Explore the Bible Online

Psalms 20:1-5

King James Version (KJV)

“In our prayers we talk to God, in our Bible study God talks to us, and we had better let God do most of the talking.”
— D.L. Moody

Scripture focus

1. To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. The LORD hear thee in the day of trouble; the name of the God of Jacob defend thee; 2. Send thee help from the sanctuary, and strengthen thee out of Zion; 3. Remember all thy offerings, and accept thy burnt sacrifice; Selah. 4. Grant thee according to thine own heart, and fulfil all thy counsel. 5. We will rejoice in thy salvation, and in the name of our God we will set up [our] banners: the LORD fulfil all thy petitions.

Psalms 20:1-5 — KJV

Commentary

Commentary on Psalms 20:1

Theological / Devotional

The Lord hear thee. Verses 1–5 constitute the prayer of intercession for the king as he is about to go forth to battle. They were probably chanted while the smoke of the sacrifice ascended heavenward.

Trouble. Heb. sarah, “distress,” “narrowness.”

Name. God’s actual name is represented by the Hebrew characters YHWH, transliterated with the vowel points Yahweh (see Ex. 6:3). The word is believed to be from the root hayah, which means “to be,” or, “to become.” On the basis of ancient Phoenician usage the form Yahweh has been understood to represent a verb form that may be translated “the Causer to be,” or, “the Sustainer.” The name Yahweh therefore designates God as the first cause of existence. The name stands for all that the Deity represents. See further on Ps. 7:17.

God of Jacob. Probably an indirect reference to the experience of Gen. 35:3.

By SdaBc