A Victory Song for the New A Victory Song for the New YearYear

Reflections on Psalms & Proverbs Reflections on Psalms & Proverbs Series, Part 3Series, Part 3

Psalm 20:1-9Psalm 20:1-9

January 5, 2014January 5, 2014

Pastor Paul K. KimPastor Paul K. Kim

Psalm 20 [ESV]To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David.

1 May the Lord answer you in the day of trouble!    May the name of the God of Jacob protect you!2 May he send you help from the sanctuary    and give you support from Zion!3 May he remember all your offerings    and regard with favor your burnt sacrifices! Selah4 May he grant you your heart's desire    and fulfill all your plans!5 May we shout for joy over your salvation,    and in the name of our God set up our banners!May the Lord fulfill all your petitions!

Psalm 20 [ESV]To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David.

6 Now I know that the Lord saves his anointed;    he will answer him from his holy heaven    with the saving might of his right hand.7 Some trust in chariots and some in horses,    but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.8 They collapse and fall,    but we rise and stand upright.9 O Lord, save the king!    May he answer us when we call.

PSALM 20: SOME PRELIMINARY OBSERVATIONS AND OVERVIEW

• It is a battle song which was to be sung by the people of Israel as the king was about to enter into a battle.

• It is a royal psalm for the king’s victory over the enemies; it is also messianic because the ultimate King is Jesus the Messiah.

• It is a corporate prayer and benediction for the victory and success of Israel over the nations.

• It is a wisdom psalm that teaches us where to find help and support for victory and success; hence, it fits the New Year.

HOW DO WE SEEK GOD’S VICTORY AND SUCCESS FOR THE NEW YEAR 2014?

1) Begin with robust prayers for victory and success that come from God.

May the Lord answer you in the day of trouble!May the name of the God of Jacob protect you!

2 May he send you help from the sanctuary and give you support from Zion! 3 May he remember all your offerings andregard with favor your burnt sacrifices! Selah 4 May he grant

you your heart's desire and fulfill all your plans! 5 May we shout for

joy over your salvation, and in the name of our God set upour banners! May the Lord fulfill all your petitions! (vs. 1-5)

Notice that this prayer is: (1) for the king not for themselves, (2) of robust/active faith, and (3) an all-out benediction.

They pray for six things from God: (1) protection, (2) help, (3) favor, (4) blessings, (5) success/victory, (6) answer to prayer.

4 Delight yourself in the Lord,    and he will give you the desires of your

heart.5 Commit your way to the Lord;    trust in him, and he will act.

6 He will bring forth your righteousness as the light,

    and your justice as the noonday.Psalm 37:4-6

4 Delight yourself in the Lord,    and he will give you the desires of your

heart.5 Commit your way to the Lord;    trust in him, and he will act.

6 He will bring forth your righteousness as the light,

    and your justice as the noonday.Psalm 37:4-6

HOW DO WE SEEK GOD’S VICTORY AND SUCCESS FOR THE NEW YEAR 2014?

1) Begin with robust prayers for victory and success that come from God.

May the Lord answer you in the day of trouble!May the name of the God of Jacob protect you!

2 May he send you help from the sanctuary and give you support from Zion! 3 May he remember all your offerings and

regard with favor your burnt sacrifices! Selah 4 May he grant you your heart's desire and fulfill all your plans! 5 May we shout for

joy over your salvation, and in the name of our God set upour banners! May the Lord fulfill all your petitions! (vs. 1-5)

Notice that this prayer is: (1) for the king not for themselves, (2) of robust/active faith, and (3) an all-out benediction.

They pray for six things from God: (1) protection, (2) help, (3) favor, (4) blessings, (5) success/victory, (6) answer to prayer.

We are to pray actively for blessings for others and ourselves.

HOW DO WE SEEK GOD’S VICTORY AND SUCCESS FOR THE NEW YEAR 2014?

2) Be resolute in trusting God and finding confidence in the LORD.

6 Now I know that the Lord saves his anointed;    he will answer him from his holy heaven    with the saving might of his right hand.

7 Some trust in chariots and some in horses,    but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.

8 They collapse and fall,    but we rise and stand upright. (vs. 6-8)

The king’s response is A REKINDLEDED RESOLUTION to find confidence and to trust in the name of the LORD corporately.

Chariots and horses were the marks of power and strength in ancient battles, but their resolution is to trust God for victory.

Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help and rely on horses, who trust in chariots

because they are many and in horsemen because they

are very strong, but do not look to the Holy One

of Israel or consult the Lord!Isaiah 31:1

 The horse is made ready for the day of battle, but the victory belongs to the Lord.

Proverbs 21:31

HOW DO WE SEEK GOD’S VICTORY AND SUCCESS FOR THE NEW YEAR 2014?

2) Be resolute in trusting God and finding confidence in the LORD.

6 Now I know that the Lord saves his anointed;    he will answer him from his holy heaven    with the saving might of his right hand.

7 Some trust in chariots and some in horses,    but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.

8 They collapse and fall,    but we rise and stand upright. (vs. 6-8)

The king’s response is A REKINDLEDED RESOLUTION to find confidence and to trust in the name of the LORD corporately.

Chariots and horses were the marks of power and strength in ancient battles, but their resolution is to trust God for victory.

In the new year 2014, our communal resolution must also be to trust in the name of the LORD our God for success & victory.

HOW DO WE SEEK GOD’S VICTORY AND SUCCESS FOR THE NEW YEAR 2014?

3) In advance, bless and thank the LORD for the victory and success by active faith.

9 O Lord, save the king!    May he answer us when we call. (v. 9)

1 O Lord, in your strength the king rejoices, and in your salvation how greatly he exults!

2 You have given him his heart's desire and have not withheld the request of his lips. Selah

Psalm 21:1-2

This is the benediction and praise as the conclusion of the prayer and response for the victory and success in the battle.

Psalm 21 hints us what they have experienced after the battle; they turned to the LORD with praise, joy and thanksgiving!

This is the way how we ought to ring in the New Year—to bless and rejoice in the LORD by active faith in the name of God.

Trust God in EverythingA pitfall to trusting God, which we are prone to fall into, is to turn to God in trust in the greater crisis experience of life while seeking to work through the minor difficulties ourselves. A disposition to trust in ourselves is part of our sinful nature. It sometimes takes a major crisis, or at least a moderate one, to turn us toward the Lord. A mark of Christian maturity is to continually trust the Lord in the minutiae of daily life. If we learn to trust God in the minor adversities, we will be better prepared to trust him in the major ones.

― Jerry Bridges

THREE PRACTICAL QUESTIONS FOR OUR EVERYDAY LIFE

1. How can I begin the New Year 2014 with robust prayers for others as well as for myself? What will be my first step?

2. What would it mean for me to be resolute in trusting God and finding confidence in the LORD this year?

3. How do I make it a daily habit and posture to bless and thank the LORD for victory and success in advance by faith?