Psalm 20: Answered Prayer in the Name of the Lord Key Verse: May He grant you your hearts desire, and fulfill all your counsel! (Psalm 20:4) Because the Bible is fully inspired by God, I have always seen the prayers in Pauls epistles or elsewhere as revealing Gods heart and what He wants for us. To see this beautiful Psalm of petition in that regard is reassuring in the scope of blessing which God wants to pour out upon us. In our times of trouble, God will answer us and set us securely on high, that is, in His presence. He will lift our spirits above the turmoil and confusion of the daily battle. Our help and strength do not come from horses and chariots—things that represent the strength and power of the world such as wealth, financial support, organizations, or public favor. In fact, these will all eventually be bowed down and fall. But our support comes from God. The name of the Lord is our strength, our source of blessings, and the only thing in which we can boast. How do we access that help? By seeking refuge in the sanctuary of His presence. It comes from those quiet times of fellowship with Him in which all of the noise, busyness, and concerns of daily life are shut out. And God will accept all that we offer to Him—our heart, our affections, and our life. We cannot expect literal offerings to be acceptable if we have not given ourselves fully to Him. Life has meaning only as it is consistent with Gods will. We need to remember that we are not alone in the battle. There is a vast array of fellow pilgrims. God has given us a family and community of faith that shares in the joy of our victories; they bear our burdens with us and hurt when we hurt but are also blessed when we are blessed. Banners (v. 5) portray the image of warriors going to battle led by the flags of their king, representing the cause for which they are fighting and giving their lives. God gives us a banner, a cause to which we are to devote our lives. In the name of the Lord and for His glory, we discern our lifes purpose. Life has meaning only as it is consistent with Gods will. When we come to Him, gain strength from His sanctuary—that secret place of fellowship with Him—find security in His name, and devote our lives to His cause and purpose, then we can be assured that our petitions will be answered. We have access to the saving deeds of His right hand of authority that is above all dominion and power. And He ultimately grants us our hearts desire and fulfills our counsel. What is our hearts desire? It should be only to know Him in all of His fullness! When we are focused totally on God and His glory, we will not be sidetracked by self-serving, personal desires. God can readily answer our prayers and work through us—in our decisions and the circumstances around us—to see that our lifes purpose is fulfilled. Prayer: Lord, there is such a natural tendency to rely on things that represent power and status in the world, but help me to realize that my only strength and security are in Your name. You are my confidence and the source of all I need. You will fulfill Your purpose and guide me by Your counsel only when my delight and hearts desire are for You and You alone. In the Secret Place: A Pilgrimage through the Psalms.
Posted on: Tue, 20 Jan 2015 06:38:50 +0000
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