God’s Power Saves
Opening Prayer
Great Lord God, I acknowledge and marvel at Your great and mighty power. You alone are the one, true God!
Read Psalm 20:1-9
[1] For the director of music. A psalm of David. May the LORD answer you when you are in distress; may the name of the God of Jacob protect you. [2] May he send you help from the sanctuary and grant you support from Zion. [3] May he remember all your sacrifices and accept your burnt offerings. [4] May he give you the desire of your heart and make all your plans succeed. [5] May we shout for joy over your victory and lift up our banners in the name of our God. May the LORD grant all your requests. [6] Now this I know: The LORD gives victory to his anointed. He answers him from his heavenly sanctuary with the victorious power 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 are brought to their knees and fall, but we rise up and stand firm. [9] LORD, give victory to the king! Answer us when we call! Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. All rights reserved throughout the world. Used by permission of International Bible Society.
Reflect
Where does the psalmist look for help for the king?I think that as a society we are in danger of believing there is an acceptable level of violence. I experienced this as one who lived through the conflict in Northern Ireland when a good news day was one that made no mention of a bombing. It was as though I’d been given an inoculation against violence. The result was that, over time, only the most heinous incidents retained the power to shock me. In every generation there have been people who have put their “trust in chariots … and in horses” (7a), rather than in “the Lord our God” (7b). On many occasions King David had to resort to arms, but in this psalm he reminds God’s people where true power lies. It is in the Lord who “saves his anointed” (6). It is only through the power of God that his people will be protected (1), helped (2) and their lives blessed (4). It is possible to achieve much through human power, but ultimately the gains will be temporary and “the chariots will rust, those horses [will] pull up lame” (8, The Message). We have a powerful God and need only to trust in him.
Apply
What situations of distress are you or a loved one facing? Take your “distress call” directly to the Lord now.
Closing prayer
Lord, help me look to You for strength in times of distress and not put my faith and trust “in chariots and horses.”
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