Psalms 20:1

PSALM XX

A prayer for the king in his enterprises, that his prayers may

be heard, his offerings accepted, and his wishes fulfilled,

1-4.

Confidence of victory expressed, 5, 6.

Vain hopes exposed; and supplication made for the king. 7-9.

NOTES ON PSALM XX

It is most likely that this Psalm was penned on the occasion of David's going to war, and most probably with the Ammonites and Syrians, who came with great numbers of horses and chariots to fight with him. See 2 Samuel 10:6; 1 Chronicles 19:7. It is one of the Dialogue Psalms, and appears to be thus divided: Previously to his undertaking the war, David comes to the tabernacle to offer sacrifice. This being done, the people, in the king's behalf, offer up their prayers; these are included in the three first verses: the fourth was probably spoken by the high priest; the fifth, by David and his attendants; the last clause, by the high priest; the sixth, by the high priest, after the victim was consumed; the seventh and eighth, by David and his men; and the ninth, as a chorus by all the congregation.

Verse Psalms 20:1. The Lord hear thee] David had already offered the sacrifice and prayed. The people implore God to succour him in the day of trouble; of both personal and national danger.

The name of the God of Jacob] This refers to Jacob's wrestling with the Angel; Genesis 32:24, c. And who was this Angel? Evidently none other than the Angel of the Covenant, the Lord Jesus, in whom was the name of God, the fulness of the Godhead bodily. He was the God of Jacob, who blessed Jacob, and gave him a new name and a new nature. See the notes on the above place in Genesis.