So the Hebrew. Of his right hand - The right hand is the instrument by which mainly we execute our purposes; and by constant use it becomes in fact more fully developed, and is stronger than the left band. Again, all the people take up the vocal declamation of this psalm in the last three verses. Alas, it is the destiny of every child of God to confront the day of trouble. At this point in the ceremonial use of this psalm, a single speaker, perhaps the king himself, the high priest, or a prophet, using the first person singular, announces God's acceptance of the sacrifice and divine assurance that the prayers of the people upon behalf of the king are going to be answered favorably. Thus the close of the psalm corresponds with the beginning. Baigent pointed out that this Psalm is still used ceremonially in prayers for the Queen of England in Anglican services.[2]. Defend thee - Margin, as in Hebrew, set thee on a high place. Psalms 20 Commentary, One of over 110 Bible commentaries freely available, this commentary, filling six volumes, provides an exhaustive look at every verse in the Bible. Here it refers to the war-chariot, or the vehicle for carrying armed men into battle. "Some trust in chariots, etc." The word means an offering of any kind or anything that is presented to God, except a bloody sacrifice - anything offered as an expression of thankfulness, or with a view to obtain his favor. He is here invoked as the supreme monarch. Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary. While 20 We wait in hope for the Lord; he is our help and our shield. According to this idea, and as seems to me to be manifest on the face of the psalm, it is composed of alternate parts as if to be used by the people, and by the king and his followers, in alternate responses, closing with a chorus to be used by all. The prayer in Psalm 20:1-5breathes self-distrust and confidence in Jehovah, the temper which brings victory, not only to Israel, but to all fighters for God. As Baigent accurately noted, these banners, "Are a reference to tribal standards displayed when camping or marching."[10]. Gerald H. Wilson, NIV Application Commentary (NIVAC), Zondervan, 2002, 1,024 pp. "In the Bible, assurance never breeds complacency, but rather offers grounds for urgent prayer and calling upon God to save. It is a liturgical hymn used ceremonially upon the occasion of a king's coronation, or upon the occasion of his going into battle. In the beginning Psalm 20:1-4 there is an earnest “desire” that God would hear the suppliant in the day of trouble; in the close there is an earnest “prayer” to him from all the people that he “would” thus bear. Jacob was the one of the patriarchs from whom, after his other name, the Hebrew people derived their name Israel, and the word seems here to be used with reference to the people rather than to the ancestor. All people, when they go to war, have standards or banners, whether flags or some other ensigns, around which they rally; which they follow; under which they fight; and which they feel bound to defend. Drawing on over 20 years of study in the book of Psalms, Dr. Gerald H. Wilson reveals the links between the Bible and our present times. In this Psalm there are the following parts: - I. You can read through all of Psalms 20 below.Click the verse number to read commentary, definitions, meanings, and notesfor that particular Psalms 20 verse. This may be viewed as occurring shortly after the interval during which the sacrifice had been offered; "And the speaker's response of confidence issues in the form of a prophetic oracle, in which the use of the prophetic perfect tense gives the necessary divine assurance to the king and the worshippers."[11]. If it means that David wrote the Psalm, there is the suggestion of a problem in the usage of the words of other people in a prayer for himself, which to modern ears sounds unnatural; but David may have composed this prayer to be prayed by the people upon behalf, not merely of himself, but on behalf of kings who would arise after him. It logically connects with the previous one, Psalm 20. The occasion that prompted the writing of this psalm is supposed to have been that of David's start of a war against Syria, at some considerable time after the return of the ark of the covenant to Jerusalem by King David. The name of the God of Jacob - The word name is often put in the Scriptures for the person himself; and hence, this is equivalent to saying, “May the God of Jacob defend thee.” See Psalm 5:11; Psalm 9:10; Psalm 44:5; Psalm 54:1; Exodus 23:21. [3] However, the use of the word "king" refutes such a supposition, because Simon Maccabaeus was never, in any sense, a king. Now know I that the Lord saveth his anointed - Saveth, or will save, the king, who had been anointed, or consecrated by anointing to that office. It was John Calvin's opinion that, "Under the figure of the temporal kingdom,"[1] God here laid down the principle reiterated in the New Testament to the effect that public prayers should be offered for kings, rulers, and other persons invested with high authority (1 Timothy 2:1-2). This is the language of exultation and triumph in God; of joyful trust in him. You can find the best commentary on Psalms for you using the tools on the right side. "[4] After the times of Solomon, Israel possessed many chariots and horses. These furnished great advantages in war, by the speed with which they could be driven against an enemy, and by the facilities in fighting from them. As many have pointed out, this psalm is a companion with Psalms 21, their relation being that of a prayer for victory in Psalms 20 and a thanksgiving for victory in Psalms 21. And in the name of our God - This indicates a sense of dependence on God, and also that the enterprise undertaken was in order to promote his honor and glory. May he remember all your sacrifices and accept your burnt offerings. On the sides of the frame hung the war-bow, in its case; a large quiver with arrows and darts had commonly a particular sheath. Then they see their enemies fallen and subdued, while their armies stand upright - is. People, Psalm 20:5 ( latter part ), and floored for the of... Grounds for urgent prayer and calling upon God to confront the day trouble... 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