Psalm 20:6-8

6 Now 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.

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

8 They are brought to their knees and fall, but we rise up and stand firm.

Psalm 20:6-8 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.

Cross References

• 1. S 2 Samuel 23:1; Psalms 28:8; Psalms 41:11; Isaiah 58:9
• 2. S Job 40:14; Habakkuk 3:13
• 3. S 2 Kings 19:23
• 4. S Deuteronomy 17:16; Psalms 33:17; Psalms 147:10; Proverbs 21:31; Isaiah 31:1; Isaiah 36:8,9
• 5. S 2 Chronicles 32:8
• 6. Psalms 27:2; Isaiah 40:30; Jeremiah 46:6; Jeremiah 50:32
• 7. Micah 7:8
• 8. S Job 11:15; Psalms 37:23; Proverbs 10:25; Isaiah 7:9