Psalm 20

Commonplace –

“The Lord hear thee in the day of trouble; the name of the God of Jacob defend thee;

Send thee help from the sanctuary, and strengthen thee out of Zion;

Remember all thy offerings and accept thy burnt sacrifice;

Selah” (Psalm 20:1-3).

In Psalm 20, David is asking his congregation to pray for him and gives them the words to use that will most help him in his time of need. Matthew Henry offers a wonderful summary of Psalm 20.

“It is the will of God that prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings, should be made, in special manner, for kings and all in authority. This psalm is a prayer, and the next a thanksgiving, for the king. David was a martial prince, much in war. Either this psalm was penned upon occasion of some particular expedition of his, or, in general, as a form to be used in the daily service of the church for him. In this psalm, we may observe,

I. What it is they beg of God for the king (v. 1-4).

II. What assurance they beg it.” (248).

We may find this psalm very useful in praying for our own leaders and our kin and kindred, as well. We can pray this psalm for any one working on behalf of good. As David notes, “Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the Lord our God” (Psalm 20:7). Amen.

Works Cited

Henry, Matthew. “Psalm 20.” Matthew Henry’s Commentary On the Whole Bible: New Modern Edition. Volume 3 and Volume 6, Hendrickson Publishers, Inc., March 1996.

Holy Bible: Giant Print with Study Aids. Dugan Publishers, Inc., 1984.

© 2025 Angela Hormberg