Psalm 20: What’s in a Name?

 May 1, 2018

What’s in a name? Shakespeare tell us, “a rose by any other name would smell as sweet.”  The author of Psalm 20 would beg to differ with this statement.

Psalm 20

The psalm for this week, Psalm 20, is a royal psalm (other royal psalms include 2, 28, 45, 72, 101, 132, 144). The format is similar to a lament. A king is about to go into battle. His people make a request of God (vs. 1-5) then thank God already in their confidence that God has heard them and will grant their request.

The God of Jacob

Psalm 20 starts by calling upon the name of the God of Jacob, not Baal, not Zeus, the God of Jacob. It makes a difference. In early times it was thought that divine names had power, i.e. the name of Yahweh, I Am, was not to be spoken. Later names became regarded as representative of God, almost a second self. And still later it was considered a mediator. The name, God of Jacob, identified him as Israel’s God, the God who had delivered his people and whom the king expected to deliver a victory. In biblical thought a man’s name revealed his character. A person was to conform to his nature as expressed in his name. A name change meant a change in character.

To know the name of God is to know God himself—no light matter. It made a difference to the Hebrew nation what name they used. It was important to call upon the right name.

Under Who’s Banner Are You Serving?

In vs. 2-3 we see that the king is offering burnt offerings in the sanctuary. The king goes to the Temple to present his cause before God. A helpful guide for those who would go into war – is this truly a just cause? Is this a fitting cause to present before our God?

In verse 5 we see name of God again. “May we shout for joy over your victory, and in the name of our God set up our banners!”  We are to set God’s name on our banners to indicate that we are marching under the banner of God. Soldiers going into battle go under the banner of their king or country. Our soldiers go under the banner of the American flag. Ignatius in his spiritual exercises asks us to make a choice – are we under God’s banner or Satan’s. It’s important to know whose banner we are marching under for as we chose, our actions will follow.

Thank God in Advance

Verse 6 shifts to thanking God in advance for victory. Everything that could be done, has been done, the king is ready for battle. Now it is up to God. Reminiscent of saying, “Act as if everything depended on you, pray as if everything depended on God.” The king puts his trust in God, so much so that he thanks him in advance. The king surrenders to God’s will.

In verse 7 we see how some rely on chariots and horses; but we trust in God. Revised Standard translation says, “Some boast of chariots, and some of horses, but we boast of the name of the Lord.” Again, relying on God’s name. As Paul tells us in 2 Cor. 10:17, “whoever boast should boast in the Lord.” The king puts his trust in God, that the enemy will eventually collapse and fall. Even if we fall, we will get back up again. The psalm ends with a final, confident appeal to God.

This psalm is a beautiful prayer of trust in God. The king going into battle, does all he can to be prepared, he makes offerings at the Temple, then places himself under the banner of the name of the Lord, trusting in God to give him victory.

What’s in a Name?

So, what’s in a name? Peter, in Acts of the Apostle, healed in the name of Jesus (3:6). The apostles were thrown into jail for “teaching in that name.” (Acts 5:28) They rejoiced at being “found worthy to suffer dishonor for the sake of the name.” (Acts 5:41) The early church baptized in the name of Jesus, testifying to the power of a name.

In John’s gospel, Jesus has seven “I Am” statements, or names. He claims: I am,

1. bread (6:35, 48, 51)
2. light (8:12, 9:5)
3. the gate for the sheep (10:7, 9)
4. the good shepherd (10:11, 14)
5. the resurrection and the life (11:25)
6. the way the truth and life (14:6)
7. and the true vine. (15:1)

All reveal an aspect of who Jesus is/who God is.  When Moses asked the burning bush God’s name, God’s response was “I am.” Jesus’ use of this term would not be lost on those following him, it was why he was brought before Pilate and the Sanhedrin. They claimed he was blaspheming in saying he and the father were one, claiming for himself the term “I Am.”

God’s Name is Love

In I John, John speaks of God’s love, saying that God, who is love, abides in those who confess that Jesus is the Son of God. “So we have known and believe the love that God has for us.” We see yet another name for God, another aspect of who God is – love.

If we are going to call upon a name, it’s important we call upon the right name. If we are going into battle, it’s important we know under whose banner we fight. Jesus is the God of Jacob, the God of Moses and Elijah, the great I AM. And this God is love.

What’s in a name? A lot. So, if we are to boast, let us boast of the name of the Lord. Let us do everything under his banner, putting our trust in God, abandoning our own will for God’s will, staying close to the vine. What’s in a name? Everything, for that name is love.

What name for God speaks to you? Are you serving under God’s banner?

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This post is part of a series of blog posts on the Psalms. Sign up to follow this blog and and receive a free copy of  Dancing on a High Wire the first book in my Dancing through Life Series.      click here to sign up

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