Psalms 20
Summary for Ps 20:1-24:10: Pss 20–24 a This sequence of psalms expresses the experience of moving from confidence and commitment (Pss 20–21 b), through anguish and abandonment (Ps 22 c), and finally to comfort, insight, and hope (Pss 23–24 d).Summary for Ps 20:1-9: Ps 20 e This royal prayer for God’s victory (20:1-5 f) leads to confidence in God’s rescue (20:6-8 g) and a communal request for God’s response (20:9 h).
Summary for Ps 20:1-5: 20:1-5 i The community prays for the king’s protection and victory. 20:1 j The title God of Jacob affectionately expresses God’s ancient relationship with his people (see 46:7 k, 11 l; 75:9 m; 76:6 n; 81:1 o, 4 p; 84:8 q; 94:7 r; 114:7 s; 146:5 t).
• keep you safe from all harm: See 59:1-2 u.
20:3 v Gifts and burnt offerings express submission to the Lord (cp. 40:6 w).
Summary for Ps 20:4-5: 20:4-5 x make all your plans succeed ... answer all your prayers: These requests could be those stated in 21:3-6 y (cp. 27:4 z).
20:5 aa Troops carried a victory banner to battle, under which they gathered and roused one another to action (see Isa 11:10 ab, 12 ac).
Summary for Ps 20:6-8: 20:6-8 ad An individual member of the community (20:1-5 ae) responds with a word of assurance and confidence in God’s help. 20:6 af God chose his anointed king to be ruler (see 2:7 ag).
20:7 ah chariots and horses: These were instruments of war (see 33:16-17 ai; 76:6 aj; 147:10 ak; Isa 30:16 al; 31:1-3 am).
Psalms 21
Summary for Ps 21:1-13: Ps 21 an God’s people thank him for giving victory to the king.21:2 ao The king has experienced his heart’s desire—God’s protection and blessing (see 20:5 ap; see also 2:8 aq).
Summary for Ps 21:3-6: 21:3-6 ar The king returned victorious from battle and received honor from the people. His greatest honor came from God, who gave him blessings, life, and his presence. 21:3 as success and prosperity: See Prov 10:6 at.
21:4 au God offers a rich quality of life (61:6-7 av; 91:14-16 aw; 128:4-6 ax) characterized by his presence (16:11 ay; 23:6 az; 27:4 ba; 36:9 bb), joy (16:11 bc), goodness (23:6 bd; 34:14-15 be), and protection (41:2 bf; 61:7 bg).
21:6 bh God’s eternal blessings also bring fullness of life in the present (see Ps 133 bi).
21:7 bj The king enjoyed victory not because of his strength or intrinsic goodness but because God honored his faith.
Summary for Ps 21:8-12: 21:8-12 bk As long as even a single enemy opposed the king’s authority, God’s kingdom was not fully present. This prayer requests victory over all evil in the world.
21:9 bl The flaming furnace and fire portray the severity of God’s judgment on the wicked. In the Old Testament, this image often refers to hell (11:6 bm; 18:8 bn; 50:3 bo; 68:2 bp; 78:21 bq; 79:5 br; 80:16 bs; 89:46 bt; 97:3 bu; 104:4 bv; 140:10 bw; see Isa 66:24 bx).
21:10 by children ... descendants: Evil will end when God destroys all opposition to himself (109:13 bz; cp. 18:50 ca; 22:30-31 cb; 25:13 cc; 102:28 cd).
21:13 ce Rise up (or be exalted, as in 57:5 cf, 11 cg; 108:5 ch) expresses communal praise and joy in God’s greatness and power.
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