Midvash

Psalms 20

Some trust in chariots

n times of trouble, may the Lord answer your cry. May the name of the God of Jacob keep you safe from all harm.a 2May he send you help from his sanctuary and strengthen you from Jerusalem. 3May he remember all your gifts and look favorably on your burnt offerings. Interlude 4May he grant your heart’s desires and make all your plans succeed.b

5May we shout for joy when we hear of your victory and raise a victory banner in the name of our God. May the Lord answer all your prayers.c 6Now I know that the Lord rescues his anointed king. He will answer him from his holy heaven and rescue him by his great power.d 7Some nations boast of their chariots and horses, but we boast in the name of the Lord our God.e

8Those nations will fall down and collapse, but we will rise up and stand firm. 9Give victory to our king, O Lord! Answer our cry for help.

Commentary

Psalms 20 is a liturgical prayer for victory, likely spoken by the congregation on behalf of the king as he prepares for battle. The psalm moves from confident petition (verses 1-5) to a declaration of trust in God rather than military might (verses 6-8), ending with a final plea

Read full commentary

Bible Dictionary· Psalms 20(4)

BannerCryHeavenJerusalem

Bible Characters· Psalms 20(1)

Jacob

References· Psalms 20

a
v.1 — Proverbs 18:10, Psalms 138:7, Psalms 91:14-15, Psalms 46:11, Hebrews 5:7, Matthew 26:38-39, Psalms 46:1, Isaiah 50:10, Psalms 83:18, Jeremiah 30:7
b
v.4 — Psalms 145:19, Psalms 37:4, Matthew 21:22, Psalms 21:2, John 16:23, Proverbs 11:23, Romans 8:27-28, 1 John 5:14-15, John 11:42
c
v.5 — Exodus 17:15, 1 Samuel 1:17, Psalms 60:4, Isaiah 25:9, Isaiah 61:10, Habakkuk 3:18, Luke 1:47, Isaiah 12:1-3, Psalms 118:15, Psalms 9:14
d
v.6 — Psalms 28:8, Psalms 18:50, Acts 5:31, Psalms 89:20-23, Acts 4:10, Psalms 2:2, Isaiah 63:15, Matthew 6:9, Psalms 41:11, Isaiah 58:9
e
v.7 — Isaiah 31:1, Jeremiah 17:5, Proverbs 21:31, Psalms 33:16-17, 2 Chronicles 32:8, 2 Chronicles 14:11, 2 Chronicles 20:12-20, Psalms 45:17, 2 Chronicles 13:10-12, Isaiah 30:16

New Living Translation (NLT) © 1996, 2004, 2007, 2013, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Midvash cross references + OpenBible.info data (CC BY 4.0).

Copied!
Aa

Guided study

Study this chapter

A guided session — observe, interpret, apply — that ends in your own note.