Psalms 20:1 «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; _A Psalm of David_] Or, concerning David; so Kimchi. Or, for and on the behalf of David; so Aben Ezra. David, as a prophet, dictated this form of prayer to be... [ Continue Reading ]
Send thee help from the sanctuary, and strengthen thee out of Zion; Ver. 2. _Send thee help from the sanctuary_] Or, from his holy heaven, saith Tremellius; without which vain is the help of man. God is all the doer in battles; and whencesoever the sword comes, it is bathed in heaven, Isaiah 34:5,... [ Continue Reading ]
Remember all thy offerings, and accept thy burnt sacrifice; Selah. Ver. 3. _Remember all thy offerings_] Before they went to war they were wont to offer sacrifices, as did Saul; though by his haste therein he lost his kingdom, 1 Samuel 13:9. From the people of God the heathens had also learned this... [ Continue Reading ]
Grant thee according to thine own heart, and fulfil all thy counsel. Ver. 4. _Grant thee according to thine own heart_] David's heart was according to God's heart (otherwise this had not been a warrantable petition), and therefore might say (and the people on his behalf), as once Luther did, _Fiat... [ Continue Reading ]
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. Ver. 5. _We will rejoice in thy salvation_] _i.e._ We are well assured that God will save us by thee, O king; and that shall produce a general joy among us. This confidence... [ Continue Reading ]
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. Ver. 6. _Now know I that, &c._] This is _Vex populi_; I, that is, all we; but they speak as if they had been all one, and had uttered it all with one mouth; such was their... [ Continue Reading ]
Some [trust] in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the LORD our God. Ver. 7. _Some trust in chariots, &c._] _i.e._ In their national accommodations and military provisions; but these were never true to those that trusted them. All is but an arm of flesh. _ But we will r... [ Continue Reading ]
They are brought down and fallen: but we are risen, and stand upright. Ver. 8. _They are brought down, &c._] They lie flat by the fall they have taken, being confuted in their confidences, as Benhadad was of old; as of late, the French at the battle of Agincourt, Sigismund the young king of Hungary... [ Continue Reading ]
Save, LORD: let the king hear us when we call. Ver. 9. _Save, Lord_] A short but pithy prayer: _Quam multa quam paucis._ Let the king hear us] They beg of God that the king may hear them, so as to govern and defend them in equity and tranquillity; or, _Respondent Rex_ (so Aben Ezra rendereth it),... [ Continue Reading ]