Clergy/Leaders’ Mail-list No. 3-141 Sunday 10 Aug 2003

Psalms on Sundays Reading: Psalm 20 – PRAYING FOR LEADERS

‘Praise be to the name of God … He changes times and seasons; he sets up kings and deposes them’.(Dan 2:20,21)

Verses 1-5 here form a communal prayer of intercession for the king. God is asked to protect and help him, and give him victory. The change in verses 6-8, to speech in the first person, suggests that this is the king’s own expression of confidence that God will answer positively and give him victory. Verse 9 is a kind of communal ‘amen’. How can the king be so confident?

The story in 2 Chronicles 20 may give the answer, by suggesting the kind of setting in which this psalm might have been used. When warned of an impending invasion by Edom the Judeans gather in the Temple and the king offers a communal prayer for God’s deliverance. As the people wait before God a Levite gives a word of guidance and assurance from God. The king and people respond to this with praise and worship. Presumably it was a word from God that inspired the confidence shown here.

Judah and the Davidic kings had a special covenant relationship with God that does not apply to any modern political state. So what can we learn from this psalm that is relevant today? First there is the recognition of the importance of godly leaders. The people’s prayer rests on the fact that the king has been a sincere worshipper of God, as evidenced by the sacrifices he has offered (v 3). Secondly, there is the recognition that ultimately they are in God’s hands, and that is where they place their confidence (v 7).

Paul urges Christians to pray for their political leaders.(1 Tim 2:2) This psalm provides some principles that should inform those prayers. In particular it reminds us to pray for godly leaders, in all spheres of life.

If you don’t usually pray for political and civic leaders – whether local, national or international – do so today and resolve to do so regularly.

– Ernest Lucas

Copyright Scripture Union, 2003, Encounter with God

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