November 9, 2016 (Wednesday)
Israel’s king was the representative of God and the representative of the people. Psalm 20 interceded for him; Psalm 21 thanked God for him. Psalm 20 portrays the king making preparations for battle; Psalm 21 is a celebration of victory after the battle was won. The identity of the enemy and the king are not certain. The principle is the same in any case: praying for the king.
Psalms 20-21
Prayers for the King
1. May the Lord Keep Blessing the King (20:1-5)
2. May the Lord Give Victory to the King (20:6-9)
3. May the Lord Answer the King’s Prayers (21:1-7)
4. May the Lord Vindicate the King (21:8-13)
Psalm 20
For the Director of Music
A Psalm of David
New International Version (NIV)
1 May the Lord answer you when you are in distress;
may the name of the God of Jacob protect you.
2 May he send you help from the sanctuary
and grant you support from Zion.
3 May he remember all your sacrifices
and accept your burnt offerings.
4 May he give you the desire of your heart
and make all your plans succeed.
5 May we shout for joy over your victory
and lift up our banners in the name of our God.
May the Lord grant all your requests.
6 Now this I know:
The Lord gives victory to his anointed.
He answers him from his heavenly sanctuary
with the victorious power of his right hand.
7 Some trust in chariots and some in horses,
but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.
8 They are brought to their knees and fall,
but we rise up and stand firm.
9 Lord, give victory to the king!
Answer us when we call!
May the Lord give you
what your heart longs for
Psalm 21
For the Director of Music A Psalm of David
New International Version (NIV)
1 The king rejoices in your strength, Lord.
How great is his joy in the victories you give!
2 You have granted him his heart’s desire
and have not withheld the request of his lips.[b]
3 You came to greet him with rich blessings
and placed a crown of pure gold on his head.
4 He asked you for life, and you gave it to him–
length of days, for ever and ever.
5 Through the victories you gave, his glory is great;
you have bestowed on him splendor and majesty.
6 Surely you have granted him unending blessings
and made him glad with the joy of your presence.
7 For the king trusts in the Lord;
through the unfailing love of the Most High
he will not be shaken.
8 Your hand will lay hold on all your enemies;
your right hand will seize your foes.
9 When you appear for battle,
you will burn them up as in a blazing furnace.
The Lord will swallow them up in his wrath,
and his fire will consume them.
10 You will destroy their descendants from the earth,
their posterity from mankind.
11 Though they plot evil against you
and devise wicked schemes, they cannot succeed.
12 You will make them turn their backs
when you aim at them with drawn bow.
13 Be exalted in your strength, Lord;
we will sing and praise your might.