-
In Psalm 20, David appears to be documenting a prayer his people offered on his behalf. Based on the wording, it may have been a prayer offered before a battle.
-
The Psalm begins with the people asking the Lord to help David in the “day of trouble,” and asking God for protection.
-
They asked for God’s support to be sent from Zion.
-
They prayed that God would allow all of David’s goals and plans to come to pass.
-
The people shouted for joy and rejoiced in their expectation that God would bless David with success.
-
The people wanted their banners to be set up in the name of the Lord. An army’s banner (also called a standard) showed the army’s identity, their loyalty, and in whose name they fought.
-
In verse 6, David appears to record a personal statement. He said, “Now I know that the Lord saves His anointed; He will answer Him from His holy heaven with the saving might of His right hand.”
-
Not only did the people have confidence in God, but David had personal assurance that God would protect him and offer him His “right hand,” the strength of Heaven, in whatever danger he was about to face.
-
The people go on to express that their confidence is in God, not in the size of their army.
-
They said, “Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God” (20:7).
-
The psalm draws to a close with the people asking God to hear their prayer and save their king.
