Psalm 20

As the worshipers of God gather together, they lift up their requests to the Lord. Many of their petitions are for groups of people, but some are for specific individuals. When a loved one is in a place of obvious need, it is easy for a congregation to offer up heartfelt prayers to God on his behalf. But not all of our prayers for individuals are that specific. Some are based on the office that the person holds, and our recognition together that it is vital for the entire community of faith that the Lord help this one person who represents us.

These prayers for a person in an official capacity can easily become perfunctory, lacking the sincerity of feeling that should accompany our requests to the Lord. The worshipers of the Lord might pray for their king every day. Do they mean what they say? Are their words before God just a rote add-on: “And God, please bless the king...” But if the worshipers actually knew the king as an intimate relation or friend, if they were aware of his daily struggles, and his desperate need for God's continual help, that would surely change the experience of calling out to God on his behalf. If they could actually speak with the king and make their desires for him known, they might be filled with sincerity as they said, “May the Lord answer you in the day of trouble!”

In this world of danger, those with great responsibility are near trouble every day. But there are moments that are especially trying, times when it may seem as if all is lost. When a powerful enemy is advancing toward the city gates, it is a day of trouble. Then the godly king is particularly aware that he needs the Lord.

What a blessing to hear that His subjects understand this as well, and are praying for him as if he were a member of their family or a very close friend. From the assembly of those who call upon the Name of the Lord, God will send help. From his sanctuary in heaven he will gives all necessary support according to His decrees.

But why should God care about the prayers of any man? Repentant sinners must approach the Lord through sacrifice. If we expect God to hear us, His requirements for justice must be satisfied. Even the king must bring an offering to the Lord. He must remember that he is a man, and that God is his Ruler. Through the blood of the sin offering his guilt is removed, and through his whole burnt offering his pledge of complete consecration ascends to the Lord's throne on high.

Even a very godly king will not always be right. There are times when it is best that the Lord not bring about the plans of a man, even if he is an exceptionally great leader. But it would be be wonderful to hear that God would grant all of the king's request if the people knew for certain that their ruler was perfectly wise and loving.

If the people of God were to somehow have a perfect king, they could ask God for nothing better than that Lord would not only preserve such a man through the worst day of trouble, but also that the Lord would grant to him everything that he might request. How happy would a nation be if they had such a ruler. Yet in this world, death would always be lurking around the corner. If only we could have a perfect king who would live and reign forever. The Lord's assurance that such a man's every request would be fully granted would be a source of perfect joy to us.

This is what we have in the true anointed king over the church, the Christ, the Messiah. The Lord God has brought Jesus of Nazareth through the worst day of trouble in the offering up of His perfect life and His atoning death for us. He has had regard for this one holy offering, and in His resurrection God has declared Jesus the eternal Son of God, and the King of the world of resurrection. God saves His Christ, and God saves the church in this prefect Redeemer. He is the right hand of the Lord Almighty who has come in person to be the wisdom and power of God for us.

The more that we come to know this Jesus, the more we can understand that our fate is entirely dependent on Him. If God will not hear this one King in the day of trouble, if He will not grant Him His petitions, then we are utterly lost, for there is no other Name given among men by which we must be saved. But God will hear the prayers of the One who He installed forever as our eternal King. This is our trust, and we approach God now through this One appointed Ruler over the world to come.

Some people in this current age trust in their own military might, or their character or superiority over others. But if we worship God through Jesus Christ, this cannot be our story. We trust in the Name of the Lord our God. We believe in Jesus, and have no other plea before God than Him.

Every other king will eventually fail. Jesus never fails. If His death on a cross is victory for us, what will His resurrection reign mean for our eternal blessing? Other kings and kingdoms will collapse and fall, but in Jesus, we will rise and stand upright.

This is our secure hope. And in that hope we petition the Lord of hosts for the Body of Christ on earth. For some in that holy body today is a day of intense trouble. When we gather together in worship, we ask for the Lord to save the people of the King. May He answer us when we call. Even if we must be counted as sheep for the slaughter for a brief moment, we know that we are forever more than conquerors though Him who loved us and give Himself for us. May the Lord always hear the petitions of His glorious Son, and may He grant to Him everything that He requests.