Psalm 20

Read Psalm 20

“May the Lord answer you in the day of trouble!” David needed God to answer his prayers. God's “answer” to a cry for help might have come in a powerful provision of something that a petitioner desperately needed. It also might have been that the Lord's “answer” was a Word from Him—a message that was meant to be heard and followed.

Perhaps the people of Israel often needed both a practical gift and an explanatory Word. The Lord's children have always had desires that only God could supply. Yet they would have been greatly impoverished if every gift that He supplied came without any information that would help them to know the Giver or to understand His purposes in a fuller way.

Because the Lord spoke through His prophets, Israel was gradually prepared for the blessing of a perfect King. He was the fullest answer to their longings. When that King came in person, He supplied food, health, and even money to pay a tax obligation! As good as these gifts were, the followers of Jesus needed more than temporary aid.

Like those who heard the teaching of Jesus in the first century, we need to hear about God's best answer for us. “I am the bread from heaven.” “I am the resurrection and the life.” We need an eternal King more than anything that money can buy. We have a living Lord who is Himself the best answer to our every prayer.

Prayer from A Book of Prayers

O Divine Helper, You deliver us from evil in the day of trouble. Lord, we ask that You would purify our desires, and grant to us all our holy petitions. We trust in Your Son, O Lord. He is the King over Your people, and He will answer us when we call.