Psalm 20

A Psalm of David

1 The Lord hear thee in the day of trouble; the name of the God of Jacob defends thee.

2 Send thee help from the sanctuary and strengthen thee out of Zion.

3 Remember all thy offerings, and accept thy burnt sacrifice, Selah.

4 Grant thee according to thine own heart and fulfil all thy counsel.

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.

6 Now know I that the Lord saves his anointed; he will hear 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 are brought down and fallen: but we are risen and stand upright.                            

9 Save, Lord: let the king hear us when we call.  (KJV)

Webster defines prayer as: an address (as a petition) to God or a god in word or thought, or an earnest request or wish. In this Psalm David makes seven requests for Israel:

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 the LORD grant all your requests.

Answer us when we call.

He is praying but he is also trusting in the Lord’s name.

Verse four “may he give you the desire of your heart” is a verse that is difficult to understand. Reflect upon these questions:

What are your heart’s desires?

Are my desires good for me?

Are my desires godly desires?

Does God pick and choose the desires I receive?

This is a type of prayer that reminds me of the opening prayer of the Sunday morning service in a church.  It is a prayer that basically ask for the Lord to meet the daily needs of the believers.  It is also a prayer that states our belief, and trust is in the Lord.  However, we need to take this Sunday prayer and make it a daily prayer.  These daily prayers should be prayers that help guide us in the direction to making our daily desires into the desires that come from a person who is a person after God’s own heart.