Psalm 20 Complete Jewish Bible
20 (0) For the leader. A psalm of David:
2 (1) May Adonai answer you in times of distress,
may the name of the God of Ya‘akov protect you.
3 (2) May he send you help from the sanctuary
and give you support from Tziyon.
4 (3) May he be reminded by all your grain offerings
and accept the fat of your burnt offerings. (Selah)
5 (4) May he grant you your heart’s desire
and bring all your plans to success.
6 (5) Then we will shout for joy at your victory
and fly our flags in the name of our God.
May Adonai fulfill all your requests.
7 (6) Now I know that Adonai
gives victory to his anointed one —
he will answer him from his holy heaven
with mighty victories by his right hand.
8 (7) Some trust in chariots and some in horses,
but we praise the name of Adonai our God.
9 (8) They will crumple and fall,
but we will arise and stand erect.
10 (9) Give victory, Adonai!
Let the King answer us the day we call.
The Word of God for the Children of God.
Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.
Misplaced Trust?
What is a misplaced trust in the Bible?
The Bible places much emphasis on TRUST; however, many people will put their trust in that which is not true or honest. This is the result of deception, an oft used malicious tool of the enemy, both physical and spiritual. Thus there is misplaced trust; trusting in that which is discovered to be unreliable or false.
Misplaced loyalty (or mistaken loyalty, misguided loyalty or misplaced trust) is loyalty placed in other persons or organizations, things, where that loyalty is not acknowledged, is not respected, is betrayed, or is taken advantage of.
Deceptive Trust?
Deceptive behavior uses trust and mistrust as tools (or weapons, depending on your perspective). The goal of deception is to either convince someone of a greater degree of trust than is warranted, or to leverage risk aversion through mistrust. The risk of deception rises when the stakes are high, and when the system encourages deceptive behavior.
Deception is usually associated with selfish competitive behavior, it can be used for the benefit of someone else, and can sometimes be both a virtue and a vice.
For example, Odysseus was a cunning hero for the Greeks in the Odyssey, but a deceptive malicious villain for the Romans in the Aeneid. Regardless for why deception is used, once someone recognizes the deception then serious, severe doubt is cast upon that deceiver’s future behavior.
Whether To Trust or Not to Trust? God vs. Chariots
Psalm 20:7 English Standard Version
7 Some trust in chariots and some in horses,
but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.
Where we place our trust says a lot about us, about who we are, and about our character.
This verse from Psalm 20 says, “Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.”
I want to add an exclamation mark at the end when I read it!
Chariots and horses were weapons used in war in the Bronze and Iron Ages.
As time progressed chariots became more and more sophisticated, having spikes on their wheels and other features making them even more intimidating.
The chariot was like the equivalent to our modern day main battle tanks.
They communicated strength and intimidation.
The Chariots and horses could outrun the infantry and the charioteers would shoot arrows, hurl sharp spears that could penetrate the armor of the enemy.
Chariots coming towards you would invoke a fear for one’s life, most certainly! King Solomon had 1400 chariots and 12,000 horses in his army (1 Kings 10:26)!
One probably felt pretty secure going into battle with 1400 chariots! Wow!
It’s pretty easy to trust in my car to safely carry me from place to place.
There’s many safety features in today’s vehicles.
I can trust in a home alarm system, a surveillance camera and the spyware on my laptop.
Trust in these things can fail me in various ways.
I’m not suggesting we do away with these things.
I am saying that placing our greatest level of trust in these human things will eventually disappoint.
However, trusting in the name of the Lord Almighty is another story.
The Bible is full of stories from the lives of those who have come before us that prove when we trust in the Lord we never come up short.
We need not fear. Daniel in the lion’s den, David and Goliath, and many other biblical stories show us how nothing can defeat us if our trust is in the Lord.
The verse that follows this one, 20 verse eight says, “They collapse and fall, but we rise and stand up straight.”
I can still stand up straight when all has collapsed around me.
This trust can give me a superpower!
I can be like David! I can be like Daniel! I too can put my trust in the Lord!
What a word for us today!
What a word for the person who trusts in their personal weapons alone!
What a word for those who have lost everything to war!
What a word for those of us who have experienced injustice!
We are invited to trust in the Lord.
God has not failed us and will not fail us. He is Who He says He is!
How do we trust?
We believe.
We live out in obedience what the Lord has laid out before us.
We choose a lifestyle that pleases God.
It is then that I am handed my armor!
It’s when I trust that I have my chariot and horse!
I am ready for battle and I pray I please my Savior Jesus in the battle of this life.
What are you trusting in?
Is it as strong as the mountain?
Who are you trusting in?
Do they have the faith which can move that mountain even 1 millimeter?
Can you let go of safety and security in earthly things and trust in the Lord.
The safest place to be is where God calls us to be.
I can rest in this and know I am I am covered.
I am safe. I am loved. I am God’s.
In the name of God, the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit,
Let us Pray,
Psalm 13 English Standard Version
How Long, O Lord?
To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David.
13 How long, O Lord? Will you forget me forever?
How long will you hide your face from me?
2 How long must I take counsel in my soul
and have sorrow in my heart all the day?
How long shall my enemy be exalted over me?
3 Consider and answer me, O Lord my God;
light up my eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death,
4 lest my enemy say, “I have prevailed over him,”
lest my foes rejoice because I am shaken.
5 But I have trusted in your steadfast love;
my heart shall rejoice in your salvation.
6 I will sing to the Lord,
because he has dealt bountifully with me.
Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.
Loving God, Living God, Loving Hope, Living Hope, Loving Living Life His Way! "Many things are possible for the person who has hope. Even more is possible for the person who has faith. And still more is possible for the person who knows how to love. But everything is possible for the person who practices all three virtues." - Brother Lawrence (1605-1691), Practicing the Presence of God (1692). 