For those who may wish to ‘study’ this chapter, the following simple resources are provided for you. Each passage has a four-Part approach to help you take in and think further about what you have read.

Passage: Psalm 20 – Prayer for Protection

1 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!

A. Find Out:

1. For what does the prayer ask first? v.1-2
2. What does it ask second? v.3
3. What does it finally ask for? v.4,5c
4. What is the statement of faith following? v.6
5. What further statement is made? v.7,8
6. What is the final call? v.9

B. Think:

1. Who appears to be speaking this Psalm?
2. On whose behalf?
3. What is it essentially asking?

C. Comment:

     Here appears a prayer of the people for David the king. It starts with a prayer and goes onto declarations of faith.

     The prayer looks first to the Lord to PROTECT and guard David. Jesus taught us to pray, “Deliver us from all evil” (Matthew 6:13).

      It then looks to the Lord to PROVIDE for David the support he needed. Jesus taught us to prayer “Give us our daily bread” (6:11).

      The prayer then looks to the Lord to ACCEPT David on the basis of the God decreed method, the sacrifice. Jesus also taught us to pray “Forgive us our debts” (6:12).

      Finally comes the desire in prayer for David to achieve all his purposes. Jesus taught us to pray “May your will be done” (6:10).

      Herein is the heart of our needs: to be protected by God, to receive God’s provision and acceptance through the work of Jesus, and to be able to walk in His purposes. When the assurance of that comes, then can follow the proclamation: we know the Lord saves and we know we can trust in Him, not in the strength of man. Assurance follows prayer. As we pray we find the Holy Spirit gives us a surge of faith to believe for the things we are praying and thus we come into a place of deep assurance over these things.

D. Application?

1. God is our protector, our provider and the one who has redeemed us.
2. We trust in Him alone.