Down to Earth But Heavenly Minded

What does Psalms Chapter 20 mean?

Psalm 20 features two main parts, as both the assembled people and King David pray for victory in an impending battle.

First, the people pray that God would bless the king during the fight: “the day of trouble.” They pray that God would provide support for David, both spiritually—”from the sanctuary”—and militarily—”from Zion.” Zion is another name for the city of Jerusalem. Their prayer is that David’s pleas for victory would be granted. The people look forward to celebrating the victory God brings through their king (Psalm 20:1–5).

Next, David prays to describe his confidence in God. He refers to the “might of [God’s] right hand,” implying the full power of the Lord. This is contrasted with the only power available to worldly kingdoms: horses and chariots, common symbols of war. By comparison, David and the people of Israel are trusting in something far more potent, and reliable, than human armies (Psalm 20:6–8).

The psalm ends in the same way it began: with a sincere prayer from the people to give David victory in his battle (Psalm 20:9).

Chapter Context
This psalm was written by David as a prayer before he went into battle. Psalm 21 offers praise for victory. It seems David had entered the tabernacle to pray before going to battle. The tone of the psalm is somber and urgent, whereas the tone of the next psalm (Psalm 21:1) is joyful. Perhaps our Lord’s prayer in the garden of Gethsemane resembles the prayer in Psalm 20. At Gethsemane Jesus struggled with the prospect of suffering and dying and prayed for deliverance (Luke 22:39–44).

Verse by Verse

Verse 1. May the Lord answer you in the day of trouble!May the name of the God of Jacob protect you!

Psalm 20 opens with the congregation of Israel in the tabernacle praying in unison for David as he prepares for battle. The description, “the day of trouble,” indicates that a battle was pending. The congregation asks the Lord to answer David, who had entered the tabernacle to pray and offer sacrifices. The congregation also prays that the Lord will keep David safe.

Intercessory prayer for those who are in authority is still necessary. The apostle Paul wrote in 1 Timothy 2:1–3:

“First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior.”

Although King David was a benevolent, godly king, the rulers in Paul’s day were far from benevolent and godly. Nevertheless, believers were urged to pray for them. Today, too, we ought to pray for our government officials and other leaders regardless of their political views or spiritual status.

Context Summary
Psalm 20:1–5 expresses the tabernacle’s congregational prayer for David as he prepares for battle. Deuteronomy 20:1–4 calls upon the people of Israel to rely on the Lord when they go to battle. The opening of this psalm demonstrates the people’s positive response to this call. These words reveal Israel’s love and admiration for King David.

Verse 2. May he send you help from the sanctuaryand give you support from Zion!

Continuing from the previous verse (Psalm 20:1), the congregation prays for the Lord to send David help from the tabernacle and support from Zion.

Other nations relied on false gods or their well-armed soldiers for help and support in battle, but the people of Israel relied on Jehovah, their covenant-keeping God (Psalm 20:7). The tabernacle in Zion—another name for Jerusalem—was the resting place of the ark of the covenant that symbolized God’s presence amidst His people. The congregation prayed to their covenant-keeping King to assist their earthly king in the time of battle. It is important to note that the people relied on the Lord for victory over the enemy. They did not rely on the ark for assistance.

Psalm 124 acknowledges that without the Lord’s help Israel would have been swept away by her enemies. The psalm concludes with a bold affirmation, “Our help is in the name of the LORD, who made heaven and earth” (Psalm 124:8).

Verse 3. May he remember all your offeringsand regard with favor your burnt sacrifices! Selah

David had presented offerings and burnt sacrifices in the tabernacle. The congregation asked the Lord to accept the offerings and burnt sacrifices favorably. It was customary for the king to offer sacrifices before going into battle (1 Samuel 7:9–11). Burnt sacrifices were offered voluntarily in devotion to the Lord. They represented the worshiper’s complete submission to the Lord.

Romans 12:1–2 summons every believer to present his body to God as a living sacrifice and to resist the lure of the world to conform his thinking to its ungodly philosophy. The apostle James, too, urges believers to submit ourselves to God and resist the Devil (James 4:7). He promises that the Devil will then flee from us. We can present a financial offering to God, but first we ought to offer ourselves to Him.

Paul commended the churches of Macedonia for the way they gave to Paul and his missionary team. He wrote in 2 Corinthians 8:5: “They gave themselves first to the Lord and then by the will of God to us.”

This verse includes the term se’lāh, which is among the most obscure in all of Hebrew Scripture. It’s likely related to terms which mean “pause,” as well as those which imply “praise.” Another possibly-related word implies weighing something, as on scales. The term, transliterated as “selah” in English, may also be used as a musical term. This may mean an interlude without instruments, a pause, or some other transition.

Verse 4. May he grant you your heart ‘s desireand fulfill all your plans!

This continues a congregational prayer on behalf of King David. The people pray God will give David what his heart desires and bring David’s plans to a successful conclusion.

Proverbs 3:5–6 promises if we fully trust in the Lord, and accept His will, He will guide us. David had not depended upon his own understanding as he prepared for battle. He had worshiped the Lord and sought His will (1 Samuel 23:1–2). The word “plans” as translated here is from the Hebrew term asāt, which can also be rendered as “strategies, counsel, or advice.” David’s battle strategies for defeating the enemy would be successful if the Lord fulfilled them.

The apostle James counsels us not to plan what we will do tomorrow without seeking God’s will (James 4:13–15). The Lord instructed Joshua to meditate on the Word of God and obey the God of the Word and then he would be successful (Joshua 1:4–9).

Verse 5. May we shout for joy over your salvation,and in the name of our God set up our banners!May the Lord fulfill all your petitions!

The congregation looked forward to celebrating David’s victory over the enemy (Psalm 20:1–4). The victory would be achieved “in the name of our God.” In other words, David and his army would act on God’s behalf.

Numbers 2 describes the orderly arrangement of the tribes of Israel. They set up their camp tribe by tribe with each tribe displaying its unique banner. When Israel’s army went into battle, each group carried its specific banner (Song of Solomon 6:4, 10). Exodus 17:15–16 tells us Moses built an altar and called it, “The LORD Is My Banner.” He declared that “the LORD will have war with Amalek.”

Here, we read further that the congregation prayed for a successful conclusion in response to David’s petitions. Christians battle the Devil and his demons, but if we put on the whole armor of God, take the sword of the Spirit, and pray, we will be victorious (Ephesians 6:10–18).

Verse 6. Now I know that the Lord saves his anointed;he will answer him from his holy heavenwith the saving might of his right hand.

David responded to the congregation’s prayers for him (Psalm 20:1–5) by assuring the people that God delivers His anointed. As Israel’s anointed king, David knew the Lord would answer him from heaven and reach down with His mighty right hand to deliver David from the enemy. God would send help from the sanctuary and Zion (Psalm 20:2), but He would also send help from heaven, His dwelling place.

In His covenant with David the Lord told David, “I have been with you wherever you went and have cut off all your enemies from before you” (2 Samuel 7:9). The Lord also guaranteed David that he would have rest from all his enemies (2 Samuel 7:11). As a man of faith, David took the Lord’s words at face value. He was sure the Lord would grant him victory in the upcoming battle.

The Lord’s right hand would protect and save David. The right hand, in ancient writing, is a symbol of strength and power. When Moses extolled the Lord for delivering the Israelites from Egypt’s cavalry, he exclaimed, “Your right hand, O LORD, glorious in power, your right hand, O LORD, shatters the enemy” (Exodus 15:6).

Context Summary
Psalm 20:6–9 assures the congregation that the Lord will grant David victory over the enemy. His words express strong confidence in the Lord. The passage reminds us of the confidence in the Lord that Daniel’s three friends had when they were threatened with the fiery furnace (Daniel 3:16–18), and it reminds us of the victory over the lions that God gave to Daniel, who consistently prayed (Daniel 6:19–24). Psalm 91 similarly expresses confidence in the Lord in treacherous times.

Verse 7. Some trust in chariots and some in horses,but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.

This is part of a prayer made by the assembled people of Israel, prior to a battle. Continuing his response (Psalm 20:6) to the congregation’s request (Psalm 20:1–5), David expresses confidence in the Lord as more powerful than an army’s horses and chariots. In the ancient day, horses were primarily useful for war, as oxen or other livestock were preferred for work. Chariots, likewise, were designed for military purposes. A modern re-phrasing of this statement might say, “some trust in rifles and some in missiles…”

In the book of Exodus, we see that the Egyptians were well equipped with chariots and horses when they pursued the Hebrews. However, after the Lord carved a path through the Red Sea for the Hebrews, the Egyptians tried to cross. They learned, however, that their chariots and horses were no match for the Lord’s power. The Lord removed the chariots’ wheels, brought the water of the Red Sea together, and submerged chariots, horses, and drivers in the ensuing deluge (Exodus 14:21–29).

A nation may have bombers, fighter jets, nuclear submarines, satellites, and a well-trained military, but what it needs most is the Lord’s favor. Psalm 33:12 says, “Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD,” and verses 17–19 say, “The war horse is a false hope for salvation, and by its great might it cannot rescue. Behold, the eye of the LORD is on those who fear him, on those who hope in his steadfast love, that he may deliver their soul from death and keep them alive in famine.” In all our struggles we must not rely on our own resources but trust in the Lord. “He is our help and our shield” (Psalm 33:20).

Verse 8. They collapse and fall,but we rise and stand upright.

Reflecting on the defeat of his enemies, David writes these words as part of his response to the congregation in the tabernacle (Psalm 20:1–5). Perhaps David alludes to past battles in which the army of Israel suffered a temporary setback but revived and struck down the enemy. Or perhaps he was thinking about his battle with the giant Goliath in which he hurled a stone that sank into Goliath’s forehead. First Samuel 17:49 reports that Goliath “fell on his face to the ground.”

We read in Exodus 17 about a battle between the powerful pagan tribe of Amalek and Israel. Moses stood on a hilltop with the staff of God in his hand. Whenever Moses held up his hand, Israel prevailed, but when he lowered his hand, the battle went against Israel. When he grew tired, Moses sat on a stone and Aaron and Hur held up his hands. His hands remained steady until sunset, and Israel defeated the Amalekites. Similarly, when we pray, the enemy falls and we, like David and Israel, gain a victory!

Verse 9. O Lord, save the king!May he answer us when we call.

This psalm began with a prayer from the congregation (Psalm 20:1–5), and it ends with one, as well. In unison the congregation of Israel prayed for David’s deliverance from his enemy. The congregation called on the Lord to answer their prayer and save the king. With a repeat of that basic theme, the psalm ends as it began. The people of Israel bowed to the sovereign King—God, the Lord—and looked to Him for victory.

David was an earthly king, but he acknowledged the Lord is the King of glory. In Psalm 24:10 he writes, “Who is this King of glory? The LORD of hosts, he is the King of glory!” Psalm 95:3 proclaims, “the LORD is a great God, and a great King above all gods.” Like the congregation that prayed for David, believers ought to keep in mind that the person to whom they pray is the sovereign King of the universe. Nothing is impossible with Him (Luke 1:37). No burden is too heavy for Him to lift. No problem is too big for Him to solve. No barrier is too strong for Him to break down. And He answers when we call on Him (Jeremiah 33:3; Matthew 7:7–8; Hebrews 4:14–16).

End of Psalm 20

Please Note:

The material use in this post, video is from BibleRef.com which is from Got Questions Ministries and is posted here to be read by Immersive reader in the Edge Browser. If you copy this material please follow these rules:

•Content from BibleRef.com may not be used for any commercial purposes, or as part of any commercial work, without explicit prior written consent from Got Questions ministries.

•Any use of our material should be properly credited; please make it clear the content is from BibleRef.com.

•BibleRef.com content may not be altered, modified, or otherwise changed unless such changes are specifically noted.