Psalms 20

Psalms 20:1-6

This psalm is generally thought to be composed as a form of prayer for the king when he went to battle. 1. They are directed to beg divine help, ver. 1-4. 2. They respect their confidence of being happy and unfavored, ver. 5-8. 3. They cry for audience, ver. 9. The whole may be considered as relative to Christ, and as containing the church’s prayer for him, and confidence in his victory.

To the chief musician, A psalm of David.

1. 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-lactuities. Selah. 4. Grant thee according to thine own heart, and fulfill 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 fulfill all thy petitions.

This is entitled a psalm of David, his composition, or for David, being deligned as an instruction for the king when he went to battle; or rather for the spiritual David, the Messiah. The prayers of God’s church and people are highly desirable, and a form of found words the most generally profitable manner of prayer for public worship.

We have here.

1. The matter of their requests: That in the day of trouble the Lord would defend their king, whether from secret conspiracies, or open violence; and that Jacob’s God, whose providential care of him was to eminent, would shew the same tender regard to their forerings, strengthening him with spiritual might, and from his sanctuary send him forth conquering and to conquer: that all his sacrifices might be accepted, and his prayers graciously answered; every desire crowned with success, and every petition granted. Note, (1.) The highest dignity cannot guard off troubles, and crowns especially are often lined with thorns. (2.) None need our prayers more than those, whose height of station exposes them to so many temptations. (3.) When we begin with a sacrifice of prayer, we may hope to end with songs of praise.

The King Messiah saw many days of trouble, from the cradle to the grave, and, when he cried, was heard and holpen. His God supported him; angelic bolts attended to strengthen him; his offering was a sacrifice of a sweet smell, well grinding to God; all his heart’s desire, respecting his people’s salvation, was thereupon granted, and the eternal councils of peace fulfilled.

2. They promise hereupon to rejoice before God: We will, or for our will, or for our rejoice, when these petitions are granted; then the praise of all shall be ascribed to the glorious author of the salvation, and in his name we will triumphantly set up our banners.

The triumphs of Jesus are matters of greatest joy to the faithful; in his complete salvation they rejoice, see all their foes laid at their feet, and set up their triumphant banners. Death, where is thy King? grave, where is thy victory? Thanks to the God that growth as the victory through Jesus Christ our Lord; and at his feet the believer’s crown will be for ever laid, and shouting for joy he will ever cry, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive blessing and glory.

6. Now know I, that the LORD saveth his anointed: he will hear him from his holy heaven, with the saving strength of his right hand. 7. Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the LORD our God. 8. They are brought down and fallen, but we are risen, and stand upright. 9. Save, LORD, let the king hear us when we call.

David could not experience such wondrous deliverances without deep gratitude; and his people, who prayed for him, were confident that God’s salvation was the very joy of his heart; and therefore in his behalf they offer to God their sacrifice of praise, for prayers granted; for blessings that prevented even desire; for dignity to eminent, to which he was advanced; for length of days in the midst of danger; and an abiding throne, though so often shaken; for great glory, honour, and majesty, bestowed from on high; for the promise of abiding blessings, and the experience of present exceeding great confidiarities.

But more peculiarly applicable are these words to the King of Glory, who, in his work of man’s redemption, was supported by the divine strength to go through the arduous task, and in the prospect of the salvation of his people, rejoiced with exceeding great joy in the midst of all his sufferings. To him every request was granted, whether for grace or glory, in behalf of his chosen. In him God’s preventing blessings were wonderfully manifested to the sons of men, without desert, yea, without desire. A crown of glory is the reward of his sufferings, and worthy is he to be thus exalted; death, Satan, and his being all subdued by him; and angels, principalities, and powers, put under him. The life that for a moment he laid down, is restored for ever; Christ being raised from the dead, dieth no more, and because he lives, we shall live also. Unutterable is the glory and majesty he hath received, the government of all things in heaven and earth being committed to him. Most blessed in himself, or as the margin reads it, thou hast set him to be lodging for ever, to communicate eternal blessings to his people, and be himself the author, procurer, and bestower of them; and in consequence of all these things, the spirit of gladness rests upon him, and the high approbation of God his Father, in his mediastorial work, is his everlasting delight. Next, Every believer in Jesus is a king, and shall share his triumphs, be supported by the same strength; find the same gracious answers to his prayers; experience God’s preventing blessings; receive at last the crown of glory; and reign with his exalted head, happy, eternally and unutterably happy in the light of God’s countenance.

7. For the king trutheth in the LORD, and through the mercy of the most High he shall not be moved. 8. Thine hand shall find out all thine enemies, thy right hand shall find out those that hate thee. 9. ‘Thou shalt make them as a fiery oven in the time of thine anger: the LORD shall swallow them up in his wrath, and the fire shall devour them. 10. ‘Their fruit shall thou destroy from the earth, and their seed from among the children of men. 11. For ’they intended evil against thee: they imagined a mischievous device, which they are not able to perform. 12. Therefore shalt thou ‘make them turn their backs, when ’thou shalt make ready thine cravus upon thy strings, against the face of them. 13. Be thou exalted, LORD, in thine own strength: ‘so will we sing and praise thy power.

Psalms 20:6-9

We have here.

1. The confident conclusion David draws from the success of the people’s prayers in his behalf; or rather, the assurance he hath of the Messiah’s victory and glory, in answer to the prayers of his church. Note, What we pray for in faith, we may assuredly conclude will be granted us.

2. Having rested all their hopes on God, the people disclaim all human dependence: neither chariot nor horse is their confidence, but God alone; and the effect of such trust in him is, that when the chariots and horses of their enemies are fallen, they who trust in him rise victorious. All believers renounce in like manner all human works, all trust on fleshly confidences, on privileges, duties, or services; seek an justifying righteousness, but in their divine head, and desire to go forth in the name of their Lord God, and to make mention of his righteousness only, fully assured, that when all other claims on the divine favour, which the self-righteous and unhumbled make, shall be confounded, they shall stand approved, as competent in him, and be presented as holy, undimmable, and unoppressible in God’s sight.

3. The psalm concludes with a fervent prayer for themselves, the subjects of Israel’s king, or rather the servants of Jesus, who cry continually, Save, Lord; let the King, Messiah, hear us when we call; be our advocate and friend, and supply us with all that spiritual strength, which in our remaining warfare we need. Note, They who persevere in waiting upon God in prayer, shall abide in his love, and be assured of his protection.

PSALM

As the former was a prayer for support, this is the grateful thanksgiving for having received it. The people of Israel for their king, or rather the redeemed of the Lord, to whom this psalm is most applicable, are taught, 1. To congratulate his victories, vers. 1—6. 2. To confide in the power of God for the complaining of the ruin of the enemies of his kingdom. vers. 7—13.

¶ To the chief musician, A psalm of David.

THE king shall joy in the strength, O LORD, and in thy salvation how greatly shall he rejoice! 3. ‘Thou hast given him his heart’s desire, and hast not withholden the request of his lips. Selah. 3. For ’thou preventeth him with the blessings of goodness: thou feteth a crown of pure gold on his head. 4. He asked life of thee, and thou giveth it him,’ even length of days for ever and ever. 5. His glory is great in thy salvation, honour and majesty hast thou laid upon him. 6. For thou hast ‘made him most blessed for ever: ’thou hast made him exceeding glad with thy countenance.

Psalms 20:7-13

Praise for past mercies encourages confidence of present and future blessings; the people therefore express their truth, that no enemies should ever shake the shabby of David’s throne; but that vengeance from God should pursue and over. Vers. 1.

take them to the uttermost; and when this divine interposition appeared, they promise to renew their grateful songs of praise. But we must look farther than David’s throne, and the subdual of his enemies, to the more enduring dominion of David’s Son and Lord.

1. In the Lord he trusted, and still continues to trust in the fulfilment of the everlasting covenant of promise to him and his seed, which the mercy of God suggested; and the same mercy will keep him firmly established in the discharge of his mediastorial character; so that his enemies shall never be able to frustrate his designs of grace and love towards his people. Nite, The shability of every believer stands upon as sure a basis as the throne of the Redeemer; if he cannot be moved, neither shall we.

2. His enemies must finally and eternally fall before him: wicked men, and wicked devils, who have hated his government, shall not escape his arm. Their mischievous devices shall not only be disappointed, whether against himself or his people, but their malice be visited in judgments terrible as just: wrath to the uttermost shall overtake them, the furnace of hell be heated for their reception, and that fire, which is so intolerably tormenting, as well as eternally enduring, shall burn and leave them neither root nor branch; whilst sharp arrows within shall pierce the conscience, and waken up the worm which never dies. Sinner, mark the end of the enemies of Christ and his kingdom; confide thy ways, and be wise.

3. The whole is ascribed to the Lord’s power; it is he who must and will exalt his own glory in the salvation of his people, and destruction of his enemies; and all our work and business will be, everlastingly to sing and praise him for his compleat redemption.