Psalms 20:6 - Meaning and Application

Here, first, David himself rejoices in the good he has from the prayers of godly people (Psalm 20:6). He says, in effect, “Now I know, I who wrote this psalm know, that the Lord saves his anointed, because he has stirred the hearts of Jacob’s people to pray for him.” It is a good sign for any ruler and people when God gives them a spirit of prayer. If God leads us to seek him, he will be found by us. If he gives us hope in his word, he will keep that word for us.

David is sure that, since so many people who belong to heaven are praying for him, God will hear him and give an answer of peace. That answer comes from above, from his holy heaven, of which the sanctuary was a picture (Hebrews 9:23), and from the throne he prepared in heaven, of which the mercy seat was a picture. It also takes effect here on earth. He will hear him with the saving strength of his right hand. In other words, God will give a real answer to prayer, not by a letter or by a message, but by what he does. His actions will show that he has heard.

Second, the people rejoice in God, in their close relation to him, and in the way he has revealed himself to them. That is how they set themselves apart from people who live without God in the world. There is a clear difference between worldly people and godly people in what they depend on (Psalm 20:7). People of this world trust in human help and think all is well if those supports favor them. They trust in chariots and horses, and the more they have, the more secure they feel in war. David may have had the Syrians in mind here, since their power rested much on chariots and horsemen, as seen in his victories over them (2 Samuel 8:4; 2 Samuel 10:18).

But Israel says, “We have no chariots or horses to trust in, and we do not need them. Even if we had them, we would not build our hope on them. We will remember and rely on the name of the Lord our God, on our relationship to him, and on all that we know of him through his name.” That means all the ways God has made himself known. They will keep this in mind, and every reminder of it will strengthen them. Those who make God and his name their praise may also make God and his name their trust.

The difference also shows in the outcome of their trust, and by that we can judge which choice is wise (Psalm 20:8). Things are known by how they turn out. Those who trusted in their chariots and horses were brought down and fell. Their horses and chariots did not save them. Instead, they helped bring them down and made them an easier, richer prize for the victor (2 Samuel 8:4). But those who trust in the name of the Lord our God not only stand firm and hold their ground, they rise and gain ground against the enemy, and they triumph over them.

A believing and obedient trust in God and his name is the surest way to rise and to stand firm. It will serve us well when all creaturely trusts fail those who depend on them.

Third, they end their prayer for the king with a cry for help, a Hosanna, which means, “Save now, we pray, O Lord!” (Psalm 20:9). We may understand this as a prayer that God would bless the king and give him success. It may also mean that God would make the king a blessing to them, so that he would hear them when they called for justice and mercy. Those who want good from their rulers should pray for them in this way, because rulers, like all other creatures, are only what God makes them to be.

Or this may point to the Messiah, that King, the King of kings. Then the prayer would mean, “Let him hear us when we call. Let him come to us at the appointed time, according to promise. Let him, as the great one who presents requests, receive our prayers and bring them to the Father.” But many interpreters read the verse this way by pausing differently: “Lord, save the king, and hear us when we call.” In that form, it sums up the whole psalm, and it is used in our English prayer book: “O Lord, save the king, and mercifully hear us when we call on you.”

In singing these verses, we should encourage ourselves to trust in God and stir ourselves up to pray earnestly, as duty requires, for those in authority over us. Then, under them, we may live quiet and peaceful lives in all godliness and honesty.