Wisdom Books Psalms

Words to Pray

Discover Jesus as: King of Glory Psalms 19-20 Read on Bible Gateway (HCSB)

Day 401 of 730
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INTRO

We are continuing in our study of the Wisdom Books and specifically our study of the book of Psalms. In Psalm 18, we looked at how David praised God in prayer with tender intimacy. This picture of David’s prayer life is one I want. I want David’s intimacy and relationship with the Lord in prayer. Today, I’ll give you eight words that may help you think through how to pray. In Psalm 20 is a prayer given before a battle, and Psalm 21 is a prayer of celebration after the battle. That means we need some information about the battle, but none is specifically given in the psalm or in Biblical commentaries. Because of the celebratory words of Psalm 21, we know the battle ended well.

TEACHING

Psalm 20:1-5: Wiersbe points out that the first five verses cover the prayers of the people for their king.1 In verse 1, the people prayed that Yahweh would protect the king in his day of trouble. I mentioned we’d look at eight words we can use in prayer. These come from Jim Erwin and will be italicized throughout these notes.2 The first is, Answer me (Psalm 20:1, 9). As we pray, we can express that we need God to answer. The second is also in verse 1: Protect me. God for protection is a biblical prayer!

Note that six times in the nine verses of Psalm 20 does the word “may” begin the prayer request. In verse 2, the people said, Help me. MacArthur explains that the words “from the sanctuary” and “out of Zion” refer to “the place of God’s symbolic presence in the ark David had recaptured and installed in a tabernacle on Mount Zion.”3 This is how we should be praying, because every day we are in a battle. Also, in verse 2, the people prayed, Sustain me.

In verse 3, the people prayed, Remember me. Of course, God remembers us, but by asking God to remember, we also remember our relationship with Him. Selah means to pause and reflect about God.

Then, they prayed Give me (v. 4) and Fulfill me (vv. 4–5). Verse 4 can feel like a prosperity prayer in which we demand what we want. We think of the heart as fleshly and deceitful (Jeremiah 17:9; Matthew 15:19; Mark 7:20–23; Romans 7:18–20). But the word “heart” has another understanding (Hebrews 4:11-13). Psalm 37:4 says, “Take delight in the Lord, and He will give you your heart’s desires” (Psalm 37:5–7). The Word of God changes our hearts and makes them pure and in tune with God’s will (Matthew 5:8; John 15:7).

Psalm 20:6–9: The final words are given in verses 5-8: Lift me. Pray that God will lift us up to present His will to others. This entire psalm is about trusting that God hears our prayers and wants to respond to our needs.

CLOSING

This is such a wonderful picture of how we can pray before the battle.

  1. Warren W. Wiersbe, The Bible Exposition Commentary: Old Testament (Colorado Springs, David C. Cook, 2004), p. 131.

  2. Jim Erwin, www. Patheos.com; available at https://www.patheos.com/blogs/jimerwin/2016/04/18/psalm-201-9-trusting-god-prayer/.

  3. John MacArthur, The MacArthur Bible Commentary (Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2005), p. 611.

Questions

  1. In Psalm 19:1, what did David say is declaring the glory of God? How does creation declare the work of His hands and reveal knowledge? Read Romans 1:20. How do these two verses support one another and state a similar truth?
  2. How does the law of the Lord restore or renew the soul (Psalm 19:7; 23:3)?
  3. David asked the Lord to cleanse him of his hidden faults (Psalm 19:12). What are hidden faults? Compare them with willful sins. (Psalm 19:13)
  4. How can presumptuous, deliberate, or willful sin have dominion or rule over us (Psalm 19:13; Romans 6:12-14)? Have you ever had a sin you struggled to overcome? How did you get free of it?
  5. Read Psalm 19:14. Why did David ask that the words of his mouth and the meditation of his heart be pleasing in the Lord’s sight? Have you ever struggled with your words to God not matching your heart? How can you bring them into alignment? (Proverbs 4:23; Jeremiah 17:9; Luke 6:45; Hebrews 3:13)
  6. Psalm 20:7 says, “Some take pride in chariots and others in horses, but we take pride in the name of the Yahweh our God.” Do you turn to the Lord first in times of trouble or need? Or do you “trust” in other things or people to help you?
  7. What did the Holy Spirit highlight to you in Psalms 19—20 through the reading or the teaching?

Next: the Daily Word →

Daily Word

Laura Martin Psalm 20:4–5

“May He give you what your heart desires and fulfill your whole purpose. Let us shout for joy at your victory and lift the banner in the name of our God. May Yahweh fulfill all your requests.”

FURTHER SCRIPTURE

  • Psalm 20:7–9 — “Some take pride in chariots, and others in horses, but we take pride in the name of Yahweh our God. They collapse and fall, but we rise and stand firm. Lord, give victory to the king! May He answer us on the day that we call.”
  • Psalm 37:4 — “Take delight in the Lord, and He will give you your heart’s desires.”
  • Ephesians 6:12 — “For our battle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the world powers of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavens.”