humanity (John 17:9, 1 Timothy 2:5).

David's confidence in God's deliverance and answer to prayer (Psalm 20:6) anticipates Christ's resurrection as a divine affirmation of His messianic identity and a definitive answer to His sacrificial prayer (Acts 2:24, Hebrews 5:7).

The Psalm's hope in God's saving power, in contrast to the futility of trusting in military strength (Psalm 20:7-8), aligns with Jesus' teachings about peace, faith in God, and the futility of worldly power (Matthew 5:9, John 16:33, Matthew 20:25-28).

Finally, David's prayer for the king and God's anointed (Psalm 20:9) prefigures the New Testament acknowledgment of Jesus as the Anointed One, the King of kings (Acts 10:38, Revelation 19:16).

Psalm 20 can be seen as a poignant anticipation of prayer, divine deliverance, and kingship fully realized in Jesus Christ under the New Covenant.

Psalms