Psalms 20

This is a prayer for the king as he goes out to battle. The people ask God to answer, help and prosper him, then voice their confidence that God saves. It ends by contrasting trust in military might with trust in the name of the LORD, and closes with a plea for the king and the people.

Psalms 20:1

The people pray for their king as war approaches. They ask that God would answer him when trouble presses in. The ’name’ of the God of Jacob means God Himself, as He has made Himself known, and His character is the king’s real shelter.

BSA: name (“reputation, character”): God’s name stands for who He is and what He has proved Himself to be, not just a label. protect (“defend, set up on high”): The picture is of being lifted out of reach of the enemy, like a refuge set high on a rock.

Hebrew: יְשַׂגֶּבְךָ (yesaggevkha, H7682) — “set you securely on high.” The Hebrew verb means to lift up out of danger, as onto a high fortress. It is more than guarding someone; it puts them beyond the enemy’s reach.

See also: Proverbs 18:10.

Psalms 20:2

Help is asked from the sanctuary and from Zion, where God had chosen to dwell among His people. The sanctuary was the place of worship and sacrifice. Real help comes from the God who is near and who meets His people there.

BSA: sustain (“grant support, strengthen”): God is asked not only to rescue but to hold the king up and keep him going.

See also: Psalm 134:3.

Psalms 20:3

Before battle the king offered sacrifices. The people ask God to remember them and accept them. The offerings show that the king depends on God’s favor, not his own strength. ‘Selah’ marks a pause to think over what has been prayed.

BSA: look favorably (“with delight, accept”): The prayer is that God would take pleasure in the offering, not merely notice it.

Hebrew: יְדַשְּׁנֶה (yedashsheneh, H1878) — “regard as fat, accept.” The Hebrew literally speaks of making the burnt offering ‘fat’, meaning to receive it as rich and acceptable. It pictures God’s welcome of the sacrifice.

Psalms 20:4

The people ask that God would grant what the king truly longs for and bring his plans to fulfillment. This is not a blank check for selfish wishes. It is prayer for a king whose heart and plans are set on serving God’s purposes for His people.

BSA: desires (“your heart’s deepest longings, what you really want”): God is asked to meet the deepest longings of the king, not passing impulses. plans (“counsel, purposes, goals”): The king’s careful purposes, formed before God, are what the people ask Him to bring to success.

See also: Psalm 37:4.

Psalms 20:5

The people look ahead to victory and celebrate in advance. They will shout for joy and raise their banners, but ‘in the name of our God’, giving Him the credit. Again they ask that the LORD fulfill the king’s requests.

BSA: victory (“salvation, defeat of enemies”): The Hebrew word is ‘salvation’, so the win is seen as God’s rescue, not human achievement. banner (“set up our banners, lift up a banner”): Banners rallied the troops, and here they are lifted to honor God for the outcome.

See also: Exodus 17:15.

Psalms 20:6

The mood shifts from prayer to assurance. One voice speaks with confidence that the LORD saves His anointed king. God answers from heaven, where He reigns, and His right hand, the hand of strength, brings the rescue. The king depends on a power above this earth.

BSA: anointed (“chosen king”): The king was set apart by anointing with oil for God’s purposes. The Hebrew word is ‘mashiach’, from which ‘Messiah’ comes. know (“am fully convinced, have complete confidence”): This is settled trust that has grown out of prayer, not a guess.

Hebrew: מְשִׁיחוֹ (meshicho, H4899) — “His anointed one.” This is the word behind ‘Messiah’ and ‘Christ’. Christians see in Israel’s anointed king a pointer to Jesus, the final anointed King.

See also: 1 Samuel 16:13.

Psalms 20:7

Chariots and horses were the military superpower of the day. Others lean on such things, but God’s people lean on the LORD. ‘Name’ again means God Himself: His character, His promises and His presence. Trust placed in Him does not fail.

BSA: name (“of Yehovah, the Lord’s personal name”): God has a personal name, given to His people, which stands for His faithful, covenant presence. trust (“and war horses”): The BSA gloss stresses how formidable the rival objects of trust were, which makes the choice of God more striking.

Hebrew: נַזְכִּיר (nazkir, H2142) — “we cause to remember, we call on.” The Hebrew verb here means to mention or recall, so the line can be read ‘we call on the name of the LORD our God’. Trust is expressed by calling on Him.

See also: Psalm 33:16-17; Isaiah 31:1.

Psalms 20:8

The outcome is described in sharp contrast. Those who trust in chariots bend, collapse and fall. God’s people, who seemed weaker, are lifted up and stand firm. The strength of this world proves unsteady, but trust in God holds.

BSA: stand firm (“unmoved, continue standing, strong”): God’s people are not just rescued once but kept steady and upright.

See also: Proverbs 21:31.

Psalms 20:9

The psalm closes as a short prayer. The people ask the LORD to save the king and to answer them when they call. It returns to where it began: all hope rests on God hearing His people in their need.

BSA: save (“rescue, deliver”): The plea is for real deliverance, and the whole psalm leans on this word. call (“cry out, pray to You”): God is invited to answer when His people call out to Him in need.

See also: Psalm 18:6.