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In life, we are met with trouble. It may be conflict with others, it may be financial difficulties, it may be poor health, but whatever it is, it is trouble. As Job puts it, "Man who is born of woman is of few days and full of trouble" (Job 14:1, NKJV). When trouble comes into our lives, how do we respond? Do we look to handle the difficulties on our own, or do we instead turn to our God? In Psalm 20, we learn that if we will turn to our God in our time of trouble, He will answer, and He will save.

Psalm 20 is a Psalm of David that shows what our prayer and confidence should be when trouble comes. In the day of trouble, our prayer should be that God might save (Psa. 20:1-4). When we ourselves or our loved ones are facing trouble, we ought to be praying for and with them. We ought to be praying that God would answer those in trouble - "May the LORD answer you in the day of trouble" (Psa. 20:1a). We ought to be praying that the LORD would defend those in trouble - "May the name of the God of Jacob defend you" (Psa. 20:1b). We ought to be praying that God would send help and strengthen those in trouble - "May He send you help from the sanctuary, and strengthen you out of Zion" (Psa. 20:2). We ought to be praying that God would remember the faithfulness of those in trouble - "May He remember all your offerings, and accept your burnt sacrifice" (Psa. 20:3). We even ought to be praying that God would bless those in trouble with what they desire - "May He grant you according to your heart's desire, and fulfill all your purpose" (Psa. 20:4).

As we pray for those in trouble, our prayers should not be half-hearted, unsure whether God will answer, defend, help, strengthen, or bless those in need. Instead, our prayers should be confident, knowing that God Himself will save those in trouble. The Psalmist shows the confidence we should have in our God when he rejoices in the "salvation" coming from God, setting up his "banners" in Him, saying, "Now I know that the LORD saves His anointed; He will answer him from His holy heaven with the saving strength of His right hand" (Psa. 20:5-6). Like the Psalmist, there should be no doubt in our minds of the saving power of the LORD.

While "some trust in chariots, and some in horses," or in the strength of man, "they have bowed down and fallen" (Psa. 20:7-8). The strength of man might be able to bring about temporary relief, but it cannot truly save man from his troubles. Only when we "remember the name of the LORD our God," trusting in Him, will we be able to rise "and stand upright" having found strength and deliverance through our troubles (Psa. 20:7-8).

Trouble is inevitable, and when trouble comes, we will be looking for deliverance. May we look for the sure deliverance that comes from our God. During our day of trouble, let's echo the words of the Psalmist from Psalm 20:9, saying, "Save, LORD! May the King answer us when we call."

I have often wondered what it would be like to live in a castle. Not necessarily to live in a castle as a king, but simply to live in a castle with a king. Perhaps it is because of books I have read or movies I have seen, but there is something intriguing to me about life in a castle. I wonder how I might act, what I might do, what I might wear, and what I might eat. I wonder what it would take to garner the attention of the king to be invited into his castle in the first place. And while it is highly unlikely that I will ever find myself living in a royal castle (or palace for that matter), I do have the opportunity to dwell with One who is far greater than any king – I have the opportunity to dwell with the LORD.

Dwelling with the LORD is a blessing that each of us has opportunity to enjoy. To dwell with the LORD requires us to live a certain way, and thankfully, we do not have to guess how we are to live. The Psalmist asks the question in Psalm 15:1, "LORD, who may abide in Your tabernacle? Who may dwell in Your holy hill?" (NKJV). To dwell in the tabernacle and in God's holy hill is to dwell with God Himself. The one who would dwell with the LORD is one who lives righteously (Psa. 15:2), loves genuinely (Psa. 15:3), esteems rightly (Psa. 15:4a), shows consistency (Psa. 15:4b), and deals wisely (Psa. 15:5a).

Dwelling with the LORD means that one must live righteously. The Psalmist says the one who may dwell with God "walks uprightly, and works righteousness, and speaks the truth in his heart." (Psa. 15:2). This is a man of integrity, who acts and speaks according to what is right. Additionally, the one who would dwell with God must love genuinely. This love will flow out of the righteous life one lives, seeing as this love causes one not to "backbite with his tongue, nor does evil to his neighbor, nor does he take up a reproach against his friend" (Psa. 15:3).

When one lives with this level of love for his neighbor, he will also learn to esteem rightly - another key for the one who would dwell with God. A desire to be with God leads to a decrease in desire to be around those who are not like God. For this reason, "a vile person is despised" in the eyes of the one who dwells with the LORD while "he honors those who fear the LORD" (Psa. 15:4a). This is not to say that this means the "vile person" is not loved, but it literally means that those doing evil are disesteemed in the eyes of those who highly esteem the LORD.¹ The preference of the one who dwells with the LORD is the people of the LORD.

In addition to living righteously, loving genuinely, and esteeming rightly, those who dwell with the LORD also show consistency. To live with the LORD means being true to one's word. The one who dwells with the LORD is one "who keeps an oath even when it hurts, and does not change their mind" (Psa. 15:4b, NIV). Dwelling with God requires consistency. Also, dwelling with God requires wisdom financially. The one who dwells with the LORD is the one "who does not put out his money at usury, nor does he take a bribe against the innocent" (Psa. 15:5a, NKJV). In other words, the way this individual uses and acquires his money is not at the disadvantage of others. The one who dwells with the LORD is generous, lending his "money to the poor without interest" (NIV), and he does not accept money through unjust means. He knows how to deal with his finances wisely.

To be invited into the presence of a real king to stay in his castle would require something amazing on our part. Thankfully, being offered the opportunity to dwell with our LORD does not require some great feat of strength or the solving of some complex riddle. Psalm 15 reveals to us what it will take if we wish to dwell with the LORD. May we do what it takes to live with Him by living righteously, loving genuinely, esteeming rightly, showing consistency, and dealing wisely. For if we can live in this way, we will be blessed to dwell with the LORD, and we "shall never be moved" (Psa. 15:5b, NKJV).

¹ "בָּזָה," Strong's Hebrew and Chaldee Dictionary of the Old Testament, paragraph 967.