Feeling and thinking in Psalm 20: Feelings flowing outward
"For the choir director: A psalm of David.
In times of trouble,
may the LORD answer your cry.
May the name of the God of Jacob keep you safe from all harm."
"May he send you help from his sanctuary and strengthen you from Jerusalem."
"May he remember all your gifts and look favorably on your burnt offerings. Interlude"
"May he grant your heart's desires and make all your plans succeed."
"May we shout for joy when we hear of your victory and raise a victory banner in the name of our God.
May the LORD answer all your prayers."
"Now I know that the LORD rescues his anointed king. He will answer him from his holy heaven and rescue him by his great power."
"Some nations boast of their chariots and horses, but we boast in the name of the LORD our God."
"Those nations will fall down and collapse, but we will rise up and stand firm."
"Give victory to our king, O LORD! Answer our cry for help."
Jacob Blessing the Children of Joseph 1656, Rembrandt (1606–1669)
(Museumslandschaft Hessen Kassel)
Our words have far more power than we sometimes realise. We have the capacity to speak good things into existence. From the moment you begin to express kindness, goodness or the desire for another person's good, you are on the road to blessing. We could talk about blessings and curses here and in the context we can see both. David is speaking a blessing over those who are in times of trouble. Most likely he is speaking to the whole nation. But each individual makes up that nation and each person would hear and take these words on board as an encouragement.
Do you bless others? Or do you curse others? God gives you the power and responsibility to bless. What are the thoughts and feelings associated with being a person who blesses others?
Your thoughts and feelings grow into words and actions. Your feelings of blessing and your thoughts of humble gratitude grow into actions of blessing.
Can you see the great blessings that God is pouring out on you everyday? He gives you life. He makes your heart beat, He gives you breath, He causes the sun to rise on you and warm the earth and the cool breeze to cool you in the warmth and He makes the trees fruitful for you and brings the rain to water the earth. He keeps evil from getting out of control and puts a stop to violence and harm. Even in godless countries and places, there is a limit to the evil that man can do. God blesses you with flowers and bird song in nearly every corner of the globe. The lover of your soul causes the very weeds to be beautiful. And your heavenly Father blesses you with hope and salvation. He speaks words of blessing on you through His great and precious promises. Do you feel grateful? Can you see the many blessings being lavished on you? You are not cursed for your sins, you are not punished for your evil and selfish thoughts and actions. Instead of hurting you, God helps you.
And David, knowing all this, begins to pray overflowing with hope and calling upon God to bless. The word “may” appears 7 times in Psalm chapter 20. Each time David uses the word, he is blessing the people. He is not merely wishing. He is speaking life, hope and change as a friend and leader over those he loves.
What are the blessings?
David blesses by asking for a connection to God that produces change and increases belonging and relationship between God and the person who prays. The blessing of being heard is enormous.
The benevolent king makes a request for the people, that they would have safety and protection, that the safety would flow out of a relationship with God, in response to the present trouble that initiated the prayer. The blessing of a safe place is foundational for health.
We are blessed when we look to God for our help. David acts as an intercessor on behalf of the people in trouble; He asks God to send help. Intervention is what is needed, and the shepherd of the nation goes to the God who can do something about it all. He blesses the people by turning their eyes away from the problem and on to the solution. God’s rescuer, the Messiah, is ultimately the helper who solves the problems. Wow, what a blessing God has in store for His people.
Recognition of faithful obedience moves David to ask God to bless those doing right. In this blessing David is talking to God about the actions of the people and asking God to respond to the good of the people. Blessings build bridges and relationships. These people have heard God and done what God asked of them.
David had confidence in the good intentions of his people, so it was natural for him to then ask God to bless and give with unbridled generosity. A person who blesses is in fact showing love. And Paul tells us that love keeps no record of being wronged, always protects, always trusts, always hopes. So it is easy for David to ask God to fulfil the people’s desires and to make their plans succeed. He sees obedience and trusts the people to desire good and to plan to do what is right. It is easy to bless the desire to do good. Blessing others produces more blessings.
It was trouble that brought this time of blessing to the lips of the king. So dealing with that naturally is on the mind of the one being blessed. And David blesses the people with hope. Hope in God, the God who can give victory and the God who can save. We are limited in what we can do. But God is unlimited. Death and evil can never have the upper hand. So we will be blessed when we look forward to what God will do. And what God will do is give victory. So be blessed, victory is on the way.
This blessing brings the people back to the source. Our great leader shows the people that the greatest blessing is God and the greatest blessing giver is God. We are blessed to talk to God and we can ask anything we want of Him. What access, what privilege. Wow.
Now you have a pattern for blessing others. Look to this Psalm and learn how to speak words of blessing over your friends, your family and even your enemies. For if evil is defeated and good is rewarded, then everyone, even your enemies, will ultimately be blessed. The evil plans of those bent on oppression of others will not bless them. So wanting someone to stop doing evil and be defeated in their evil plan is a blessing for them and for everyone.
To be someone who blesses others makes us like God. And Jesus has called His followers to do just that task. Are you enjoying the great personal benefits that flow from a heart and attitude that blesses others? It will do you a lot of good and of course others will be blessed too.
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