This psalm purports to be “A Psalm of David,” nor is there any reason to doubt that he wrote it. Of the precise occasion on which it was composed nothing can be known with certainty, for there is no historical statement on the point, and there is nothing in the psalm to indicate it. It would seem, however, from the psalm, that it was composed on some occasion when the king was about going to war, and that it was designed to be used by the people of the nation, and by the king and his hosts mustered for war, as expressing mutually their wishes in regard to the result, and their confidence in each other and in God. Or if it was not designed to be used by the people actually, it was intended to be a poetic expression of the real feelings of the king and the people in regard to the enterprise in which he was embarked.
According to this idea, and as seems to me to be manifest on the face of the psalm, it is composed of alternate parts as if to be used by the people, and by the king and his followers, in alternate responses, closing with a chorus to be used by all. If it was intended to be employed in public service, it was doubtless to be sung by alternate choirs, representing the people and the king.
The whole may be divided into three strophes or parts:
I. The first strophe, Psalms 20:1-5.
(a) the people,Psalms 20:1-5 Psalms 20:1-5. They pray that the Lord would defend the king in the day of trouble; that the name of the God of Jacob would defend him; that he would send him help from the sanctuary, and strengthen him out of Zion; that he would remember his offerings and accept his burnt sacrifice; that he would grant him according to his own heart, and fulfill all his counsel.
(b) the king, Psalms 20:5, first part. He says, as expressive of the feeling with which the expedition was undertaken, “We will rejoice in thy salvation, and in the name of our God we will set up our banners.”
II. The second strophe, Psalms 20:5 (latter part), and Psalms 20:6.
(a) the people,Psalms 20:5 Psalms 20:5, latter clause; expressing a desire for his success and triumph, “The Lord fulfil all thy petitions.”
(b) the king, Psalms 20:6; expressing confidence of success from the observed zeal and cooperation of the people: “Now know I that the Lord sayeth his anointed; he will hear him from his holy heaven with the saving strength of his right hand.”
III. general chorus of all, Psalms 20:7-9. This is the language of exultation and triumph in God; of joyful trust in him. “Some,” is the language of this chorus, “trust in chariots and some in horses, but we will remember the name of the Lord our God,” Psalms 20:7. Then they see their enemies fallen and subdued, while their armies stand upright and firm, Psalms 20:8. Then they call, in joyful exultation and triumph, on God as the great King over all, and supplicate his mercy and favor, Psalms 20:9.
This is, therefore, a patriotic and loyal psalm, full of confidence in the king as he starts on his expedition, full of desire for his success, and full of confidence in God; expressing union of heart between the sovereign and the people, and the union of all their hearts in the great God.
On the meaning of the phrase in the title, “To the chief Musician,” see the note at the title to Psalms 4:1-8.