20 May the Lord answer you when you are in distress;

may the name of the God of Jacob protect you.

2 May he send you help from the sanctuary

and grant you support from Zion.

3 May he remember all your sacrifices

and accept your burnt offerings.

Selah

4 May he give you the desire of your heart

and make all your plans succeed.

5 We will shout for joy when you are victorious

and will lift up our banners in the name of our God.

A Praying People (verses 1-5)

· When Israel went to war, they were to pray before that war. These verses seem to allude to this commandment found in Deuteronomy 20:1-4

· Deuteronomy 20:1-4, NIV

o 20 When you go to war against your enemies and see horses and chariots and an army greater than yours, do not be afraid of them, because the Lord your God, who brought you up out of Egypt, will be with you. 2 When you are about to go into battle, the priest shall come forward and address the army. 3 He shall say: “Hear, O Israel, today you are going into battle against your enemies. Do not be fainthearted or afraid; do not be terrified or give way to panic before them. 4 For the Lord your God is the one who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies to give you victory.”

· Notice verse 5 (“lift up our banners…”)

o You raise a banner when you are victorious. Here David is reminding we raise our banners to the Lord because the battle is His!

· Is that your approach to distress?