Psalm 20
David the second King of Israel
Notes on Psalms - Dr. Thomas L. Constable
Psalm 20
Before a battle with an enemy, David found encouragement in the
intercession of his people to trust God for victory.
1. The Intercession of the People, 20:1-5
Psalm 20:1 May the LORD
answer you
answer you
in the day of trouble!
May the name
of the God of Jacob
May the name
of the God of Jacob
protect you!
(ESV)
2. The Assurance of the King, 20:6-8
Psalm 20:7 Some trust in chariots
and some in horses,
but we trust
but we trust
in the name
of the LORD our God.
of the LORD our God.
(ESV)
3. The Repeated Intercession of the People, 20:9
Psalm 20:9 O LORD,
save the king!
May he answer us
when we call.
save the king!
May he answer us
when we call.
(ESV)
(…)
The elect can appeal to God for victory against their spiritual enemies
confidently, when they are walking with Him, because He is willing and able to
subdue the powers of darkness. God has assured us of our ultimate victory (cf.
2 Cor. 2:14). The psalm presents three essentials for victory as God's people
fight against the forces of evil. First, there must be a praying people (vv.
1-5). Second, there must be a confident leader (vv. 6-8). Third, there must be
a sovereign Lord (v. 9).
Matthew Henry :: Commentary on Psalm 20
Psalm 20
This prayer for David is entitled a psalm of David; nor
was it any absurdity at all for him who was divinely inspired to draw up a
directory, or form of prayer, to be used in the congregation for himself and
those in authority under him; nay it is very proper for those who desire the
prayers of their friends to tell them particularly what they would have to be
asked of God for them. Note, Even great and good men, and those that know ever
so well how to pray for themselves, must not despise, but earnestly desire, the
prayers of others for them, even those that are their inferiors in all
respects. Paul often begged of his friends to pray for him. Magistrates and
those in power ought to esteem and encourage praying people, to reckon them
their strength (Zec. 12:5, 10), and to do what
they can for them, that they may have an interest in their prayers and may do nothing
to forfeit it. Now observe here,
I. What it is that they are taught to ask of God for the king.
II. What confidence they had of an answer of peace to these
petitions for themselves and their good king (v. 5)
Here is,
I. Holy David himself triumphing in the interest he had in the
prayers of good people (v. 6)
II. His people triumphing in God and their relation to him, and
his revelation of himself to them, by which they distinguish themselves from
those that live without God in the world.
III. They conclude their prayer for the king with a Hosanna,
In singing these verses we should encourage ourselves to trust in
God, and stir up ourselves to pray earnestly, as we are in duty bound, for
those in authority over us, that under them we may lead quiet and peaceable
lives in all godliness and honesty.
Psalm 20 New American Bible (Revised Edition) (NABRE)
3) Psalm 20 New American Bible (Revised Edition) (NABRE)
Psalm 20[a]
Prayer for the King in Time of War
Footnotes:
a. Psalm
20 The people pray for the king before battle. The people
ask for divine help (Ps 20:2–6) and
express confidence that such help will be given (Ps 20:7–10). A solemn
assurance of divine help may well have been given between the two sections in
the liturgy, something like the promises of Ps 12:6; 21:9–13. The
final verse (Ps 20:10) echoes the
opening verse.
c. 20:6 Victory:
the Hebrew root is often translated “salvation,” “to save,” but in military
contexts it can have the specific meaning of “victory.”
Bible Dictionaries
ISBE Main Index:
The ISBE is part of SwordSearcher Bible Software.
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