Help From Heaven
May the LORD answer you when you are in distress;
may the name of the God of Jacob protect you.May he send you help from the sanctuary
and grant you support from Zion.May he remember all your sacrifices
and accept your burnt offerings.May he give you the desire of your heart
and make all your plans succeed.We will shout for joy when you are victorious
and will lift up our banners in the name of our God. May the LORD grant all your requests.
I can imagine David writing this Psalm, this blessing, for one of his commanders or mighty men – like Joab. As Joab was leading others, extending the kingdom and engaging in battle against the king’s enemies, there would be times of distress. There would be moments of extreme stress when decisions would need to be made. David sings this prayer: ‘May the Lord answer you when you are in distress. May the God of Jacob protect you…’The assumption is that those in the battle are praying. ‘May God hear those prayer and send help from the sanctuary.’ From the place of worship… from the location of God’s Presence help in on the way.Is it possible that worship is the Command Center for the battle? It must be! Especially if the battle you are engaged in is God’s battle. If it’s conflict that He calls you to enter into for the sake of His Kingdom and His purposes, then from hearts of worship come the ability to strategically advance against God’s enemies. Yielding to Him is required! Thankfully He hears the prayers of His people and comes to lead and protect them. God is involved in the plans of men when He is worshipped and honored as God Most High.David sings, ‘May god give you the desire of your heart and make all your plans succeed. May the Lord grant all your requests… And we will shout for joy when you are victorious!’ What a great image of community - loving and rooting for each other!I desire to see the Kingdom of Heaven advance more powerfully through me and my church family. I want there to be scores of people in heaven for all eternity because we were here in this place and time representing Jesus well. ‘Father, give me the desire of my heart and make all of our plans succeed!’This is primarily a spiritual endeavor and we are wrestling with powers that cannot be seen. I have known distress, to be sure, and I need the God of Jacob to protect me. It has and will continue to be from this place of worship that God will bring strength and help to my heart. Daily worship, as well as corporate worship, are not luxurious options for me or any who want to successfully engage the battleWorship is the Command Center where I hear the directives of the King. In His Presence help comes to me as my heart is encouraged and strengthened. It is here at His feet that I am reminded of God’s great love for me and that the battle is not mine but His! I am not ultimately responsible for victory – Jesus is! And guess what? He is already risen victoriously! I am simply His servant encouraging hearts and claiming the spoils of His victory over hell and the grave. It is in worship that I am reminded of this. It is in His Presence where I am given the help I need for this day. It is here that the desires of my heart or molded to what He desires.Lord, give me the desires of my heart and make all of my plans succeed! Thank You for answering me when I am in distress and for protecting me from things I’ll never know. I trust in Your Name – Your awe-inspiring Name – this day.
may the name of the God of Jacob protect you.May he send you help from the sanctuary
and grant you support from Zion.May he remember all your sacrifices
and accept your burnt offerings.May he give you the desire of your heart
and make all your plans succeed.We will shout for joy when you are victorious
and will lift up our banners in the name of our God. May the LORD grant all your requests.
Psalm 20:1-5
I can imagine David writing this Psalm, this blessing, for one of his commanders or mighty men – like Joab. As Joab was leading others, extending the kingdom and engaging in battle against the king’s enemies, there would be times of distress. There would be moments of extreme stress when decisions would need to be made. David sings this prayer: ‘May the Lord answer you when you are in distress. May the God of Jacob protect you…’The assumption is that those in the battle are praying. ‘May God hear those prayer and send help from the sanctuary.’ From the place of worship… from the location of God’s Presence help in on the way.Is it possible that worship is the Command Center for the battle? It must be! Especially if the battle you are engaged in is God’s battle. If it’s conflict that He calls you to enter into for the sake of His Kingdom and His purposes, then from hearts of worship come the ability to strategically advance against God’s enemies. Yielding to Him is required! Thankfully He hears the prayers of His people and comes to lead and protect them. God is involved in the plans of men when He is worshipped and honored as God Most High.David sings, ‘May god give you the desire of your heart and make all your plans succeed. May the Lord grant all your requests… And we will shout for joy when you are victorious!’ What a great image of community - loving and rooting for each other!I desire to see the Kingdom of Heaven advance more powerfully through me and my church family. I want there to be scores of people in heaven for all eternity because we were here in this place and time representing Jesus well. ‘Father, give me the desire of my heart and make all of our plans succeed!’This is primarily a spiritual endeavor and we are wrestling with powers that cannot be seen. I have known distress, to be sure, and I need the God of Jacob to protect me. It has and will continue to be from this place of worship that God will bring strength and help to my heart. Daily worship, as well as corporate worship, are not luxurious options for me or any who want to successfully engage the battleWorship is the Command Center where I hear the directives of the King. In His Presence help comes to me as my heart is encouraged and strengthened. It is here at His feet that I am reminded of God’s great love for me and that the battle is not mine but His! I am not ultimately responsible for victory – Jesus is! And guess what? He is already risen victoriously! I am simply His servant encouraging hearts and claiming the spoils of His victory over hell and the grave. It is in worship that I am reminded of this. It is in His Presence where I am given the help I need for this day. It is here that the desires of my heart or molded to what He desires.Lord, give me the desires of my heart and make all of my plans succeed! Thank You for answering me when I am in distress and for protecting me from things I’ll never know. I trust in Your Name – Your awe-inspiring Name – this day.
