“Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God. They are brought to their knees and fall, but we rise up and stand firm” (Psalm 20:7-8).
There is much that is hard in this world. There are multiple stresses which we encounter. Today, many of us are wrestling with the financial crisis, with the desire to see justice and peace reign, or with far more personal struggles. In these times of stress it is vital to remember where we find our hope. This was true for Israel as well. Before battle, they were to sing Psalm 20 so that they would be grounded in an appropriate hope. Focus in on verses seven and eight and you’ll see an exhortation to live in the light of our hope. There are three lenses I use to read the Psalms: as inheritance, fulfillment, and devotion. Each one takes us into the hope of Psalm 20 from a different angle and thereby allow us to carry the hope into the full breadth of our lives.
We can read Psalm 20 as our inheritance, as our own story, because we have been grafted into Israel’s story. To read this psalm as inheritance will look like taking it up and praying for our rulers—especially in times of crisis. Whether we are in a kingdom or state we must pray for those who are set up to protect the peace. In particular we are to pray that they will not misplace their trust in human strategies. It is far too easy to depend on our own actions or our own strengths to deliver us from evil. We tell ourselves, “Sometimes, you have to make the hard choice” and mean that we must put aside Jesus Christ, the way of life, in order to preserve life. This is especially tempting for those who must develop and implement national strategies. At all times, and especially in times of crisis, we must remember that “Some trust in chariots and some in horses, some trust in the military complex, some in the free market, and some in non-violent resistance, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God.”
To trust in the name of the LORD our God means to trust in the revealed character of God. We are to trust in the One who gathered the outcast Hebrews and made them into a people without the use of the major weapons of their day. We trust in the One who cares for the alien and the widow, in God who is mighty in mercy and rejoices in longsuffering. We trust in the One who has revealed what is good (Micah 6:8) and trust that his way through (not around) evil leads to abundant life (Psalm 25:8-10, 20). We trust that God does not abandon those who pattern their life after the name of the LORD. Our rulers must surely develop strategies of peace, but if there is to be any hope, any life in those strategies they must be subjugated under the name of the LORD. Surely, all who deal treacherously, no matter how dire the situation, will be put to shame. But those who trust in the LORD will rise again. This is how we may read Psalm 20:7 as inheritance.
Psalm 20 reaches a deeper (and perhaps more troubling) meaning when we view it as fulfilled in Jesus. I can easily imagine this Psalm constantly ringing in our Lord’s heart as he set his hand to establishing the Kingdom of God. He demonstrates such radical faith and obedience to the trust the Psalm demands. Here is the man who shows us the depths of what it looks like to “trust in the name of the LORD our God.” He did not accept the devil’s assistance, nor did he allow the people to forcefully make him king. I can hear him reminding himself and the people that no matter how good the desire, how pure the intention is, those who trust in the ways of men will eventually stumble and fall but those who trust in the name of the LORD will rise again and stand firm.
Jesus committed himself to trusting in the name of the LORD to such a radical degree. Jesus is on the cross—taunted. “He saved others but he can’t save himself! Let the Christ, this King of Israel, come down now from the cross” (Mark 15:31-32). Perhaps he remembers the devil’s temptation to call on the army ofangels to save him. If there is any time to call on the angels now is surely the moment. But Jesus chooses to trust in the name of the LORD his God. He would rather doubt in God’s presence than use his own power to save himself. He cries, “My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?” and he hears no answer.
The air is filled with weeping and jeering, with grunts and hard breaths, with so many sounds except what should count—an answer, any answer, from God. This is a hard scene, perhaps a pitiful scene, but do not think that Jesus is hanging resigned upon the cross. Jesus is doing battle; it is a battle against death and sin. He is equipped with faith and he will not put that faith down no matter how desperate the situation is. He will not take up any other weapon, any other strategy, for he knows that anything apart from God’s way will fail in the end. Rather he holds onto the belief, the hope, that those who trust in the name of the LORD will rise again. And he died.
“Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but our dear Saviour, Jesus Christ, trusted in the name of the LORD our God,” and so God was pleased “to raise Jesus from the dead and seat him at his right hand high above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given” (Ephesians 1:20- 21, ff.). These verses contain such a rich and awesome meaning when seen as fulfilled by Jesus. Let us move on finally to briefly consider a devotionals reading.
We may read this text devotionally by recognizing the hardships that we have all faced in our lives. We all have known times of distress. As long as this world continues to resist God’s rule it will be a place of anguish. Indeed, our Lord Jesus does not desire to draw us away from this world precisely because he wants us to be agents of peace, to be ministers of reconciliation, to this present age. Jesus has shown us the way that we may “rise again and stand firm.” Moreover, he sends us, first, to bear with our spiritual brothers and sisters, and next, to bear with our neighbor.
Psalm 20 opens with a blessing: “May the LORD answer you when you are in distress; may the name of the God of Jacob protect you. May he send you help from the sanctuary and grant you support from Zion” (vv. 1-2). Even as we are to receive aid from God’s sanctuary we must stand alert and be ready to offer the peace that we have received, for God has made our hearts his dwelling place. We are the sanctuary from which God desires to extend his mighty mercy. This does not mean we must seek out those in distress. Rather, as you go about your life in work or leisure be attentive. “With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints,” indeed, all of creation (Ephesians 6:18). Pray for your leaders. Pray even for Jesus. Pray “thy kingdom come. May the victory Jesus accomplished on the cross come to full fruition.” And remember, those who walk as Jesus did, those who trust in the name of the LORD our God will stand firm, and our God will be pleased to share the good work of reconciliation with them.
“Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God. They are brought to our knees and fall, but we rise again and stand firm.” Let it be, Lord. We wait upon the help from your sanctuary. Do not let us be put to shame, nor let our enemies triumph over us. Seal us in your victory.