God Saves the King The Occasion for the Psalm This psalm is a royal one, liturgic, and Messianic. It concerned the temple rituals for royalty, particularly in war time. David wrote it to pray it on the success of his campaign against the sons of Amon and Araam. They had come in great numbers, chariots and horses so as to face David (2Sam. 10: 6, 8; 1Chron. 19: 7). In other words, David set the psalm as a cry for war. With it, he urges himself and the people, and motivates them to prayer1. The psalm may have been chanted in a liturgical method, as part of the sacrifice liturgy. This is performed before the king’s going to the battlefield. It was customary for the people to assemble in the temple to pray, so that God would grant victory to the king and his army (1Sam. 7: 9; 13: 9; 1Kings 8: 44; 2Chron. 20: 18)2. As for Psalm 21, it is read as a thanksgiving service after obtaining victory. The king is seen in the sanctuary offering sacrifices (Ps. 20: 3) whereas the people are assembled in the outer hall in prayer for his sake. It is the duty of the people to pray for the Messiah the king to prosper. This is the prosperity of His united church with Him as His body. He goes to the battlefield against Satan so He saves mankind. The Lord Jesus offered Himself as a sacrifice for the sake of the entire world. But it is the church duty as priests and congregation – to pray for the sake of mankind’s salvation. The Jewish Ben Ezra says some interpret this psalm as a psalm concerning the Messiah. May of the church fathers think it is the prophecy of the Lord’s passion and His deeds for salvation from the hands of our enemies, when the church will overcome with her Christ. The triumphant king in the combat is the believer (Rev. 1: 6) who is called Christ’s soldier. As St. Paul says “Share in suffering like a good soldier of Christ Jesus” (2Tim 2: 3). He has to pray this psalm all day long, praying to God to grant him the spiritual victory in Christ’s worthiness, the slaughters for us. Some interpreters combine this psalm with a liturgical fixed one. It is the new year liturgy where God is glorified as King with every new year3. That is, the new year beginning is counted as a feast for God’s coronation as King for his people, and in their hearts, as an overcoming King who has destroyed the dark kingdom inside us. David the prophet was obliged to undergo many wars since his youth. With every combat he gained new experiences expressed in his offering more psalms. This became the secret of power, joy and hope for the believers in their fight against Satan. In this way God begets out of affliction, sweetness, not only for the believer alone, but for the entire church as well. The Framework of the Psalm 1. Interceding for the King’s Sake (1-7) The assembly or the priest’s prayer for the king’s sake (1) when he reaches the sanctuary. A hymn chanted by the choir who sing when offering the sacrifice (2-3). 1 Plumer, p. 267. 2 Leopold sabourin: The Psalms, vol. 2, p. 226. 3 Leopold sabourin, p. 226. https://coptic-treasures.com/ 114 A hymns chanted by the hymners (4-5) when the banners are carried in a memorable procession. The assembly prayer (5) when the king stands in the middle. 2. Prayer of Thanksgiving (6-8) that predicts the king’s victory Words uttered by the chief priest or a prophet. The king’s response (6). It is only at this point that the king speaks, for he has been encouraged by the people’s prayers. He is supported by the sacrifice offered on his behalf, as well as the choir’s praises. This is why he speaks in full faith of God’s assured work with him. The confirmation of victory (7-8) spoken by the chief priest architecture a prophet in presence of the king and his soldiers. 3. Conclusion La song of praise sung by the congregation (9). It could be repeated several times during the festival. The General Frame 1. A prophetic prayer about Christ 1-3 2. Christ’s eager heart 4-6 3. The growth of Christ’s kingdom 7-9 1. A prophetic prayer about Christ “The Lord answer you in the day of trouble” (Ps. 20: 1). It is the pleasure of the Father to answer His believers prayers, those who trust in Him. He grants them victory, safety, and joy. Our life, in totality, has two integrated faces. It is ‘a day of trouble’, and at the same time ‘an inwardly joyful day’. It is a day of trouble due to the enemy who does not sleep. He fights us so he snatches us from our Lord’s hands. It is also a day of inward joy because in it we are blessed with the deposit for eternal life, through our partnership with Christ, our treasure and our peace. David the king has learnt, with the experience he has as a man of war, to put his faith in God. This is not only by means of God’s prayer, when sleeping in his bedroom or even before the covenant ark, but also by praying for David’s sake by means of the priests and the congregation, also the offering of the sacrifices on his behalf. It is as if the personal and collective prayers are integral. The greatest of people – even the apostles, the saints and the capable kings – are all exposed to pain and hardship. They need others’ prayers on their behalf, so God supports them Himself. In the Coptic liturgies, the priest prays for the people’s sake, as well as the people’s prayers for the priests’ sake. It is the praying church together – priests and congregation – and this is not belittled in heaven. Every believer should, whether he be a priest or a member of the congregation, not scorn other’s prayer for his sake. He should rather ask for it seriously, even for those who seem to be of lesser social status, or any kind of aspect. Despite all of this, these prayers are of not much benefit, even when offered by saints, unless the person himself prays as well. for David was a king, a man of war, a judge…etc., and he had priests and prophets, and the entire congregation prayed for him, and despite all of this he did not exempt himself from praying. https://coptic-treasures.com/ 115 What is this day of trouble? It is the day in which our Lord Jesus carried our sins. He endured death, the death of the cross, all for our sakes. The Lord Jesus underwent this day, and died on the cross, was buried in the tomb, and he rose again. He ascended to the heavens so He grants us the share in His glory. This is the day the Lord has made. It is the difficult day, yet it is the source of joy and gladness. The present life is ‘the day for trouble’ or ‘the valley of tears’, because the church being a bride for the crucified One, she shares the affliction of her Groom. The church wrestles with His grace against darkness, and she struggles so that everyone be blessed with the grace of salvation. “The name of the God of Jacob defend you” (Ps. 20: 1). We have previously spoken of the importance of ‘the name’, since it represents the owner of the name, and implies his strength. We are blessed with victory not by means of an ‘unknown god’ as St. Paul the apostle saw when he was walking in Athens. We rather obtain victory through the God we have known. We know his name, and have experienced his qualities, and are blessed in sharing with Him through the cross. God’s name is not a magical charm by which we obtain the overcoming and triumph. It is rather to be blessed with God’s divine presence that grants goodness and prosperity. Our repetition of His name only means our trust of His presence inside us. We are assured that He alone is able to redeem us. As for mentioning ‘Jacob’ here, this means that God who works in us, and who is present in our life, he is Lord of the entire church, since Jacob is the father of all the tribes. It is as if the psalmist is saying, “If you have a personal encounter with God, be assured that the father of the church defends you personally. Abraham stands for ‘fatherhood’ and Isaac for ‘obedience’, and Jacob for ‘wrestling’. Thus God who freely supports you, He works in you when you wrestle against sin. He does not support the careless ones in their life, and those who are negligent in their spiritual struggle. He is the God of every wrestling Jacob. “May He send you help from the sanctuary, And strengthen you out of Zion” (Ps. 20: 2). The Lord’s holy sanctuary on earth is a symbol of the heavenly holies, or His very heavens themselves. There, God hears the prayers of His people rising as fragrant incense, and He answers them. The holy God who dwells in the heavens answers the supplications that spring from a sanctified heart, in compliance with his sanctified will. Thus it is said in the same psalm “He will answer him from His holy heaven” (Ps. 20: 6). If the people pray for the king to be supported in time of war, then the Holy God, he fills heavens and earth; He offers the support of the king from His holy place or by means of the covenant of the ark. This is a response or a fulfillment to his divine promise and covenant with His holy people whom he loves. Now that the Lord Jesus has offered Himself a sacrifice, the doors of heavens opened before the church, so she lives in heaven itself during the Eucharist liturgy service. God’s Holy Spirit receive the divine help. This is what urges the hymner to say “and give support from Zion” that is, from Christ’s church, the heavenly Zion, where Christ the heavenly slaughtered One dwells. If Christ the lord establishes His kingdom in us (Luke 17: 21) we become His holy sanctuary and the new Zion. This is why we offer our prayers to God who dwells in us, so we find His quick answer that springs in our hearts. We are then blessed with His support, for He gives us the victory in our fight against the adversary. https://coptic-treasures.com/ 116 This saying has been fulfilled in a magnificent unique way with the Son of Man, when he bent his head, carrying our sins. He then started the affliction, and His soul was grieved indeed even unto death. The Father then sent an angel from heaven to declare what glory the Son has even at the most bitter moments of suffering and agony. His affliction was glory and victory to the King of kings, in which we obtain as kings, victory from holy heavenly Zion! His words, “and give you support from Zion” the holy divine inspiration confirms the role of the sanctified assembly, and the impact of its prayers. St. Peter the apostle was blessed with the church prayers assembled in the loft that prayed fervently for his sake (Acts 12: 5). “May He remembers all your offerings, And accept your burnt sacrifices” (Ps. 20: 3). The psalmist refers here to the sacrifices offered during the praise-giving of this psalm before the king goes to war. The sacrifice offering refers to the secret behind the victory and how it lies in the reconciliation with God by means of blood. The burned sacrifices are a sign of trust and the deposit for victory, for they all offer their hearts as burning and kindled offering with the fire of the divine love. The believer in his daily war, finds his victory in Christ’s sacrifice, and accepting His cross as the power of salvation. The apostle says “but we proclaim Christ sacrificed, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God…For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified” (1Cor. 1: 23, 24; 2: 2). Let us know that God accepts our spiritual burnt offerings, when He kindles in our souls the fire of divine love that burns our hearts inside us, by means of His Holy Spirit. There are no waters that could possibly extinguish it. He grants us inside the power of the resurrection and its victory over death and its everlasting joy. I wish the cross on which You offered Yourself as a full burnt sacrifice to God the Father, that it would be turned to the joy of the resurrection. St. Augustine In this way the psalmist spoke of the afflicted Jesus Christ, who went into an ordeal so He might carry us to his church, the Zion, offering His life a burnt sacrifice for us. This is to make us offer our lives as holy sacrifices. Now he is speaking of Him as the King, the Giver of salvation. 2. Christ’s Eager Heart “May the Lord fulfill all your petitions” (Ps. 20: 5). What is the heart’s desire of the Lord Jesus? It is mankind’s salvation that called for His sacrificing death, His resurrection and His ascension to the glories, so He reigns over hearts. “We confess to You, O Lord, Your salvation” we rejoice, because it was not possible for death to harm You in any way. this is why You prove to us that it cannot harm us either. St. Augustine Christ’s heart desire was mankind’s salvation, and it has been fulfilled by his resurrection, by our resurrection by Him and in Him. We thus become his crucified body, the risen from the dead, we share Him His inheritance and His glories. We too, when we https://coptic-treasures.com/ 117 have our heart’s desire of the Lord Jesus, the Father fulfills our heart’s desire, and He grants us our life, as well as in others’ life. God has granted David his heart’s desire, because his heart was similar to God’s heart. David aimed at nothing except to please God. Likewise are those who live according to God’s will and his guidance. God fulfills their hearts’ desire and He fulfills their will, giving them the true joy. “We confess to You, O Lord, your salvation” (Ps. 20: 5). Those who look steadfastly on the Lord’s salvation are not preoccupied with victory in itself, but rather with the Lord and His work of salvation. They rejoice in Him, and confess to Him his amazing deeds so full of love. “In the name of our God we will set up our banners!” (Ps. 20: 5) this may mean rising the victory banners that flutter before the soldiers. It is as if in the blessing the king obtained before the battle, he declares joy by lifting up the banners for he is sure of God’s work with him. The raising of the banner came from an old tradition prevalent in the East. It is that in the case of homicide, the son of the dead victim or his family, they are terribly revengeful against the killer and his family. The desire for revenge is carried on for several generations. The sons of the victim and his grandsons feel they committed to take revenge, or else they lose their dignity and manhood. At times, the wanted person, that is the murderer of his son, he resorts to a certain city where he asks for shelter and mercy from someone prestigious. If this person accepts him and forgives, he begins reconciliation process with the victim’s family. If this is fulfilled, a number of men assemble, and go about to city declaring this happy news sparing the life of the wanted for murder. This person who obtained the people would carry a banner on his head. He would call on the whole city to come and see the person who has obtained his freedom and was released from the death sentence. Likewise were we, under the death sentence, we have cried out asking for the salvation in the name of the good Christ. He thus granted us the forgiveness for our souls, and He saves from eternal death sentence. Therefore, we have a spiritual and social commitment to testify to the entire world this happy news. We are to confess and rejoice for His salvation and glorify His name because he has answered our pleading. Therefore, in the name of our God, we lift up our banner so all the world would come and see Him who in His name we live, and be blessed with the great salvation1. “Now I know that the LORD saves His anointed; He will answer him from His holy heaven” (Ps. 20: 6). Many of the church fathers think the attributed King to the Father ‘His King’ is Christ the Lord himself, the King of kings. Pope Athanasius the apostolic says, “God has saved Christ by raising Him from the dead2”. 3. The Growth of Christ’s Kingdom “Some trust in chariots, and some in horses; But we will remember the name of the Lord our God. They have bowed down and fallen; But we have risen and stand upright. Save, Lord! May the King answer us when we call” (Ps. 20: 7- 9). 1 Boyd's Bible Handbook, p. 234-235. 2 Fr. Lazarius: The Psalter, P. 20. https://coptic-treasures.com/ 118 This is a beautiful conclusion for this Messaianic psalm, for we have risen in it. we have become aware of the new life after the death of sin. We are blessed with uprightness through His goodness, thus His kingdom grows through our salvation. The prophet’s speech constantly declaring that God’s will is not to make His people compete with other nations, and to put their trust in the best weapons of war such as chariots and horses (Deut. 17: 16; Hos. 1: 7; 14: 4; Micah 5: 9; Is. 31: 1; Zech. 8: 9; Ps. 33: 16 etc.; 147: 10). Rather, their weapon is the Lord Himself. The nations boast of their strength in chariots and horses and every attractive semblance. But s for Christ’s church, she finds her strength in the heavenly Emmanuel who descended in meekness and humility to carry us in Him to his heavens. By prayers, they used to be exalted by the Lord1. Pope Athanansius the Apostolic When your Lord wished to enter Jerusalem victoriously, He did not even own a colt, as mentioned in the gospels. These have chariots and those came on horses, but in the name of the Lord our God we find our strength2. The Scholar Trillian It is possible that the chariots get burned, and the horses die, and those relying on them collapse. But those who rely on the eternal Lord’s hand and on His name, these never fail, and are not disappointed. They rather become blessed with the immortal salvation. The psalmist began speaking of the Lord’s affliction and our entering His church to be blessed with his work of sacrifice, so He reigns with his precious blood over our hearts, granting us victory and conquest in His name. It is not by any human measures. Now he is concluding the psalm by our victory in him and our uprightness through His righteousness. 1 Vita S. Amtoni, 39. 2 De Corona, 8. https://coptic-treasures.com/ 119 prayer You the true Leader, take us to the battle of the cross. Grant us the overcoming and the victory over the powers of darkness. Grant us to be blessed by Your cross, God’s strength and His wisdom. Let us not rely on any human, but rather, on Your divine work! Reign over our hearts, O Lord, and establish your kingdom in us, and let the enemy have no place in us.
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