Chapter 20
Themes, discussion questions, Christ connections, and denomination lenses.
Just read this chapter →Scripture
KJV1The LORD hear thee in the day of trouble; the name of the God of Jacob defend thee;
2Send thee help from the sanctuary, and strengthen thee out of Zion;
3Remember all thy offerings, and accept thy burnt sacrifice; Selah.
4Grant thee according to thine own heart, and fulfil all thy counsel.
5We will rejoice in thy salvation, and in the name of our God we will set up our banners: the LORD fulfil all thy petitions.
6Now know I that the LORD saveth his anointed; he will hear him from his holy heaven with the saving strength of his right hand.
7Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the LORD our God.
8They are brought down and fallen: but we are risen, and stand upright.
9Save, LORD: let the king hear us when we call.
“Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the LORD our God.”
Overview
Psalm 20 is a prayer of the congregation for the king before he goes to battle. The people ask God to hear the king in the day of trouble, send him help from the sanctuary, remember his offerings, and grant him his heart's desire. They declare that they will rejoice in God's salvation and set up banners in His name. The central confession is powerful: 'Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the LORD our God.' The psalm closes with a prayer for God to save the king and hear His people.
Key Themes
Intercession Before Battle
The congregation prays for their leader before the conflict begins, recognizing that success depends on God's blessing, not merely military strategy.
Trust in God's Name, Not Human Power
The decisive contrast is between those who trust in chariots and horses and those who trust in the name of the LORD — human resources versus divine power.
Communal Prayer and Confidence
The psalm models corporate intercession — the whole community lifts up their leader and expresses shared confidence in God's saving power.
Study Questions
What does it look like to trust in 'the name of the LORD our God' rather than in modern equivalents of chariots and horses (v. 7)?
Why is intercessory prayer for leaders before moments of crisis so important?
How does the congregation's confidence in God's salvation (v. 5) affect the morale and faith of the leader?
What 'chariots and horses' do we tend to trust in today instead of God?
How does this psalm model the relationship between prayer and action?
Connection to Christ
Jesus is the true King who went into the ultimate battle — not against human enemies but against sin, death, and Satan. The Father heard Him, sent help, and granted Him the desire of His heart: the salvation of His people. Christ trusted not in human power but in the name of the LORD, and God raised Him in victory.
Personal Reflection
Take time to journal or meditate on what God is teaching you through Psalms 20. How can these truths transform your thinking and actions today?