Psalms 20:3

Remember all thy offerings, and accept thy burnt sacrifice; Selah.

Remember {H2142} all thy offerings {H4503}, and accept {H1878} thy burnt sacrifice {H5930}; Selah {H5542}.

May he be reminded by all your grain offerings and accept the fat of your burnt offerings. (Selah)

May He remember all your gifts and look favorably on your burnt offerings. Selah

Remember all thy offerings, And accept thy burnt-sacrifice; [Selah

Psalms 20:3 is part of a communal prayer for the king (likely David) as he prepares for battle, expressing the people's earnest desire for God's favor and intervention. The verse specifically requests that God would remember and accept the king's past acts of worship and devotion.

Context

Psalm 20 is a psalm of supplication, prayed by the people of Israel for their anointed king before he goes into battle. It is a powerful example of intercessory prayer, demonstrating the nation's reliance not on military might or human strength, but on the Lord God for victory and salvation. Verse 3 directly addresses the Lord, recalling the king's previous offerings and sacrifices. In ancient Israel, sacrifices played a central role in worship, serving as means of atonement, thanksgiving, dedication, and seeking divine favor. The people are asking God to acknowledge and respond to the king's faithfulness as demonstrated through these acts of worship.

Key Themes

  • Divine Remembrance and Acceptance: The core plea is for God to "remember" and "accept" the king's offerings. This signifies a desire for God's approval and a favorable response to the king's devotion. It implies that past faithfulness can be a basis for present and future blessing.
  • The Efficacy of Worship: The verse highlights the belief that sincere worship and sacrifice were vital avenues for approaching God and securing His blessing. While the New Covenant has superseded animal sacrifices through Christ's ultimate sacrifice, the principle of God honoring faithful devotion remains.
  • Dependence on God: The psalm as a whole, and this verse in particular, underscores the deep theological conviction that ultimate victory and success come from God alone, not from human armies or strategies.
  • Intercessory Prayer: This verse is embedded within a prayer offered by the community on behalf of their leader, highlighting the importance of praying for those in authority.

Linguistic Insights

  • "Offerings" (Hebrew: מִנְחָה - minchah): This term generally refers to a gift or tribute, often a grain offering. In this context, it likely encompasses various forms of worshipful gifts and presentations made to God by the king.
  • "Burnt sacrifice" (Hebrew: עֹלָה - olah): This was a specific type of sacrifice where the entire animal was consumed by fire on the altar, signifying complete dedication and devotion to God. It was a primary sacrifice for atonement and for seeking God's acceptance and favor. The request here is that God would not only remember these costly acts but also accept them as pleasing. You can read more about the burnt offering in Leviticus 1:9.
  • "Selah": This word appears frequently in the Psalms and is a musical or liturgical instruction. It likely indicates a pause for reflection, an instrumental interlude, or a moment to emphasize the preceding statement. Here, it invites contemplation on the profound request for divine remembrance and acceptance.

Practical Application

For believers today, while the need for animal sacrifices has been fulfilled by Christ's singular offering, the underlying principle of seeking God's acceptance through devoted worship and obedience remains relevant. We are called to offer "spiritual sacrifices" (1 Peter 2:5) of praise, prayer, service, and obedience. This verse encourages us to:

  • Live a Life of Devotion: Our daily walk, acts of kindness, and service to others can be seen as offerings to God, which He remembers and accepts.
  • Seek God's Favor: Before undertaking significant challenges or endeavors, we should, like the king, earnestly seek God's blessing and align ourselves with His will, trusting that He remembers our faithfulness.
  • Pray for Leaders: The communal prayer for the king serves as a model for interceding for our leaders, both spiritual and governmental, that God would guide them and grant them success in righteous endeavors.

Ultimately, Psalms 20:3 reminds us that God is attentive to the sincere devotion of His people and that our acts of worship and obedience are not forgotten by Him.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Psalms 51:19

    Then shalt thou be pleased with the sacrifices of righteousness, with burnt offering and whole burnt offering: then shall they offer bullocks upon thine altar.

  • 2 Chronicles 7:1

    ¶ Now when Solomon had made an end of praying, the fire came down from heaven, and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices; and the glory of the LORD filled the house.

  • Acts 10:4

    And when he looked on him, he was afraid, and said, What is it, Lord? And he said unto him, Thy prayers and thine alms are come up for a memorial before God.

  • Genesis 4:4

    And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the LORD had respect unto Abel and to his offering:

  • 1 Chronicles 21:26

    And David built there an altar unto the LORD, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings, and called upon the LORD; and he answered him from heaven by fire upon the altar of burnt offering.

  • 1 Peter 2:5

    Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.

  • Ephesians 5:2

    And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.

Add TrulyRandomVerse to your Home Screen for quick access!

← Back