“Give victory to the king!
Yahweh!
Answer us when we call!”
This psalm ends with a victory chant before the battle begins. Yahweh would give victory to the king if they only asked for it. Yahweh is at their call.
Psalm 20
Pride in the name of Yahweh (Ps 20:6-20:8)
“Now I know
That Yahweh will help his anointed one.
He will answer him
From his holy heaven.
He will provide mighty victories by his right hand.
Some take pride in chariots.
Some take pride in horses.
Our pride is in the name of Yahweh
Our God.
They will collapse and fall.
However we shall rise.
We shall stand upright.”
They had complete confidence in Yahweh that he would help his anointed one the king. Yahweh would answer him from heaven. He would provide victories with his right hand. While others take pride in their chariots and horses, they took pride in the name of Yahweh, their God. The others would collapse and fall, but they would rise and stand upright. Victory was theirs if Yahweh would be with them.
May Yahweh grant our requests (Ps 20:4-20:5)
“May he grant you your heart’s desire!
May he fulfill all your plans!
May we shout for joy over your victory!
May we set up our banners
In the name of our God!
May Yahweh fulfill all your petitions!
This psalmist asked to have all his heart’s desires fulfilled. The plans and the joy of victory is what David and his men wanted. They wanted to set their banners in the name of God. They simply asked that Yahweh fulfill all their requests
The prayer before the battle (Ps 20:1-20:3)
“To the choirmaster leader, a psalm of David.
May Yahweh answer you in the day of trouble!
May the name of the God of Jacob protect you!
May he send you help from the sanctuary!
May he give you support from Zion!
May he remember all your offerings!
May he regard with favor your burnt offerings!
Selah”
This Psalm 20 is attributed to David before he began his military campaign. Once again there is mention of a choir leader. Yahweh was to answer David in his days of trouble. The name of the God of Jacob, Yahweh, would protect David. David wanted help from the sanctuary, from Mt Zion, where the holy Temple was. He wanted Yahweh to remember all his burnt offerings and look with favor on them. This clearly is a psalm of the Temple before a battle. There is a moment of Selah, pause or silence, so that Yahweh could remember his sacrifices.
Eugene Finnegan Bible Project 