Psalm 20
לַמְנַצֵּ֗חַ מִזְמ֥וֹר לְדָוִֽד
BSB
The Day of Trouble
For 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 sustain you from Zion.
3May He remember all your gifts
and look favorably on your burnt offerings.
Selah
4May He give you the desires of your heart
and make all your plans succeed.
5May we shout for joy at your victory
and raise a banner in the name of our God.
May the LORD grant all your petitions.
6Now I know that the LORD saves His anointed;
He answers him from His holy heaven
with the saving power of His right hand.
7Some trust in chariots and others in horses,
but we trust in the name of the LORD our God.
8They collapse and fall,
but we rise up and stand firm.
9O LORD, save the king.
Answer us on the day we call.
Introduction
Psalms 20
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