Benediction

Psalm 20

This is another psalm of David. The first half of the psalm is a benediction and the second half is a declaration of what David knows about the Lord's relationship to the king and, therefore, the nation. It ends with a prayer for the king's victory or success. The psalm is written in the classic Hebrew poetry style. In the first half the couplet repeats the idea (May he send you help... and grant you support...) and in the second half the couplet mostly offers a contrasting idea (Some trust in chariots... but we trust in God). The contrast is mostly between those who trust in human ingenuity and those who trust in the Lord. The repeated ideas/words are victory and the name of the Lord. From looking at the content, it would be likely that this psalm was meant to be used in the coronation of the king or a confirmation of the king's authourity to express the people's desire that the Lord would bless their king and therefore their nation.
What is clear from the psalm is that victory ultimately belongs to God. There is a complete dependence on the Lord and a complete trust that he will ultimately bring victory and vindication. At the same time there is an implied acknowledgement that our response to God plays some role in achieving the victory. This fits well with the rest of Scripture: God is ultimately responsible but he has discharged some responsibility to us as humans and as his people. He equips, empowers and guides us and we acknowledge that we can do nothing apart from him but that doesn't mean that we just sit back and let him do it. We work and move and plan according to his equipping, empowring and guiding. When victory/success is achieved we can seek no glory because it is only through God that we have achieved the victory. We don't trust in our chariots and horses (or abilities and resources) but neither do we leave them in the barn. We use them with all the wisdom that God provides and move with confidence, not because we have so many resource but because we are moving in submission to the leading of a great and powerful God.
I think the part of the psalm that I resonate with most is the last part of the benediction: May we shout for joy over your victory and lift up our banners in the name of the Lord. I love that! May we share in the joy of the triumphs that the Lord has accomplished through each other and may the Lord receive all the glory from our rejoicing.