To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. 1 May the Lord answer you in the day of trouble! May the name of the God of Jacob protect you! 2 May he send you help from the sanctuary and give you support from Zion! 3 May he remember all your offerings and regard with favor your burnt sacrifices! Selah 4 May he grant you your heart’s desire and fulfill all your plans! 5 May we shout for joy over your salvation, and in the name of our God set up our banners! May the Lord fulfill all your petitions!

6 Now I know that the Lord saves his anointed; he will answer him from his holy heaven with the saving might 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 collapse and fall, but we rise and stand upright.

9 O Lord, save the king! May he answer us when we call. (Psalm 20, ESV)

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Some cards are filled with generic wishes that could apply to anyone.

• "Wishing you joy, peace, and happiness today and always."
• "Thinking of you and sending warm thoughts your way."
• "May your day be filled with love, laughter, and cherished moments."

But others are more specific in nature. You send Mother's Day cards to your mom, get-well-soon cards when people are sick, birthday and anniversary cards on specific dates, and graduation cards when people graduate. There are only a few people who could send me a card that reads, "Happy Father's Day, Dad."

Well, when we first read through Psalm 20, we might think it is a generic card filled with generic blessings.

• May God protect you! (1)
• May God support you! (2)
• May God favor you! (3)
• May God fulfill all your plans! (4)
• May God give you victory! (5)

But this isn't a generic psalm at all. Instead, it is a psalm for God's anointed leader (6). Israel's kings were anointed with oil for the role, and that oil anointing was emblematic of the Spirit's anointing. Israel's kings were God's anointed.

So the first thing we need to know about Psalm 20 is that it is a royal psalm; this means it's a prayer Israel would have uttered to God for their king, especially when the were under attack. That this is a prayer for Israel's king is stated most clearly in the final line of the psalm: O Lord, save the king! May he answer us when we call (8). This line indicates that the psalm is a prayer for the king, prayed by the king's people.

So when we read the first line—"May the Lord answer you in the day of trouble! May the name of the God of Jacob protect you!"—we should know the original singers of this prayer were thinking of Israel's king. The "you" and "your" of the psalm are thinking of Israel's king; as beautiful as the lines might be, it was not prayed for anyone in general.

OK, thank you for indulging me in a bit of interpretive work. It is important that we get the original intention and audience of this psalm right. I mean, at first glance, we might be a bit disappointed that we can't just use this psalm as a generic blessing on anyone and anything we'd like to extend it to. But if we pause for a moment, I think we should rejoice. Do we really want everyone on earth to have the fulfillment of their heart's desires and plans? It might sound nice at first, but I know plenty of people for whom I would pray the exact opposite. I don't want those with perverted, abusive, or self-destructive plans to experience the fulfillment of those plans. Not at all. And even the godliest among us often want things that aren't God's best for us. So, I don't think I would ever want to see this prayer fulfilled, without restriction, in anyone's life.

Except for One, that is. Our great God and King is the One to whom we can utter this prayer. In fact, Jesus urged us to pray this to the Father when he said we should pray, "Your kingdom come, you will be done, on earth as it is in heaven" (Matt. 6:10). Isn't this psalm just that, a desire and longing for God's plan and desires to run and have good success?

To me, this psalm is an exploded view of "your kingdom come, you will be done, on earth as it is in heaven." Like an IKEA diagram that maps out all the parts and pieces of a coffee table so we can build the coffee table, Psalm 20 shows us the parts and pieces of our prayer to our King for his kingdom to arrive. In this psalm, we get a view of the various parts and pieces of that prayer.

And, unless we grab ahold of its heart, prayer will forever be a frustrating experience. We will be like a child at her birthday party, frustrated by every single gift she receives because she is waiting for something no one got her. I mean, as long as we are praying for sports victories, green lights in traffic, and attractive dates, prayer is going to be a grind. But the less we care for our kingdom and start praying for the expansion of our King's kingdom, a world of prayer opens up to us. Black and white gives way to 4K color.

So, what does this psalm say to us about prayer? How can we pray in line with its original heart?

From Us To God

First, this psalm can be a prayer from us to God for the expansion of his kingdom. During David's day, Israel was the physical representation of God's invisible kingdom. But God is always at work to fulfill the promise he'd made to Abraham to bless all the families of the earth and become the head of many nations (Gen. 12:1-3, 17:1-5). Slowly and steadily, God is seeping his way into every tribe, nation, and tongue. While the kingdoms of this world carry on, God's kingdom is reaching, multiplying, and spreading. And, one day, it will fully arrive—and our longstanding prayer that his kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven will be fulfilled.

But right now, we are to pray for this to our Heavenly Father. What are we asking God to do? Expand his kingdom. Just as Israel's ancient leaders often warred against enemies that sought to annihilate God's people and exterminate God's kingdom, God's kingdom still undergoes the plots and attacks of a world system hell-bent on resisting him.

Every Christian used to be part of that system. As Paul said:

1 And you were dead in the trespasses and sins 2 in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— 3 among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. (Ephesians 2:1–3, ESV)

In the face of that hostility, we are to pray for God's kingdom to come. And, fortunately, it does. Many of us have been rescued by our rescuing God (Eph. 2:4-9).

So, in a sense, Psalm 20 is emblematic of all our prayers for those we love to know him. If I could pause here for a second, I would encourage you to pray organized, focused, and consistent prayers of faith for those you love who have not yet believed in or submitted to King Jesus.

• By organized, I mean that we can privately cull our list of those for whom we will pray. Seriously. That's our homework this week. Make a list of four or five people you love who need Jesus.
• By focused, I mean that we should then pray for each person on that list over and over again. God is faithful, and there are sure to be days or weeks we merely ask God to reach our whole list, but I encourage you to focus on each person one at a time in prayer.
• By consistent, I mean that we should make this a regular and ongoing part of our lives before God. Grab a friend to help you if need be. Over many months, years, and decades, bring God your petitions for those you love who are still bound in darkness.
• And by faith, I mean that we should pray with a consciousness that the same God who created the world, parted the Red Sea, and defeated death is able to break into the hearts of man and deliver them. Ask him, with belief and trust, to bind the one who has bound your friend.

Then, as you continue praying in faith, wait for God to do his work.

From Us For God's Messengers

Second, this psalm can be a prayer from us for God's messengers. This might be the most poignant way to pray this prayer. Praying it directly to God can feel odd in some parts because God needs no help or protection on the day of trouble. But his messengers do. And when this song was prayed originally, it was prayed for his kings, who were meant to be extensions of God's work here on earth. They were his representatives, his leaders, and part of his team. And they were often in dire straights.

So we can use this prayer (or prayers like it) in Scripture to lift up missionaries, evangelists, pastors, and gospel workers who are working hard to see God's kingdom come and will be done. When Paul the Apostle requested prayer, he always asked people to pray for boldness and clarity so that the word of the kingdom could have good success (Eph. 6:19-20). He said:

Finally, brothers, pray for us that the word of the Lord may speed ahead and be honored, as happened among you, and that we may be delivered from wicked and evil men. For not all have faith. (2 Thessalonians 3:1–2, ESV)

And isn't this how we should pray for the pastors, missionaries, and gospel workers in our lives? Again, list them out and lift them up to God.

Praying for God's messengers this way can have a great impact on your own soul and psyche. First, praying this way gives you a broad and worldwide perspective. Lifting up missionaries throughout the world is one way to get outside the bubble our borders and broadcast feeds put us in. Especially in a presidential election year, it is important for us to find ways to remember God's kingdom throughout the entire world.[^1]

Second, praying this way helps you recognize the true nature of the conflicts we see flaring up all around us. Cultural wars and literal wars are inflamed by the enemy of our souls. And when we pray for God's kingdom to come and will to be done through the gospel workers we know, it helps us remember the nature of the battle. As Paul said, we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities and powers of darkness," and praying this way helps us remember this truth (Eph. 6:12). To fight is idiocy, especially when our struggle is not against flesh and blood but the one behind flesh and blood.

But third, praying this way also keeps us true to our own Christianity. Charles Simon, the great English pastor who died in 1836, had a picture of his protege, Henry Martyn, hanging up in his study. Henry had given his life as a missionary to the Muslim world. In the portrait, his face was stern and businesslike. And pastor Charles used to tell people that every time he looked at Henry's portrait, he felt reminded not to spend his life on trivial pursuits. He would playfully wag his finger at the portrait in front of his visitors while saying, "I won't trifle, Henry. I won't trifle."[^2] I believe consistent, ongoing prayer for God's gospel workers can do this in our lives. It motivates us to keep it real, to stay focused, to keep charging.

So those are some ways praying "Your kingdom come, your will be done" for God's messengers can help us. Before looking at one other way we can use this prayer, I want to point out that Psalm 20 might also be useful to encourage us to pray for our political leaders. The New Testament teaches that governing authorities are here under the sovereign and instituting hand of God—in a sense, they are also God's messengers (Rom. 13:1, 1 Pet. 2:13). Israel's prayer for their king is replicated by the New Testament church. Paul said,

First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. (1 Timothy 2:1–2, ESV)

From Us For All God's People

Third, this psalm can be a prayer from us for all of God's people as we live on mission. The New Testament teaches that even though some people are called to the complete and total dedication of their lives to God's kingdom, all of us are called to the work of the ministry (Eph. 4:12). So we can pray for God's kingdom to come and will to be done through the lives of our brothers and sisters in Christ. And in our own lives.

I want to say the gospel work—the kingdom expanding work—many of us are called to is the most difficult type. It is, of course, challenging to pack it all up and move to a remote part of the world to spread the gospel among those who have never heard the name of Jesus. But it is uniquely challenging—and it takes great discernment and wisdom—to serve the post-Christian society most of us live in. One missionary called it the most resistant, challenging missionary frontier of all time.[^3] In response, it doesn't work to withdraw like the Amish, seek political takeover like in the eighties, or assimilate to the world's perspectives like many mainline churches. Instead, we must pursue a "faithful presence within."[^4]

So, in the same way that you might pray for a list of people who need Jesus and a list of people who are serving Jesus, you could also list out those you know who love Jesus. And as you pray for them, you could ask God to give them strength to be a strong light for Christ throughout their everyday lives. In our era, every believer, from teachers to tradesmen, baristas to business people, military to stay-at-home moms, needs discernment on how to live in a way that would expand God's kingdom.

But, as we pray, we can rejoice that Psalm 20 includes a guarantee. Near the end of the song, someone, maybe a priest or even the king himself, realized that God would save and answer (6). All opposed to him would collapse and fall (8). God would answer their call (9).

And, as believers, we know that our longstanding prayer for God's kingdom to come and will to be done will come to pass one day. Right now, he is doing it slowly and partially, but one day, Christ will return in full glory, and his kingdom will arrive quickly and completely.

Because of this, we should make the same commitment the psalm makes: Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God (7). You likely haven't been tempted to trust in a literal chariot or horse to save you, but we have all been tempted to lose trust in God and take matters into our own hands, even in attempts to expand his kingdom. I mean, this prayer and the prayer for God's kingdom to come and will to be done on earth as it is in heaven is not a prayer for people who want things to stay the way they are.[^5] We long for change, for the expansion of his kingdom in us, among us, and through us. But we sometimes get our eyes off God and attempt to "make it happen" in our own power. Because of this tendency, we must daily hallow (revere, honor, and respect) our God's name—put our trust in the name of the LORD our God (Mat. 6:9, Ps. 20:7).

Conclusion

There is a story in 2 Chronicles 20 that illustrates this psalm well. Deep into Israel's monarchy, Israel faced a massive threat from three nations that had united against them. With this great multitude breathing down their necks, Israel's King Jehoshaphat set his face to seek God and called for a fast all throughout Judah. As he and the people expressed their powerlessness and vulnerability, they said, "We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you" (2 Ch. 20:1-12).

While they prayed, the Spirit of God began to speak through Jahaziel the Levite that they should not be afraid or dismayed at the great horde that had come up against them because the battle belonged to the Lord. He told them to stand firm and see the salvation of the Lord (2 Ch. 20:13-17).

The next day, Jehoshaphat led his troops out into battle, but he also placed a praise and worship team out in front of the army. As they gave thanks to God for his steadfast love, confusion seems to have come upon the invading armies, and they turned upon themselves, destroying one another. Once again, God had defended his people and preserved his kingdom. Their prayers for God's kingdom and king had been answered! (2 Ch. 20:18-23). Israel was God's vehicle for introducing his Son, who would be sacrificed for the sin of the world. Through Jesus, God's kingdom could come. So, once again, God heard a prayer for his king and kingdom and preserved Israel.

And Psalm 20's prayer is likely the kind Israel would've prayed for King Jehoshaphat when he went up against those three armies. And it is the kind of prayer we ought to pray as we (and others) head out into the battlefields of everyday life. Ask God to win in the lives of others. Ask God to win for missionaries and gospel workers. And ask God to win in the lives of believers you know. Through us, his kingdom can come, and his will can be done on earth as it is in heaven. And one day it will arrive in full.

[^1]: Trevin Wax, Reconstructing Faith Podcast Series [^2]: J.I. Packer, A Passion For Faithfulness [^3]: Collin Hansen, Timothy Keller [^4]: Timothy Keller, Center Church [^5]: Kent Hughes, Luke: That You May Know the Truth

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Bibliography

Allen P. Ross, “Psalms,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 1 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985)

C. H. Spurgeon, The Treasury of David: Psalms 1-26, vol. 1 (London; Edinburgh; New York: Marshall Brothers, n.d.)

F. F. Bruce, New International Bible Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 1979)

James Montgomery Boice, Psalms 1–41: An Expositional Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 2005)

Kenneth L. Barker and John R. Kohlenberger III, Expositor’s Bible Commentary (Abridged Edition: Old Testament) (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 1994)

Michael A. Rydelnik and Michael Vanlaningham, eds., “Psalms,” in The Moody Bible Commentary (Chicago, IL: Moody Publishers, 2014)

Peter C. Craigie, Psalms 1–50, 2nd ed., vol. 19, Word Biblical Commentary (Nashville, TN: Nelson Reference & Electronic, 2004)