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.
4 May he give you the desire of your heart
    and make all your plans succeed.
5 May we shout for joy over your victory
    and lift up our banners in the name of our God.

May the Lord grant all your requests.

6 Now this I know:
    the Lord gives victory to his anointed.
He answers him from his heavenly sanctuary
    with the victorious power of his right hand.
7 Some trust in chariots and some in horses,
    but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.
8 They are brought to their knees and fall,
    but we rise up and stand firm.
9 Lord, give victory to the king!
    Answer us when we call! NIVUK

Make the king a winner GOD; the day we call, give us your answer. (9) The Message

It is evident that the writer of this psalm (David again) believes in the power of prayer because he believes in the prayer-answering God (see e.g. vv.6/9). The whole psalm exudes confidence in the Lord. David has the assurance that he and his armies will be victorious in ”the name” of the LORD (1,5,7). The ‘Name’ represents all that God is.

It is believed that this psalm is a prayer before battle. ‘David was going out to battle, and he and his people gathered to pray. His secret of victory was in the name of the Lord (v.1)…’ Warren W. Wiersbe.

Alec Motyer makes the important point regarding verse 3 that ‘Prayer must happen in the context of the sacrifices God has authorized, i.e. for us, prayer resting on Calvary.’

What battles lie ahead of you this day? You can pray before you enter them, and trust God to be with you. He has a good Name – a great Name – and He will not let you down.

‘In the Name of Jesus we have the victory.’