Psalm 20

1. In reading this psalm, it seems as though David is giving his armies a war cry of some sort. Some believe this psalm may have been used in a pre-battle ceremony of some sort, partially due to the “you” language, as opposed to other psalms that use “me” language.

2. God may continue to be in heaven, but He is not so “far away” that He is incapable of aiding us (verse 2). We understand that God, in reality, is everywhere. He is near to each of us.

3. While the psalm is talking about battle, the end of verse 5 is a phrase that, to me, seem very modern: “May the Lord fulfill all your petitions.” We know that God doesn’t answer every request with a “yes” answer, but we still have that desire within us for that response. We need to remember to live expecting a “yes,” but desiring God’s will to be done, even if it means a “no.”

4. Verse 7 has been turned into a song, reminding us that we cannot put our trust in earthly things, no matter how strong they may seem.

5. Verse 9 is a great verse of humility. David, the king of a nation, remembers that God is truly King. He rules and reigns, even over the affairs of national leaders.