Psalm Meditation 496
Fourth Sunday of Advent
December 20, 2009

Psalm 20
1 The LORD answer you in the day of trouble! The name of the God of Jacob protect you!
2 May he send you help from the sanctuary, and give you support from Zion.
3 May he remember all your offerings, and regard with favor your burnt sacrifices. Selah
4 May he grant you your heart's desire, and fulfill all your plans.
5 May we shout for joy over your victory, and in the name of our God set up our banners. May the LORD fulfill all your petitions.
6 Now I know that the LORD will help his anointed; he will answer him from his holy heaven with mighty victories by his right hand.
7 Some take pride in chariots, and some in horses, but our pride is in the name of the LORD our God.
8 They will collapse and fall, but we shall rise and stand upright.
9 Give victory to the king, O LORD; answer us when we call.
(NRSV)

This psalm seems to be addressed to the king as he goes out to battle. The psalmist lifts up a prayer that all go well as the king and the army head out to war. At the same time there is the reminder for the king that the real source of victory we experience is due to the presence of God. Other nations have better chariots and others have faster horses, however we have the presence of Yahweh to lead us to a much more lasting victory than that won by chariots and horses.

Since we no longer have kings, chariots or horses as a part of our daily lives this psalm must have something else to offer than a prayer for victory as our king goes out to do battle with neighboring kings. Could it be a call for the unquestioning support for those who lead us on a daily basis, from those who supervise us directly all the way to the top of the organizational chart? Or a call to blindly support our elected officials from the most local to those with national influence? I hope not since we are in the habit of second guessing folks at work as well as those in elected office, especially those against whom we voted.

We do better to use this psalm as a reminder that it finally comes down to the source of our pride. Are we proud of the status of our nation and our national leaders? What happens when that shifts and another takes our place? Do we take pride in being largest, or small enough to adapt quickly or any other category we choose or make up to give ourselves a sense of pride? Do we find ourselves at the same time proud and humbled that God has chosen to love us and care for us freely?

God has chosen to love us no matter what. God has chosen to care for us in spite of and because of our very human faults and flaws. God chooses to be with us whether we succeed or fail, win or lose. It is not about our being deserving of God’s love and care, it is about God choosing, wanting, desiring our company in all our humanness. All the trappings of power and influence will fail and fade. The presence of God is a constant.

© December 14, 2009