Psalm 20 Study Notes

20:1 Day of trouble can refer to any distress (50:15; 77:2; 86:7), but in this case it is a crisis caused by enemies. This is validated by the main request of the psalm in 20:9 for the king’s victory. Name appears three times in this psalm (vv. 1,5,7) and is used as a substitute for the Lord (68:4; 145:1-2). It can represent his protection (Pr 18:10). In the most general sense, it conveys God’s self-revelation and represents his presence among his people (Dt 12:5,11; 1Kg 8:29). The use of Jacob’s name as a reference to the nation of Israel also emphasizes the personal aspects of God’s relationship with his people.

20:2-3 The people pray for their king’s success in battle. They know that without the Lord’s help the king will fail miserably. They ask that God honor the king’s devout worship.

20:4 The heart’s desires and purpose are related in the sense that God’s purposes and his people’s desires should be the same. The word purpose refers to counsel or plans, such as military advice (2Sm 16:20; 2Kg 18:20).

20:5 A banner was used in military campaigns to identify members of an army. These banners often included symbols or representations of the national gods who were fighting for the respective armies. The Lord took on this role with Israel (Ex 15:3; Jos 23:10) and was identified as Israel’s banner (Ex 17:15).

20:6 Anointed has the sense of being chosen, a title often related to Israel’s king who was chosen by God to rule over his people (2:2; 45:7). In 20:2 help comes from Zion, but here help comes from his holy heaven. Although the Lord dwelt among his people, his real domain from which he ruled was heaven (11:4; Is 66:1).

20:7-8 Human armaments were of no value if the Lord was not fighting because he and his armies were more numerous and powerful than any human army (68:17). He had no concern or need for human weapons (147:10).

20:9 This verse specifies the purpose of the psalm—that the king would experience victory. Only the Lord could grant this.