Psalms 20:4-9

4 May he give to you {your heart's desire}, and your every plan may he fulfill. Selah

5 May we shout for joy over your victory, and in the name of our God may we set up banners. May Yahweh fulfill all your requests.

6 Now I know that Yahweh will help his anointed. He will answer him from his holy heaven with the victorious power of his right hand.

7 {Some boast in chariots and others in horses}, but we boast in the name of Yahweh, our God.

8 They will collapse and fall, and we will rise and stand firm.

9 Rescue, O Yahweh. Let the king answer us when we call.

Psalms 20:4-9 Meaning and Commentary

To the chief Musician, a Psalm of David. This psalm is thought, by some, to be written by David, on account of himself, and as a form to be used by the people for him, when he was about to go to war; particularly with the Ammonites and Syrians, 2 Samuel 10:6; mention being made of chariots in it, Psalm 20:7; of which there was a great number in that war: Arama thinks it was made by him when he got the victory over the Philistines; others think it was written by one of the singers on David's account, and should be rendered, "a psalm, for David," as Psalm 72:1: but rather it is a psalm concerning David; concerning the Messiah, whose name is David; or a psalm of David concerning the Messiah, since he is expressly mentioned, Psalm 20:6; and Aben Ezra says, there are some that interpret it of the Messiah; and some passages in it are, by Jewish writers {m}, applied unto him, as Psalm 20:6; and our countryman, Mr. Ainsworth, says, the whole psalm is a prophecy of Christ's sufferings, and his deliverance out of them, for which the church with him triumphs. Theodoret takes it to be a prophecy of Sennacherib's invasion of Judea, and of Rabshakeh's blasphemy, and of Hezekiah's distress and prayer on that account.

{m} Shirhashirim Rabba, fol. 18. 1. Tzeror Hammor, fol. 44. 2.

Footnotes

• [a]. Literally "according to your heart"
• [b]. Hebrew "messiah"
• [c]. Literally "These in the chariots and those in the horses"
• [d]. Or "Grant victory"