Commentary on Ezra Nehemiah Ester Job and Psalms, Commentary 5 · Psalm 20
PSAL. XX.
A Pſalm of David] Or, Concerning David; ſo Kimchi. Or for and on the behalf of David; ſo Aben-Ezra. David, as a Prophet, dictated this form of prayer to bee made by the people for himſelf, their King; when hee went forth to fight their battels, probably, againſt the Ammonites and Syrians; or when hee fled from Abſolom, and was to help them from the City, by his prayers, 2 Sam. 18.3. as Aben-Ezra thinketh.
Verſ. 1. The Lord hear thee in the day of trouble] Great men, though gracious, as David, have their diſtreſſes, and muſt pray for themſelves then; not truſting to the prayers of others for them; as did that prophane Earl of Weſtmorland, Camden.who ſaid, that hee had no need to pray, ſith hee had Tenants enough to pray for him.
The name of the God of Jacob defend thee] Heb. ſet thee in an high place, ſuch as Gods name is, Prov. 18.10. the righteous run thereto and are ſafe, as in a Tower of braſſe, or Town of war. By the name of God is meant, Deus nominatiſſimus, the moſt renowned God. ſaith Junius, and worthy to bee praiſed, as Pſal. 18.3. And hee is called the God of Jacob here, ſaith Another; firſt, becauſe Jacob was once in the like diſtreſſe, Gen. 32.6, 7. ſecondly, becauſe hee prayed to the like purpoſe, Gen. 35.3. thirdly, becauſe hee prevailed with God as a Prince; and there God ſpake with us, Hoſ. 12.5. fourthly, becauſe God of Jacob is the ſame with God of Iſrael; and ſo the Covenant is pleaded.
Verſ. 2. Send thee help from the Sanctuarie] Or, From his holy heaven, ſaith Tremellius; without which vain is the help of man. God is all the Dooer in battels; and whenceſoever the ſword comes, it is bathed in Heaven, Iſa. 34.5. whatſoever Ajax, Timotheus Athenienſis, and other Atheiſts think to the contrary. God will ſend from Heaven and ſave mee ſaith holy David.
And strengthen thee out of Sion] i. e. Out of the Aſſemblies of the Saints, where they are praying hard for thy well-fare, See Pſal. 76.2, 3. with the Note.
Verſ. 3. Remember all thine offerines] Before they went to war, they were wont to offer ſacrifices, as did Saul; though by his over-haſte therein hee loſt his Kingdome, 1 Sam. 13.9. From the people of God, the Heathens alſo had learned this courſe and cuſtome. Io Paean is in force Jehovah Peneh, that is, Lord look upon us. The Devil (Gods ape) had taught the Athenians, when they began the battel, to uſe theſe words, and thereby to hearten one another. The Romans alſo did the like; and would not deſiſt till they had an auſpicious anſwer; hence alſo they called a ſacrifice hoſtiam, becauſe, when they went againſt their enemies, they offered it.
And accept thy burnt ſacrifice] Or, turn it to aſhes (and ſo ſeal up his acceptance) or, make it fat, i. e. take delight in it, as men do in fat things full of marrow, ſaith R. Solomon.
Selah] This is added, to ſhew, ſaith Vatablus, with how great fervency the people ought to pray for their King.
Verſ. 4. Grant thee according to thine own heart] Davids heart was according to Godsheart (otherwiſe this had not been a warrantable Petition) and therefore might ſay (and the people on his behalf) as once Luther did, Fiat voluntas mea; mea Domine quiatua, Let my will be done; mine I ſay, Lord, becauſe the ſame with thine.
And fulfill all thy counſel] Anſwer thee, ad cardinem deſiderii, as a Father expreſſeth it;Aug. Confeſ. li. 5. c. 8. Let it be unto thee even as thou wilt. Sometimes God doth not only grant a mans prayer, but fulfilleth his counſel; that is, in that very way, by that very means, which his judgment pitcht upon in his thoughts.
Verſ. 5. We will rejoyce in thy ſalvation] i. e. We are well aſſured that God will ſave us by thee, O King; and that ſhall produce a general joy amongſt us. This confidence Prayer had begotten in them: for it is a ſure grain; and if men would ſow more of it in Gods boſome, they ſhould not fail ro reap the fruit and comfort of it in their greateſt need. Pray, that your joy may be full.
And in the name of our God will we ſet up our Banners] Our Flaggs of defiance to the enemie; or our tokens of triumph to Gods glory, who hath given us the Victory. The Romans when they had conquered an enemy, rode in triumph to the Capitol, where in all humility they preſented a Palm, or Laurel-buſh, to Jupiter.
Verſ. 6. Now know I that. &c.] This is Vox populi; I, that is All we; but they ſpeak as if they had been all one, and had uttered it all with one mouth; ſuch was their unity, and concent in prayer. Or, it is ſermo uniuſcujuſ que in Iſraele, as Kimchi will have it, the triumph of their truſt.
He will hear him from his holy heaven, &c.] He will hear him: he will do for him; Haec due ſunt documenta, ſaith Junius: by theſe two ways (beſides the Word) the Church comes to know the grace and good will of her God.
Verſ. 7. Some truſt in Chariots, &c.] i.e. in their National accommodations and military proviſions; but theſe were never true to thoſe that truſted them. All is but an arm of fleſh.
But we will remember, &c.] i. e. in the remembrance of his excellent Attributes, whereof we have had ſuch proof, we will take courage.
Verſ. 8. They are brought down, &c.] They lyc flat by the fall they have taken, being confuted in their confidences, as Benhadad was of old: as a late, the French at the Battle of Agincourt: Sigiſmund the young King of Hungary, and many others.
But we are riſen] Who before ſeemed to lye along, Et tanquam ſideratos humi ſerpere. God helpeth his when forſaken of their hopes almoſt.
Verſ. 9. Save Lord] A ſhort but pithy prayer: Quam multa quam paucis.
Let the King hear us] They beg of God that the King may hear them, ſo, as to govern and defend them in equity and tranquillity; or, Reſpondeat Rex (ſo Aben-Ezra readeth it) Let the King ſay, Amen, to our prayers to thee, and our requeſts to him.