Why is God asked to "accept your burnt offerings" in Psalm 20:3? Text Of Psalm 20 : 2-4 “May He send you help from the sanctuary and sustain you from Zion. 3 May He remember all your offerings and accept your burnt offering. Selah 4 May He give you the desires of your heart and make all your plans succeed.” Royal-Liturgical Setting Psalm 20 is a congregational prayer for the king—most likely David—on the eve of battle. Israel gathers at the sanctuary (“from Zion,” v. 2) to present sacrifices. The community intercedes that the LORD will grant victory to His anointed. Ancient Near-Eastern parallels show kings seeking divine favor before war, but only Israel ties that favor to covenant sacrifices ordained by God Himself (cf. Deuteronomy 17:14-20). What Is A Burnt Offering? The Hebrew word ʿōlâ (“that which goes up,” Leviticus 1:3-17) denotes a sacrifice wholly consumed by fire. Unlike peace offerings—where worshipers ate a portion—the burnt offering was entirely God’s, symbolizing total consecration (Genesis 22:2, Leviticus 6:9). Its smoke “went up” as a “pleasing aroma” (Exodus 29:18), a physical picture of prayer rising to heaven (Psalm 141:2). Why Ask God To “Accept” It? A. Covenant Logic. Under Mosaic law, atonement and fellowship hinged on God receiving the sacrifice (Leviticus 1:4, 9:24). If He “accepts,” His favor follows (Leviticus 26:3-13). B. Battle Theology. Israel’s victories were never merely military; they were theological showdowns (Exodus 17:11-13, 1 Samuel 17:45-47). Before combat, the king offered an ʿōlâ so the army would march out under divine approval (1 Samuel 7:8-9; 13:9-14; 2 Samuel 24:25). C. Communal Participation. The people cannot storm heaven with petitions while ignoring God’s prescribed means of approach (Proverbs 15:8). Thus they pray: “May He remember (zākar) your minḥâ (grain-gift) and ‘make fat’ (yedaššen, lit. treat as rich/abundant) your ʿōlâ.” Linguistic And Manuscript Notes • yedaššen derives from dāšen (“to fatten, make rich”). In sacrificial idiom it connotes lavish acceptance (Isaiah 58:14). • Dead Sea Scroll 11Q5 (Ps-a) preserves the same reading, confirming the Masoretic consonants c. 150 B.C. • The Septuagint renders it “λιπαρῶσαι” (“make fat/enrich”), echoing the same sense. All major textual streams align, illustrating the remarkable preservation of Psalm 20. Foreshadowing Christ The burnt offering’s total consumption prefigures Christ’s complete self-giving (Ephesians 5:2). The New Testament twice connects ʿōlâ imagery to the crucifixion (Hebrews 10:8-10). Therefore Psalm 20:3 has a dual horizon: immediate prayer for David’s victory and prophetic anticipation of the Messiah whose sacrifice is eternally “accepted” (Mark 1:11; Acts 13:33-34). Archaeological Corroboration • The horned altar uncovered at Beersheba (Iron Age IIA, c. 10th cent. B.C.) fits biblical dimensions (Exodus 27:1-2). • Tel Motza’s temple complex (strata matching monarchic era) shows a parallel cultic layout, affirming that Israelite sacrificial culture described in Psalms was indeed practiced. • Ostraca from Arad reference “house of Yahweh” grain contributions, mirroring the “offerings” (minḥâ) of Psalm 20:3. The Prayer’S Covenant Sequence v. 1 Protection (“answer in the day of distress”) v. 2 Presence (“help from the sanctuary”) v. 3 Atonement (“accept your burnt offering”) v. 4 Provision (“grant desires … plans succeed”) The logic is deliberate: divine answer flows from presence; presence rests on atonement; atonement opens the way for blessing. Christological Application Today Because Jesus is the once-for-all ʿōlâ, believers pray with assurance that God has already “accepted” the perfect sacrifice (Hebrews 9:24-26). Victory in spiritual battle (Ephesians 6:10-18) starts by pleading that acceptance, not by mustering human strength. Our “offerings” now are “living sacrifices” (Romans 12:1) rendered acceptable “through Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 2:5). Pastoral Takeaways • Worship before warfare. Bring every endeavor to God’s altar first. • Confidence, not presumption. The community asks; they don’t demand. • Christ-centered prayer. Every petition—career, health, nation—must stand on the finished work of the greater King. Summary “Accept your burnt offering” encapsulates the covenant principle that favor, protection, and victory flow from a God-appointed sacrifice. In David’s day that meant a literal ʿōlâ on the Jerusalem altar; in our day it means the once-for-all sacrifice of Jesus, through whom every prayer rises as a pleasing aroma to the Father. |
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