8 They are brought down H3766 and fallen: H5307 but we are risen, H6965 and stand upright. H5749
Evil H7451 shall slay H4191 the wicked: H7563 and they that hate H8130 the righteous H6662 shall be desolate. H816 The LORD H3068 redeemeth H6299 the soul H5315 of his servants: H5650 and none of them that trust H2620 in him shall be desolate. H816
Happy H835 is he that hath the God H410 of Jacob H3290 for his help, H5828 whose hope H7664 is in the LORD H3068 his God: H430 Which made H6213 heaven, H8064 and earth, H776 the sea, H3220 and all that therein is: which keepeth H8104 truth H571 for ever: H5769 Which executeth H6213 judgment H4941 for the oppressed: H6231 which giveth H5414 food H3899 to the hungry. H7457 The LORD H3068 looseth H5425 the prisoners: H631 The LORD H3068 openeth H6491 the eyes of the blind: H5787 the LORD H3068 raiseth H2210 them that are bowed down: H3721 the LORD H3068 loveth H157 the righteous: H6662 The LORD H3068 preserveth H8104 the strangers; H1616 he relieveth H5749 the fatherless H3490 and widow: H490 but the way H1870 of the wicked H7563 he turneth upside down. H5791
Blessed H1288 is the man H1397 that trusteth H982 in the LORD, H3068 and whose hope H4009 the LORD H3068 is. For he shall be as a tree H6086 planted H8362 by the waters, H4325 and that spreadeth out H7971 her roots H8328 by the river, H3105 and shall not see H7200 when heat H2527 cometh, H935 but her leaf H5929 shall be green; H7488 and shall not be careful H1672 in the year H8141 of drought, H1226 neither shall cease H4185 from yielding H6213 fruit. H6529
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Matthew Henry Commentary » Commentary on Psalms 20
Commentary on Psalms 20 Matthew Henry Commentary
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,
In this, David may well be looked upon as a type of Christ, to whose kingdom and its interests among men the church was, in every age, a hearty well-wisher.
To the chief musician. A psalm of David.
Psa 20:1-5
This prayer for David is entitled a psalm of David; nor was it any absurdity at all for him who was divinely inspired to draw up a directory, or form of prayer, to be used in the congregation for himself and those in authority under him; nay it is very proper for those who desire the prayers of their friends to tell them particularly what they would have to be asked of God for them. Note, Even great and good men, and those that know ever so well how to pray for themselves, must not despise, but earnestly desire, the prayers of others for them, even those that are their inferiors in all respects. Paul often begged of his friends to pray for him. Magistrates and those in power ought to esteem and encourage praying people, to reckon them their strength (Zec. 12:5, 10), and to do what they can for them, that they may have an interest in their prayers and may do nothing to forfeit it. Now observe here,
In singing this we ought to offer up to God our hearty good wishes to the good government we are under and to the prosperity of it. But we may look further; these prayers for David are prophecies concerning Christ the Son of David, and in him they were abundantly answered; he undertook the work of our redemption, and made war upon the powers of darkness. In the day of trouble, when his soul was exceedingly sorrowful, the Lord heard him, heard him in that he feared (Heb. 5:7), sent him help out of the sanctuary, sent an angel from heaven to strengthen him, took cognizance of his offering when he made his soul an offering for sin, and accepted his burnt-sacrifice, turned it to ashes, the fire that should have fastened upon the sinner fastening upon the sacrifice, with which God was well pleased. And he granted him according to his own heart, made him to see of the travail of his soul, to his satisfaction, prospered his good pleasure in his hand, fulfilled all his petitions for himself and us; for him the Father heareth always and his intercession is ever prevailing.
Psa 20:6-9
Here is,
In singing these verses we should encourage ourselves to trust in God, and stir up ourselves to pray earnestly, as we are in duty bound, for those in authority over us, that under them we may lead quiet and peaceable lives in all godliness and honesty.