1.
The LORD hear thee in the day of trouble; the name of the God of Jacob defend thee;
To the chief Musician. See App-64 .
The LORD. Hebrew. Jehovah. See App-4 .
hear = answer.
name. Put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Adjunct), App-6 , for the person himself. Occurs three times in this Psalm: Psalms 20:1 , the Defending Name; Psalms 20:5 , the Displayed Name; Psalms 20:7 , the Delivering Name.
God. Hebrew. Elohim. App-4 .
God of Jacob = Jacob's God: i.e. the God Who met Jacob when he had nothing and deserved nothing (but wrath), and gave him everything. The N.T. "God. of all grace", See note on Genesis 32:28 ; Genesis 43:6 ; Genesis 45:26 , Genesis 45:28 ; this Divine title occurs in Psalms 46:7 , Psalms 46:11 ; Psalms 75:9 ; Psalms 76:6 ; Psalms 81:1 , Psalms 81:4 ; Psalms 84:8 ; Psalms 94:7 ; Psalms 114:7 ; Psalms 146:5 .
defend = shall defend. To this day the calling out the name of a person of rank or power will bring protection to one in danger from the violence of an enemy. In Psalms always used of God.
2.
Send thee help from the sanctuary, and strengthen thee out of Zion;
thee = thy.
strengthen = sustain, or support. Hebrew. sa'ad . Compare Psalms 20:6 with Psalms 21:1 .
Zion. See App-68 .
3.
Remember all thy offerings, and accept thy burnt sacrifice; Selah.
all thy offerings. Some codices, with eight early printed editions, read "every present of thine".
offerings = gift offerings, or presents. Hebrew. minchah. App-43 .
accept. Hebrew turn to ashes. This was the only way by which Jehovah accepted what was offered. See note on Genesis 4:4 .
Selah. Here, connecting the prayer of Psalms 20:4 with the atonement or accepted sacrifice of Psalms 20:3 ; the only ground on which prayer can be answered. See App-66 .
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.
fulfil = will fulfil.
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.
His Anointed = His Messiah.
will hear = answereth (continually).
holy. See note on Exodus 3:5 .
With the saving strengths = by the mighty saving deeds.
strength = might (inherent). Hebrew. gabar. Compare App-14 and Psalms 20:2 above.
right hand. Figure of speech Anthropopatheia. App-6
7.
Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the LORD our God.
Some trust in = Some by, &c.
in = by.
we will remember, &c. = we by, &c.
8.
They are brought down and fallen: but we are risen, and stand upright.
stand upright = are established.
9.
Save, LORD: let the king hear us when we call.
Save, LORD , or, O LORD, save. Or, with Septuagint, "Jehovah save the king". Compare Psalms 20:6 .
when = in the day when. See App-18 .