May the Lord answer you when you are in distress;
may the name of the God of Jacob protect you.
May he send you help from the sanctuary
and grant you support from Zion.
May he remember all your sacrifices
and accept your burnt offerings.
May he give you the desire of your heart
and make all your plans succeed.
May we shout for joy over your victory
and lift up our banners in the name of our God.
May the Lord grant all your requests.
Now this I know:
The Lord gives victory to his anointed.
He answers him from his heavenly sanctuary
with the victorious power of his right hand.
Some trust in chariots and some in horses,
but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.
They are brought to their knees and fall,
but we rise up and stand firm.
Lord, give victory to the king!
Answer us when we call!
Psalm 20
This past week the player blog has focused on the life of David. We’ve seen how David’s trust in God has sustained him through some pretty rough times. David has shown us why God calls him “a man after His own heart.”
As we head into this final week of football game preparation let’s turn our attention to the larger battle - the battle for our son’s hearts and minds - and ours as well. Psalm 20 is considered by many Bible scholars to be a war song. As you may already know, we all live in a spiritual war zone. Singing a “war song” over our families and the communities in which we engage is an appropriate prayer to pray all the time. There are six requests David makes.
May the Lord answer you when you are in distress; may the name of the God of Jacob protect you.
--David’s routine act of worship is crying out to the Lord. David believes in God’s character and is confident in who God is. The name of the God of Jacob is powerful because it is the name above all names. We acknowledge this and cry out to Him with confidence in any situation.
2. May he send you help from the sanctuary and grant you support from Zion.
--A “sanctuary” is a place of safety and refuge. When we pray, we often pray for others to find sanctuary. David knows that his life purpose as defined by God is not to settle into safety and refuge. Our purpose is to represent God in the world and that cannot be done effectively if we are focused on maintaining safety and refuge. The beautiful part, however, is that in going out we are able to experience God’s support in new and powerful ways because He sends support from the sanctuary of His presence.
3. May he remember all your sacrifices and accept your burnt offerings.
--Seems like this one has passed with Jesus fulfillment of the requirements of the law. But has it? Ephesians 5:2 says, “And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.” Jesus sacrifice did fulfill the law, but it also serves as an example of a manner of worship that is pleasing to God. We are called to love as Christ loved. Seeking God’s remembrance honors His Son as our love lived out reminds Him of the supreme love that He demonstrated on our behalf.
4. May he give you the desire of your heart and make all your plans succeed.
--It is supremely tempting to believe that this is a verse that states that our desires will be fulfilled and we will be successful. What if it means that God changes your desires to match His own for you and in this way you are guaranteed to succeed as you trust in Him? Ask God to shape your desires so you may pursue His plans with great dedication.
5. May we shout for joy over your victory and lift up our banners in the name of our God.
--Shouting out victory and pointing to the one who achieves that victory by the power of His name--what a worthy prayer!! Ask God to use you, your sons, etc. to accomplish the victory so that His name may be praised. There is no greater joy than to be an instrument of praise and worship to our Great God.
6. May the Lord grant all your requests.
--See this prayer in the context of all the others. If we are truly focused on the character of God and we pray in light of these truths, is there any way that God would not grant your requests. It is not asking as if God were a great genie, it is asking as if God is your greatest joy and you are submitting to Him with great confidence.
Please pray with us over our sons, our families and the communities in which we engage and have influence.
Father God,
I praise you! You are the Almighty and Merciful King of all the Universe, yet You choose to listen to Your people and to respond to our requests. Thank you, Lord, for Your grace.
Precious Father, life is not easy. Since Your Son lived this life, you know of all the challenges that (insert your son’s name) faces experientially. He is confronted by many things each day and they can easily create uncertainty, fear, confusion, and other negative outcomes. Father, as (insert your son’s name) goes through this day, protect him by the power of your Name--the Name above all Names. Remind him of Your character and truth.
For years as a parent and guardian, I have prayed for (insert your son’s name) and sought safety from Your hand and refuge from the overwhelming things of this world. Father, I praise You for the tremendous answers and protection You have provided. You have been faithful. Now, as you send (insert your son’s name) into the world to be a representative of You, continue to send support and protection with him.
Lord Jesus, You have been with (insert your son’s name) through the years. You have demonstrated love to him and as a result of that love, he has been able to show love to others. Bring him into an intimate love relationship with You. Then, allow that love to pour out to the people in his life. Take joy in Your love as it spills out of (insert your son’s name).
Especially in these days when (insert your son’s name) is seeking to know Your plan for him, provide him with the desires that align with Yours. Thank you for caring so much, even more than I do, and for having a divine purpose for (insert your son’s name). Show him your desires, plant them into his heart, and allow him to know that following your direction ensures success because of You.
As You bring this certain success, may You be pleased by the shouts of joy that proceed from our mouths and from (insert your son’s name). Lord God, would you be the cause of his success and be the recipient of the glory that comes through the success that you orchestrate. Allow (insert your son’s name) to experience the joy of the Lord as you provide him strength to accomplish all that you have for him.
Father God, we bring these requests to You with great anticipation and confidence in who You are. It is through knowing Your divine character and everlasting love that we go forward. We submit to You and lay (insert your son’s name) before You to accomplish what you desire through him. Thank You that You are the Way, the Truth, and the Life and that through You (insert your son’s name) experiences eternal Life!
I love you, Father. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Thank you for your love of (insert your son’s name) and Your commitment to his life. May You, God, receive all of the praise and honor.
In the name of Jesus, our Lord,
Amen