Psalm 20

1May Yahweh answer you in the day of trouble. May the name of the God of Jacob set you up on high, 2send you help from the sanctuary, grant you support from Zion, 3remember all your offerings, and accept your burned sacrifice. Selah. 4May he grant you your heart’s desire, and fulfill all your counsel. 5We will triumph in your salvation. In the name of our God, we will set up our banners. May Yahweh grant all your requests. 6Now I know that Yahweh saves his anointed. He will answer him from his holy heaven, with the saving strength of his right hand. 7Some trust in chariots, and some in horses, but we trust in the name of Yahweh our God. 8They are bowed down and fallen, but we rise up, and stand upright. 9Save, Yahweh! Let the King answer us when we call!

It is the will of God that prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings, should be made, in special manner, for kings and all in authority. This psalm is a prayer, and the next a thanksgiving, for the king. David was a martial prince, much in war. Either this psalm was penned upon occasion of some particular expedition of his, or, in general, as a form to be used in the daily service of the church for him. In this psalm we may observe, I. What it is they beg of God for the king (Psa 20:1-4). II. With what assurance they beg it. The people triumph (Psa 20:5), the prince (Psa 20:6), both together (Psa 20:7, Psa 20:8), and so he concludes with a prayer to God for audience (Psa 20:9). In this, David may well be looked upon as a type of Christ, to whose kingdom and its interests among men the church was, in every age, a hearty well-wisher.

To the chief musician. A psalm of David.

Cross-references: Ps 20:1 · Ps 20:5 · Ps 20:6 · Ps 20:7 · Ps 20:8 · Ps 20:9

Introduction