Message Notes

INTRODUCTION

1 May the Lord answer you in the day of trouble;
May the name of the God of Jacob defend you;

2 May He send you help from the sanctuary,
And strengthen you out of Zion;

3 May He remember all your offerings,
And accept your burnt sacrifice.

4 May He grant you according to your heart’s desire,
And fulfill all your purpose.

5 We will rejoice in your salvation,
And in the name of our God we will set up our banners!
May the Lord fulfill all your petitions.

6 Now I know that the Lord saves His [anointed;
He will answer him from His holy heaven
With the saving strength of His right hand.

7 Some trust in chariots, and some in horses;
But we will remember the name of the Lord our God.

8 They have bowed down and fallen;
But we have risen and stand upright.

9 Save, Lord!
May the King answer us when we call.

Psalm 20:1-9

1. Double Foci

a) The Lord God

b) The Sanctuary (Zion)

2. The Lord and His Sanctuary

a) They form a whole

b) The Lord will hear from His Sanctuary

c) The Lord will bless from His Sanctuary

MAY THE LORD

1 May the Lord answer you in the day of trouble;
May the name of the God of Jacob defend you;

2 May He send you help from the sanctuary,
And strengthen you out of Zion;

3 May He remember all your offerings,
And accept your burnt sacrifice.

4 May He grant you according to your heart’s desire,
And fulfill all your purpose.

Psalm 20:1-4

1. “May the Lord” was a carefully chosen phrase

2. This was not an expression of uncertainly or doubts

3. It was to highlight the fact that it is the Lord Himself who makes the final decision!

THE LORD’S BLESSINGS

1. Answers to prayer in the day of trouble   (Psalm 20:1a)

2. Protection from the Lord   (Psalm 20:1b)

3. Help from the Sanctuary of the Lord   (Psalm 20:2a)

4. Strength from the Lord   (Psalm 20:2b)

5. All Offerings remembered   (Psalm 20:3)

6. Personal petitions granted   (Psalm 20:4)

APPROPRIATE RESPONSE TO GOD

5 We will rejoice in your salvation,
And in the name of our God we will set up our banners!
May the Lord fulfill all your petitions.

6 Now I know that the Lord saves His [anointed;
He will answer him from His holy heaven
With the saving strength of His right hand.

Psalm 20:5-6

1. Rejoicing in the salvation God gives   (Psalm 20:5a)

2. Setting up Joyful banners   (Psalm 20:5b)

3. Gratitude to God for fulfilment of petitions

A DEEPER SENSE OF ASSURANCE

1. That the Lord saves His anointed one   (Psalm 20:6a)

2. That God will answer from His throne in holy heaven   (Psalm 20:6b)

3. He will exercise His saving strength of His mighty right hand   (Psalm 20:6c)

THOSE WHO CONTINUE RESIST TRUSTING THE LORD

7 Some trust in chariots, and some in horses;
But we will remember the name of the Lord our God.

8 They have bowed down and fallen;
But we have risen and stand upright.

9 Save, Lord!
May the King answer us when we call.

Psalm 20:7-9

1. They prefer

a) To trust in chariots

b) To trust in horses

2. The Consequences

a) They have bowed down

b) They have fallen

3. The preferred choice of David

a) To remember the name of the Lord God

b) To have deep faith in the Lord

4. Praying to God

a) To seek His Salvation

b) May the L:ord answer prayers offered to the Lord

OUR CHALLENGE

1. To deepen our faith in the Lord

2. To dare to hold fast to our trust in God

3. To determine to exercise trust in the Lord even in dire circumstances