Psalm 20

Psalm 20 was literally a song written by the king, for the king. It was a song to be sung by the people declaring God's protection, help, support, and victory for the king and, through him, for the nation and the people. It is a song of victory for the one who wrote it and for those who would sing it. It's easy to see why this was probably a popular Psalm in King David's day! But what if we sang this Psalm for a different king?

Commenting on Psalm 20, Charles Spurgeon wrote: "It needs but a moment's reflection to perceive that this hymn of prayer is prophetical of our Lord Jesus, and is the cry of the ancient church on behalf of her Lord, as she sees him in vision enduring a great fight of afflictions on her behalf."

Victory for a nation looks like power and prosperity for those in leadership and ultimately for the people. But what does victory in Jesus look like? And what can we who follow a victorious Jesus anticipate? Then he [Jesus] said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it." (Luke 9:23‭-‬24 NIV)

"Come and lose your life!" doesn't sound like a great campaign slogan for a king seeking followers. Not unless that King can be trusted as the One who has the power and the authority to answer, protect, help, and support those who follow Him. So let us sing a song of victory for our King! Jesus! We trust in no other King - or chariots or horses, or any other sign of power or prosperity. "But we trust in the name of the Lord our God!"  (Psalms 20:7 NIV)

Prayer and Action Steps:
1. Before praying, ask yourself:

• what sign of victory over this pandemic or the economic troubles we are facing would give you the most peace if you read it in the news? 
• then ask yourself, what if that sign of victory over the COVID-19 crisis did not come for an extended period of time? Would the victory Jesus won for you on the cross be enough, knowing that He is the One who will answer you, protect you, help you, support you, remember your sacrifices, and give you victory in His time and His way?

2. Pray and ask God to transform you by the renewing of your mind, including the ways in which you think and worry about your present circumstances. Then ask God to answer you, protect you, help, and support you according to His power and will.