Day 24
Genesis 48:1-49:33; Matthew 15:29-16:12; Psalm 20:1-9; Proverbs 4:20-27
Not Just the King’s Battle!
Psalm 20 is a prayer of the people of Israel for their King to have success in battle. What is the relevance of this for us? We are not kings riding into battle against enemies. Yet, in light of the New Testament emphasis on spiritual warfare (“For our struggle is not against flesh and blood but against the rulers, authorities, powers of this dark world and spiritual forces of evil…” – Eph. 6:12), the prayers of this Psalm remain appropriate for followers of Jesus. “May the Lord answer you when you are in distress” (v.1), “May He give you the desire of your heart, and make all your plans succeed” (v.4), and “May the Lord grant all your requests” (v.5b). We can gladly pray these prayers!
But will ALL your requests be granted? Do we always receive the desire of our hearts? Verse 3 states, “may He remember all your sacrifices and accept your burnt offerings” as a condition for God’s granting our requests and desires. We are no longer under the Old Testament sacrificial system. Our total lives offered in service to the Lord is the sacrifice He requires (Rom. 12:1). We pray “in Jesus’ name,” meaning in accordance with the character and will of Jesus. As we love, trust and follow Him with all our hearts, souls, minds, and strength, our desires will be transformed and can be granted. “Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God” (v.7).
Laura Madison