Imagine: the clink of armour and weaponry, shouts of bravado, the scream of a horse unused to the crush, the churn of the dust underfoot. There’s a flash of light from a sword and the bright colours of the banners, chariots and foot soldiers, women and children getting underfoot. And then: a hush. With song and prayer, the king is blessed and the battle committed to the Lord. 

You may have come across this saying, attributed to a minister named John Watson: ‘Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle.’ They may not want a full-on military ceremony to send them out into the next skirmish, but Psalm 20 shows us three ways we can support them.

Firstly, by blessing them in the name of the Lord. Let’s try praying verses 1 to 5 over each other as we live our lives of faith in an often-hostile culture. 

Secondly, by reminding them of the true source of their strength – far greater than chariots or horses (v 7). 

And thirdly, by calling on the Lord with them in solidarity and companionship: notice how from verse 7, the pronouns transition from you and I, to we and us. 

‘“Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,” says the Lord Almighty.’¹

In its original context this is a royal psalm used perhaps in a liturgy before the troops went out to battle. It is similar in structure to 2 Chronicles 20:5–19.² The king would have brought burnt offerings (v 3) and these had an atoning function.³ Since the entire animal was burnt up, it was also an expression of wholehearted commitment to the Lord. Meanwhile, the people prayed for God’s help for the king (vs 1–5) and it was likely that a priest brought a word from the Lord to encourage him. Verse 6 is possibly a description of this, or the king may be speaking here in response to the message. Finally, the people answer with an expression of trust (vs 7,8) and conclude with a last prayer that mirrors the opening lines (v 9).

The key aspect of this psalm is what David has been practising all his life: turning to God for help. He knew well that he was defenceless and vulnerable, exposed to betrayal and vastly outnumbered by Saul’s men. Yet, as the prayer makes clear, what matters is not military power (horses and chariots gave armies an advantage over the infantry), but God’s strength (vs 6,7). While Saul and the Philistines looked to physical prowess, superior weaponry and more soldiers to win, David consistently sought the Lord. 

In our context, the battle may not be fought on a physical plain with armies and weapons, yet we, too, face challenges. Some fight illnesses, others wrestle with addiction or temptations, yet others are confronted by conflict in relationships. Whatever our particular battles, seeking God and thereby acknowledging our own limits is key. It is also critical that we maintain our relationship with the Lord through confession of our known sins and committing ourselves to the Lord in faithful living.

Are you facing challenges today? Thank God that his grace is sufficient and his power is made perfect in weakness.⁴

¹ Zech 4:6  ² Peter C Craigie, Psalms 1–50, Thomas Nelson, 1983, p185  ³ Lev 1:4  ⁴ 2 Cor 12:9