Master's Prayer Network

Psalm 20:1 — In Composite Paraphrase

1 To the chief musician. A psalm of David. May the LORD hear and answer in the day of trouble; the name of the God of Jacob set you up on high for protection.

Comments: “To the chief musician” indicates that David intended this psalm for corporate worship, and this includes the idea that the thoughts herein will be reviewed numerous times, to impact numerous worshipers. The various translations I examined in study, provide the sense that Jehovah not only hear, but respond, in answer to the implied call in a time of distress or trouble: and his response is to set you upon a high place of protection. This is accomplished by the power in the very name of the God of Jacob — the God of the living, not the dead. Matthew 22 “31 But as touching the resurrection of the dead, have ye not read that which was spoken unto you by God, saying, I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? God is not the God of the dead, but of the living.” The name of the eternal God has power sufficient even unto imparting eternal life. Genesis 4:26 “And to Seth, to him also there was born a son; and he called his name Enos: then began men to call upon the name of the LORD.” Genesis 21:33 “And Abraham planted a grove in Beersheba, and called there on the name of the LORD, the everlasting God.” Psalm 124:8 “Our help is in the name of the LORD, who made heaven and earth.” So Christian, proclaim the name of the LORD with joy and thanksgiving because our salvation is made certain by the eternal God who made heaven and earth!

Psalm 20:2 — In Composite Paraphrase

2 Sending help from the sanctuary, and support out of Zion.

Comments: Our help comes from the sanctuary (a good Hebrew word), which is the holy place of our God. No matter the form or appearance of our help, if we truly trust in the LORD, our help comes from his sanctuary, and from the earthly or heavenly Jerusalem. Joel 2:32 “And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the LORD shall be delivered: for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the LORD hath said.” Over a span of centuries, the LORD made preparation of an identifiable location for his earthly sanctuary. Christ brought the more perfect temple in his appearing. Hebrews 9:11 “But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands.” Hebrews 12 “22 But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels, 23 To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect, 24 And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant.”

Psalm 20:3 — In Composite Paraphrase

3 May he receive all your offerings, and accept your burnt sacrifice; pause and reflect.

Comments: After praising the LORD as the source of help, now the thoughts of the psalmist turn to our action demonstrated in offerings and sacrifices. Then, it is good to pause for a time and reflect on these thoughts of why we worship, and how the sacrifices speak more of the God we honor, than of the act of our sacrifice to him. Any thing we sacrifice comes from him, and the faith to offer them to a holy God, also comes from him. This certainly should cause us to pause for reflection. Selah.

Psalm 20:4 — In Composite Paraphrase

4 Grant from your heart, and fulfill your counsel.

Comments: After the pause, the psalmist is moved to entreat the LORD to give from his heart, not because of our offerings and sacrifices, and any value they could have to him. Those sacrifices demonstrate our trust and obedience; they meet no need for the LORD. Psalm 50 “10 For every beast of the forest is mine, and the cattle upon a thousand hills. 12 If I were hungry, I would not tell thee: for the world is mine, and the fullness thereof.” And all that he grants to us, fulfills his own counsel, borne of his mercy. Psalm 33:11 “The counsel of the LORD standeth for ever, the thoughts of his heart to all generations.” Isaiah 46:10 “Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure.” Hebrews 6 “17 Wherein God, willing more abundantly to shew unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel, confirmed it by an oath: 18 which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast.”

Psalm 20:5 — In Composite Paraphrase

5 We will rejoice in your salvation, and in the name of our God we will set up our standard; the LORD accomplishes petitions.

Comments: Now we should begin to rejoice as we are carried by this progression of thought, if we desire to have a life lived under the name of the LORD, like those who carry a standard or flag into battle, identifying the sovereign they serve. The LORD accomplishes the petitions we bring to him, so we should bring them in confidence, by his name. Exodus 3 “14 And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you. 15 The LORD God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, hath sent me unto you: this is my name for ever, and this is my memorial unto all generations.” Zechariah 9:9 “Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass.” Philippians 2:9 “Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name.”

Psalm 20:6 — In Composite Paraphrase

6 Now I know that the LORD saves his anointed; he will hear him from his holy heaven with the saving strength of his right hand.

Comments: David brings the king of the present (himself at the writing) together with the coming king (messiah, son of David) as the spirit carries him through his praise. The anointed can refer to the earthly king established by God, or it has the meaning of the Hebrew word which is translated in Daniel as Messiah. The father does indeed hear the son from heaven as he performs his work of salvation. And as in verse two of this psalm, we see again that our help comes from the sanctuary of heaven. We must be very careful not to abandon our trust in the king of eternity, to place it in the temporal one of the present time. 1 Samuel 12 “12 When the LORD your God was your king. 14 If ye will fear the LORD, and serve him, and obey his voice, and not rebel against the commandment of the LORD, then shall both ye and also the king that reigneth over you continue following the LORD your God.”

Psalm 20:7 — In Composite Paraphrase

7 Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will not forget the name of the LORD our God.

Comments: So, even when the LORD’s blessing provides strong national leadership, and mighty armies, our trust must not be in those things, which we can see. We must remind ourselves that it is the LORD our God who provides and protects. Jonathan was a man like-minded with David, and that is why their souls could be knit together. 1 Samuel 14:6 “And Jonathan said, Come, and let us go over unto the garrison of these uncircumcised: it may be that the LORD will work for us: for there is no restraint to the LORD to save by many or by few.” Isaiah 31:1 “Woe to them that go down to Egypt for help; and stay on horses, and trust in chariots, because they are many; and in horsemen, because they are very strong; but they look not unto the Holy One of Israel, neither seek the LORD!” But the victory may not always be in this earthly realm, so we should have the same unshakable faith as did the three Hebrews in the land of their captivity. Daniel 3 “17 If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king. 18 But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.”

Psalm 20:8 — In Composite Paraphrase

8 They are brought down and fallen: but we are risen and set upright.

Comments: In this life, the Christian and the non-Christian experience those things, good and bad, which are common to man; but the believer is risen with Christ, and the unbeliever will go down to the pit. Colossians 3 “1 If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. 2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.”

Psalm 20:9 — In Composite Paraphrase

9 Save, LORD: let the king hear us when we call.

Comments: The psalm began with a request to the LORD to hear and answer. So, save LORD, because salvation is your business alone. We know that you are the true sovereign, and are sure that you do hear us when we call. Psalm 24:10 “Who is this King of glory? The LORD of hosts, he is the King of glory. Selah.” Isaiah 44:6 “Thus saith the LORD the King of Israel, and his redeemer the LORD of hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God.” And our King came in the flesh, very quietly, but God led worshipers to him. Matthew 2:2 “Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.” Even his disciples did not understand his entry into Jerusalem as it was happening. John 12 “15 Fear not, daughter of Sion: behold, thy King cometh, sitting on an ass’s colt. 16 These things understood not his disciples at the first: but when Jesus was glorified, then remembered they that these things were written of him.” And through the writings of the apostles, and the faith granted by the LORD, we now know our king of eternity, and praise his holy name. 1 Timothy 1:17 “Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen.”

The Complete Psalm — Composite Paraphrase

To the chief musician. A psalm of David. May the LORD hear and answer in the day of trouble; the name of the God of Jacob set you up on high for protection; Sending help from the sanctuary, and support out of Zion. May he receive all your offerings, and accept your burnt sacrifice; pause and reflect.

Grant from your heart, and fulfill your counsel. We will rejoice in your salvation, and in the name of our God we will set up our standard; the LORD accomplishes petitions. Now I know that the LORD saves his anointed; he will hear him from his holy heaven with the saving strength of his right hand.

Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will not forget the name of the LORD our God. They are brought down and fallen: but we are risen and set upright. Save, LORD: let the king hear us when we call.