A Road Map for Life | Beginning With GodSample

THERE’S POWER IN HIS NAME (Psalm 20)

Wouldn’t it be wonderful if life was always peaceable?

In our world today there is such a cry for peace, yet we live in a world filled with wars. Prophetically we know that real peace will not come until the Prince of Peace rules and reigns here. But in the midst of strife and contention, you can have peace — not after the battle, but during it.

Psalm 20 and Psalm 21 are very unique because they are “war psalms.” They were written in the middle of the battle and are connected to the conflict David was experiencing with the nation of Israel. We do not know exactly who they were fighting; it could have been the Philistines, the Amorites, the Assyrians or some other group. They had plenty of enemies.

As a follower of Jesus Christ, you will have enemies as well. If you go along with the devil, he will not give you any trouble at all. But if you try to follow Christ and do what is right, be very sure that the world, the flesh and the devil will all rear their ugly heads against you.

With that in mind, Psalm 20 becomes a special encouragement. It is only nine verses long. Let’s read it together now.

“The Lord hear thee in the day of trouble; the name of the God of Jacob defend thee; Send thee help from the sanctuary, and strengthen thee out of Zion; Remember all thy offerings, and accept thy burnt sacrifice; Selah. Grant thee according to thine own heart, and fulfil all thy counsel. We will rejoice in thy salvation, and in the name of our God we will set up our banners: the Lord fulfil all thy petitions. Now know I that the Lord saveth his anointed; he will hear him from his holy heaven with the saving strength of his right hand. Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the Lord our God. They are brought down and fallen: but we are risen, and stand upright. Save, Lord: let the king hear us when we call.”

Psalm 20 is beautiful because it points both to the past and to the future. Historically, it points to David. The king is speaking here, writing out of the overflow of his own heart and the conflict within. Sometimes the greatest battles are not the ones fought outside, but the ones on the inside; the private, personal battles that no one knows about.

David brought the conflict of his own soul to the Lord and cried out for salvation, help and strength. Aren’t you glad that the same God David prayed to is the One you can pray to today?

There is not only a historical element here but also a prophetic one. It points to the future because it points to Christ, the true King. He is the God of Jacob and of the weak ones. He is the One who can be trusted, the One who saves. He brings down the wicked and raises the upright.

I must remind you that He is on His throne today, and some day He will rule and reign on this very earth. I am looking for that day and for that kingdom; what a glorious day it is going to be!

But if all you see in this psalm is David or a future king, is there any help here for you today? The answer is yes, praise God, there is help today!

There is a beautiful little secret found in Psalm 20 on which I want you to meditate. It is found three times. It is always good to take note of the divine repetitions in scripture because when God repeats something it is because He does not want us to forget it. Here we see it in three particular verses.

Verse 1: “The Lord hear thee in the day of trouble; the name of the God of Jacob defend thee.”

Verse 5: “We will rejoice in thy salvation, and in the name of our God we will set up our banners: the Lord fulfil all thy petitions.”

Verse 7: “Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the Lord our God.”

The strength and help we need is always connected to the name of the Lord our God.

In Scripture the names of God are important because His name reveals His nature. It shows us something of who He is.

He is the Lord. Yahweh, the covenant God who always keeps His promises and keeps what He foretells. Let me tell you today that God will keep what He has promised to you. The Bible says in Phil. 1:6, “Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.”

He will never set everything in motion and then just let it go. He has everything under control, and He holds you in the palm of His hand.

He is the God of Jacob, who was the patriarch from whom the 12 tribes came forth. But remember, Jacob was the old name for Israel, and that name was associated with scheming. He was the one who met with God and then walked the rest of his days with a limp.

God is the God of weak ones, those who come to the end of themselves and throw their hands up while crying, “Lord, I can’t do it. Help me.” That is when He says, “I am here for you.”

The reference to banners (verse 5) is a nod to the military which marched under different banners in those times. One of the names for God is Jehovah-Nissi, the God of banners. We march under His name. That is why He is the God who will help you in the midst of your warfare.

There is no doubt that we are in a spiritual conflict, and there are battles rising up all around us. You may feel weak today, but your Captain is very strong. His resources and armor will get the job done. The Lord has never been weak, not even for a single day. Whatever you are dealing with today, He will be enough.

That is why verse 7 is so important. When you are battling, in your weakness and during your hard time, just speak His name. Sometimes it does me good to just say, “Jesus.” There is no name like that name. As Acts 4:12 so eloquently states, “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” One day it will be exalted above every name, and every knee will bow to it.

The Jehovah of Psalm 20 is the Jesus of our New Testament. Speak His name today. When you are at your weakest and in the middle of your greatest warfare, when you are wondering how it will all turn out, just go back to that name. It will do you much good.

I am thinking of the words of Peter in Acts 3:6. “Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.”

Today, in the name of Jesus Christ, find your strength in the Almighty God and keep moving forward by faith.