Psalm 20:5
5 We will rejoice in thy salvation, and in the name of our God we will set up our banners: the LORD fulfil all thy petitions.
David, having spoken about God’s people’s prayer in the day of trouble for divine help and defence, now mentions the effect of their trust in God. Notwithstanding the troubles that encompass God’s people, when they seek God’s favour and deliverance, they will experience the joy that come with God’s deliverance. Confidence in the LORD will result in joy that exudes out of God’s help and deliverance. David himself, though surrounded by constant troubles caused by his adversaries, has often spoken about his joy in the LORD’s salvation. In Psalm 21:1, he said, “The king shall joy in thy strength, O LORD; and in thy salvation how greatly shall he rejoice!” In Psalm 35:9, he wrote, “And my soul shall be joyful in the LORD: it shall rejoice in his salvation.”
If God’s people pray in times of their trials, they will find strength not only to overcome despair and despondence, but also to rejoice. We should constantly think of the LORD’s promises of salvation. We must rejoice in His power to save us from our troubles. The natural outcome of prayer and confidence in the LORD, as Psalm 118:15 attests, is that there will be “the voice of rejoicing and salvation … in the tabernacles of the righteous: (for) the right hand of the LORD doeth valiantly.”
Because of our joy in the LORD’s salvation, David says, “in the name of our God we will set up our banners”. We do not stand alone or on our own accord to face our trials. Instead, we stand in the name of our God and unfurl our flag. All people, when they go to war, have banners or flags, around which they rally and fight. Each nation has its own flag. God’s people gather in His name and fight their battles for the honour and glory of God.
When they rejoice, they do not sing and dance like the heathen, but simply glory in their LORD. They will celebrate His praises and triumph in His name. They raise their banners for His glory in grateful acknowledgment of His grace and help. They say one to another, “the LORD fulfil all thy petitions.” They encourage one another to depend upon the LORD. They remind one another of the fact that the LORD will hear their prayers as they face the trials of life. Oh, how important it is that we remind one another of God’s infinite power to answer our prayers!