Psalms 20
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The Lord hear thee in the day of trouble; the name of the God of Jacob defend thee;
2 Send thee help from the sanctuary, and strengthen thee out of Zion;
3 Remember all thy offerings, and accept thy burnt sacrifice; Selah.
4 Grant thee according to thine own heart, and fulfil all thy counsel.
5 We will rejoice in thy salvation, and in the name of our God we will set up our banners: the Lord fulfil all thy petitions.
6 Now know I that the Lord saveth his anointed; he will hear him from his holy heaven with the saving strength of his right hand.
7 Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the Lord our God.
8 They are brought down and fallen: but we are risen, and stand upright.
9 Save, Lord: let the king hear us when we call.
Public Domain KJV text from Wordproject.org
Psalm 20:1-9
Trust in the Name of the Lord Our God
To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David.
1May the Lord answer you in the day of trouble!
May the name of the God of Jacob protect you!
2May he send you help from the sanctuary
and give you support from Zion!
3May he remember all your offerings
and regard with favor your burnt sacrifices! Selah
4May he grant you your heart’s desire
and fulfill all your plans!
5May 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!
6Now I know that the Lord saves his anointed;
he will answer him from his holy heaven
with the saving might of his right hand.
7Some trust in chariots and some in horses,
but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.
8They collapse and fall,
but we rise and stand upright.
9O Lord, save the king!
May he answer us when we call.
ESV Bible text displayed through the American Bible Society's Global Bible Widget
Psalm 20:1-9
Psalm 20
For the director of music. A psalm of David.
1May the Lord answer you when you are in distress;
may the name of the God of Jacob protect you.
2May he send you help from the sanctuary
and grant you support from Zion.
3May he remember all your sacrifices
and accept your burnt offerings.
4May he give you the desire of your heart
and make all your plans succeed.
5May we shout for joy over your victory
and lift up our banners in the name of our God.
May the Lord grant all your requests.
6Now this I know:
The Lord gives victory to his anointed.
He answers him from his heavenly sanctuary
with the victorious power of his right hand.
7Some trust in chariots and some in horses,
but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.
8They are brought to their knees and fall,
but we rise up and stand firm.
9Lord, give victory to the king!
Answer us when we call!
NIV Bible text displayed through the American Bible Society's Global Bible Widget
Commentary
Psalm 20 and 21 is a powerful set of what is known as Warfare Psalms. Psalm 20 is the affirming song that was sung before a battle and Psalm 21 is the celebrating song that was sung after a battle. The former was stated in anticipation of what God was going to do for His people and Psalm 21 was stated in celebration of what God had done. Within the center of God’s will was the assurance that God could be counted on to protect and provide for His people, that He was willing and capable to deliver the outcome that His people needed. There was to be no doubt and hesitation, but a strong confidence to lift the spirit of the military action.
God was the Commander-in Chief over the King who was the general and leader over the soldiers who went out to battle. The beauty of this Psalm is the concept of God’s presence and victory even before the battle had begun. As long as God’s people were obedient and faithfully called on His name they had a right to believe in His providence and presence. This confidence resulted in a spirit that manifested itself in a rock-solid assurance that was contagious.
Delbert W. Baker
Director of Research and Development for the Regional Conference Retirement Plan (as of this writing)
