Psalm 20 - Part Two

Section Two - Verses 6-8

Verse 6 begins with the words, "Now I know..."  We go from a group to an individual, either the priest or possibly even David.  "Now I know that the LORD saves His anointed.  He will answer him from His holy mountain. "  I don't see this as a sudden realization of the king as in, "Oh wow, God will really save me!"  Instead, it is a statement of the king's belief that the Lord will preserve His anointed.  The word "saves" can also be translated "delivers" or "gives victory to".  The Lord will support and reach down from heaven to provide victory for David.  David could also have in mind the words of Nathan the prophet ringing in his ears...God had been with Him everywhere he went and had cut off all of David's enemies...God also declared that eventually He would give David rest from all his enemies.  (2 Sam. 7:8-11)

Verses 7 and 8 provide a summary statement of confidence in the Lord.  Verse seven is the primary statement, "Some boast in chariots, and some in horses; but we will boast in the name of the LORD, our God."  The idea here is that the Israelites trust in the name of the Lord in battle; others rely on military might and strength.

The Hebrew structure is beautiful...

"Some in chariots"
"Some in horses"

"We, in the name of the Lord our God,"

"trust"

Take a look at Deuteronomy 11:2-4...

"And know this day that I am not speaking with your sons who have not known and who have not seen the discipline of the LORD your God-His greatness, His mighty hand, and His outstretched arm, and His signs and works which He did in the midst of Egypt to Pharoah the king of Egypt and to all his land; and what He did to Egypt's army, to its horses and its chariots, when He made the water of the Red Sea to engulf them while they were pursuing you, and the LORD completely destroyed them..."

Can you hear Psalm 20 in this, with the Red Sea consuming Egypt's horses and chariots?
 
The Lord provided salvation to His people by destroying the horses and chariots of Egypt.  Pharoah trusted in military power and strength.  Those who trusted in horses and chariots on that day were sorely disappointed.

Deuteronomy 17:16 tells us that Israelite kings were not to amass horses as a display of military might.  Ultimately the strength of the king was the strength of God and not that of a horse.

In Psalm 20:8 there are two groups, "they" and "we".  "They have bowed down and fallen; but we have risen and stood upright."   "They" are the ones who trust in horses and chariots.  "We" are the ones who trust in the name of the Lord - a power which cannot be overcome.

The enemy is standing in their arrogance and the people of God are bowed in worship, but ultimately they will stand upright in victory.

Section Three - Verse 9

Here we see concluding prayer by the whole congregation.  It is a final plea for God to provide safety and triumph.

"Save, O LORD; may the King answer us in the day we call."

The focus is on the king.  Which king is in question?  The king is the one answering the call so it is most likely the true King of Israel protecting His people!

(Thanks to Richard Brannon - his research on this Psalm made it very easy for me to teach.)  

Final thoughts on Psalm 20...All the psalms are inspired by God therefore we learn the heart of God from reading them.  From this psalm we learn that God desires that we depend on Him.  He desires that we lift up others before Him.  He desires that we give Him the glory and honor for all our victories because He is our strength.