Psalm 20: Boasting in the Name of God

Psalm 20
Boasting in the Name of God

7. Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.

(Some boast in chariots and some in horses, but we boast in the name of the Lord our God. NIV)

◇ Psalm 20 is said to be a prayer of the people for the king who is going out to war, and the king's response (Zurich Bible Commentary). Verses 1-5 are the people's prayers to God, giving courage and comfort to the king, verses 6-8 are the king's response, and verse 9 is the king and people together pleading with God for victory.

Any king would want to win in battle. To achieve victory, they would gather troops, arm them with weapons, train them in tactics, and prepare the necessary food and supplies for war.

David was a seasoned warrior. He would have known better than anyone what preparations were needed to win a war. He would have meticulously prepared to avoid defeat and would have wanted to sound the fanfare and hold a victory parade.

There's a term called "preemptive strike." It means taking action first to suppress the opponent's power or momentum in a sports match or fight. Controlling the opponent's spirit before a battle or game can be crucial to determining victory or defeat. You can get a sense of this by watching the psychological battles between martial arts fighters.

In the battlefield, the number of troops, horses, and chariots are essential for preemptive strikes against the enemy. Seeing the enemy's numbers and armament can either demoralize or boost confidence in victory.

David would have prepared chariots and horses for preemptive strikes. However, he did not rely on chariots and horses. He relied on the name of God. He knew that the outcome of the battle did not depend on chariots and horses.

In his fight against the giant Goliath, he did not win with chariots and horses. He won with a humble sling in the name of God.

What am I relying on as I live in this world? The knowledge, education, skills, and connections I've prepared to live in this world, or God?

◇ God, what am I relying on? Help me to rely on you, whom I should trust. Holy Spirit, guide me in truth. Amen.