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Commentary on Psalms 20 verses 1–5
This prayer for David is entitled a psalm of David; nor was it any absurdity at all for him who was divinely inspired to draw up a directory, or form of prayer, to be used in the congregation for himself and those in authority under him; nay it is very proper for those who desire the prayers of their friends to tell them particularly what they would have to be asked of God for them. Note, Even great and good men, and those that know ever so well how to pray for themselves, must not despise, but earnestly desire, the prayers of others for them, even those that are their inferiors in all respects. Paul often begged of his friends to pray for him. Magistrates and those in power ought to esteem and encourage praying people, to reckon them their strength (Zac 12:5, Zac 12:10), and to do what they can for them, that they may have an interest in their prayers and may do nothing to forfeit it. Now observe here,
I. What it is that they are taught to ask of God for the king.
1.That God would answer his prayers: The Lord hear thee in the day of trouble (Psa 20:1), and the Lord fulfil all thy petitions, Psa 20:5. Note, (1.) Even the greatest of men may be much in trouble. It was often a day of trouble with David himself, of disappointment and distress, of treading down and of perplexity. Neither the crown on his head nor the grace in his heart would exempt him from the trouble. (2.) Even the greatest of men must be much in prayer. David, though a man of business, a man of war, was constant to his devotions; though he had prophets, and priests, and many good people among his subjects, to pray for him, he did not think that excused him from praying for himself. Let none expect benefit by the prayers of the church, or of their ministers or friends for them, who are capable of praying for themselves, and yet neglect it. The prayers of others for us must be desired, not to supersede, but to second, our own for ourselves. Happy the people that have praying princes, to whose prayers they may thus say, Amen.
2.That God would protect his person, and preserve his life, in the perils of war: "The name of the God of Jacob defend thee, and set thee out of the reach of thy enemies." (1.) "Let God by his providence keep thee safe, even the God who preserved Jacob in the days of his trouble." David had mighty men for his guards, but he commits himself, and his people commit him, to the care of the almighty God. (2.) "Let God by his grace keep thee easy from the fear of evil. - Pro 18:10, The name of the Lord is a strong tower, into which the righteous run by faith, and are safe; let David be enabled to shelter himself in that strong tower, as he has done many a time."
3.That God would enable him to go on in his undertakings for the public good - that, in the day of battle, he would send him help out of the sanctuary, and strength out of Zion, not from common providence, but from the ark of the covenant and the peculiar favour God bears to his chosen people Israel. That he would help him, in performance of the promises and in answer to the prayers made in the sanctuary. Mercies out of the sanctuary are the sweetest mercies, such as are the tokens of God's peculiar love, the blessing of God, even our own God. Strength out of Zion is spiritual strength, strength in the soul, in the inward man, and that is what we should most desire both for ourselves and others in services and sufferings.
4.That God would testify his gracious acceptance of the sacrifices he offered with his prayers, according to the law of that time, before he went out on a dangerous expedition: The Lord remember all thy offerings and accept thy burnt-sacrifices (Psa 20:3), or turn them to ashes; that is, "The Lord give thee the victory and success which thou didst by prayer with sacrifices ask of him, and thereby give as full proof of his acceptance of the sacrifice as ever he did by kindling it with fire from heaven." By this we may now know that God accepts our spiritual sacrifices, if by his Spirit he kindles in our souls a holy fire of pious and divine affection and with that makes our hearts burn within us.
5.That God would crown all his enterprises and noble designs for the public welfare with the desired success (Psa 20:4): The Lord grant thee according to thy own heart. This they might in faith pray for, because they knew David was a man after God's own heart, and would design nothing but what was pleasing to him. Those who make it their business to glorify God may expect that God will, in one way or other, gratify them: and those who walk in his counsel may promise themselves that he will fulfil theirs. Thou shalt devise a thing and it shall be established unto thee.
II. What confidence they had of an answer of peace to these petitions for themselves and their good king (Psa 20:5): "We will rejoice in thy salvation. We that are subjects will rejoice in the preservation and prosperity of our prince;" or, rather, "In thy salvation, O God! in thy power and promise to save, will we rejoice; that is it which we depend upon now, and which, in the issue, we shall have occasion greatly to rejoice in." Those that have their eye still upon the salvation of the Lord shall have their hearts filled with the joy of that salvation: In the name of our God will we set up our banners. 1. "We will wage war in his name; we will see that our cause be good and make his glory our end in every expedition; we will ask counsel at his mouth, and take him along with us; we will follow his direction, implore his aid and depend upon it, and refer the issue to him." David went against Goliath in the name of the Lord of hosts, Sa1 17:45. (2.) "We will celebrate our victories in his name. When we lift up our banners in triumph, and set up our trophies, it shall be in the name of our God; he shall have all the glory of our success, and no instrument shall have any part of the honour that is due to him."
In singing this we ought to offer up to God our hearty good wishes to the good government we are under and to the prosperity of it. But we may look further; these prayers for David are prophecies concerning Christ the Son of David, and in him they were abundantly answered; he undertook the work of our redemption, and made war upon the powers of darkness. In the day of trouble, when his soul was exceedingly sorrowful, the Lord heard him, heard him in that he feared (Heb 5:7), sent him help out of the sanctuary, sent an angel from heaven to strengthen him, took cognizance of his offering when he made his soul an offering for sin, and accepted his burnt-sacrifice, turned it to ashes, the fire that should have fastened upon the sinner fastening upon the sacrifice, with which God was well pleased. And he granted him according to his own heart, made him to see of the travail of his soul, to his satisfaction, prospered his good pleasure in his hand, fulfilled all his petitions for himself and us; for him the Father heareth always and his intercession is ever prevailing.
" Diapsalma." The Lord render to You according to Your Heart [Psalm 20:4]. The Lord render to You, not according to their heart, who thought by persecution they could destroy You; but according to Your Heart, wherein Thou knew what profit Your passion would have. [John 12:32] "And fulfil all Your counsel." "And fulfil all Your counsel." not only that whereby Thou laid down Your life for Your friends, [John 15:13] that the corrupted grain might rise again to more abundance; [John 12:24] but that also whereby "blindness in part has happened unto Israel, that the fullness of the Gentiles might enter in, and so all Israel might be saved." [Romans 11:25-26]
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SUMMARY
Psalms 20:4 is a profound communal prayer, likely offered by the people and priests on behalf of their king, as he prepared for a significant undertaking such as battle. It articulates a fervent plea for God's sovereign favor to align with and bring to fruition the righteous desires and well-conceived plans of His anointed servant. This verse encapsulates a deep reliance on divine enablement for success, emphasizing that true prosperity stems from God's active involvement in the endeavors of those whose hearts and intentions are aligned with His holy purposes.
CONTEXT
Literary Context: Psalms 20 is strategically placed within Book I of the Psalter, a collection primarily associated with David, and serves as a vital intercessory prayer for the king. It stands in direct thematic relation to Psalms 21, a psalm of thanksgiving for victory, strongly suggesting that Psalms 20 functions as a prayer before a significant military engagement. The psalm opens with an urgent cry for divine intervention, pleading for God to "hear thee in the day of trouble" and "send thee help from the sanctuary" (see Psalms 20:1-2). This sets the stage for the remembrance of sacrifices in verse 3, leading directly into the specific petitions of verse 4. The psalm culminates in a powerful declaration of confidence, contrasting reliance on human military might ("chariots, and some on horses") with unwavering trust in "the name of the LORD our God" (see Psalms 20:7). Thus, verse 4 forms the theological and emotional core of the petition, articulating the specific content of the community's prayer for their leader's success, which is fundamentally rooted in God's divine approval and enabling power.
Historical & Cultural Context: In ancient Israel, the king held a multifaceted role as God's anointed representative, a spiritual mediator between God and His people, and the supreme military commander. Consequently, his success or failure in battle was often interpreted as a direct reflection of God's favor or displeasure upon the nation. Psalms 20 likely reflects a pre-battle ritual, a common practice in the ancient Near East, where the king and the community would gather at the temple or a sacred site to offer sacrifices and earnestly seek divine blessing before engaging in conflict. The "day of trouble" (verse 1) explicitly refers to an impending military confrontation, an ever-present and existential threat to the nation's survival. The "sanctuary" (verse 2) points to the Temple in Jerusalem, the sacred dwelling place of God's presence, from which all efficacious help was expected to emanate. The mention of "burnt sacrifice" and "fat sacrifice" (verse 3) underscores the acts of worship, devotion, and atonement, signifying the king's and the people's humble reliance on God's covenant faithfulness. The prayer for the king's "heart" and "counsel" to be fulfilled directly correlates with the king's crucial role as a strategist, decision-maker, and leader whose plans for the nation's welfare required divine endorsement and empowerment to succeed against formidable odds.
Key Themes: Psalms 20:4 contributes significantly to several overarching theological themes within the Psalter and the broader biblical narrative. Firstly, it powerfully underscores the theme of Divine Sovereignty and Human Dependence. It unequivocally acknowledges that ultimate success in any significant endeavor, particularly those of national importance, rests not on human might, wisdom, or resources alone, but entirely on God's active intervention and blessing. Secondly, the verse highlights the theme of Righteous Leadership and Divine Endorsement. The prayer implicitly assumes that the king's "heart" and "counsel" are inherently righteous, pure, and aligned with God's divine will, thereby making them worthy of divine fulfillment. This resonates deeply with the biblical principle that God blesses those who prioritize His kingdom and righteousness, as Jesus taught in Matthew 6:33. Thirdly, Psalms 20:4 speaks profoundly to the power and efficacy of Intercessory Prayer. The community's earnest petition for their leader demonstrates an unwavering faith in God's willingness to hear and respond to the prayers of His people, especially when those prayers are offered for the advancement of His sovereign purposes. This aligns seamlessly with the wisdom found in Proverbs 16:3, which encourages believers to commit their works to the Lord for their establishment, and the promise in Psalms 37:4 that delighting in the Lord leads to the granting of the heart's desires.
EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
Key Word Analysis
Verse Breakdown
Literary Devices
Psalms 20:4 masterfully employs several effective literary devices that enhance its meaning and impact. Most prominently, it utilizes Synonymous Parallelism, where the second clause, "and fulfil all thy counsel," reiterates and expands upon the meaning of the first, "Grant thee according to thine own heart." The "heart" represents the internal desires, intentions, and character, while "counsel" signifies the external plans, strategies, and actions that emanate from those inner motivations. This parallelism emphasizes the comprehensive nature of the prayer, encompassing both the inner person and their outward endeavors, demonstrating a holistic request for divine favor. The verse also functions as a Benediction or Apostrophe, a direct address to the king ("thee"), conveying a blessing or a fervent wish for divine favor upon him. Furthermore, the underlying assumption of a righteous king whose desires align with God's will can be understood as a form of Synecdoche, where the "heart" represents the entire moral, intellectual, and spiritual character of the individual. The psalm's overall structure, moving from communal plea to specific petition and then to confident declaration, also exhibits a Chiasm or Concentric Structure around the central theme of God's indispensable aid.
THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Psalms 20:4 beautifully articulates a core theological truth: God delights in fulfilling the desires and plans of those whose hearts are genuinely aligned with His own divine will. This verse profoundly underscores the concept of a divine-human partnership in accomplishing God's purposes on earth, particularly through righteous leadership. It teaches that true success is not merely the achievement of human goals, but rather the realization of God's will through human agents who are submitted to Him. The prayer for the king's heart and counsel to be fulfilled is a recognition that God's blessing is absolutely essential for any significant undertaking, and that such blessing is intrinsically contingent upon the purity of intention and the righteousness of the plans. It speaks powerfully to God's character as a responsive, benevolent, and omnipotent Father who hears the prayers of His people and actively intervenes to bring about His good purposes, often by inspiring and then fulfilling the very desires He has placed within His faithful servants.
REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Psalms 20:4 offers profound and enduring insights for believers today, extending far beyond its original context of a king preparing for battle. It challenges each of us to deeply examine the desires of our own hearts and the nature of our personal and professional plans. Are our deepest longings truly aligned with God's overarching will and His kingdom purposes? When our hearts are fully surrendered to Him, delighting in His presence and earnestly seeking His glory, we can confidently bring our aspirations and strategies before Him, trusting that He will either refine them to conform to His perfect will or bring them to fruition in ways that profoundly honor Him. This verse encourages a posture of profound dependence on God, reminding us that while we are called to plan diligently and act faithfully, true and lasting success ultimately comes from His divine enablement. It calls us to pray not merely for the fulfillment of our own wishes, but for the sanctification of our desires, so that what we genuinely want is precisely what God desires to grant. Furthermore, it serves as a powerful model for intercessory prayer, urging us to pray earnestly and consistently for our leaders—whether in government, the church, or our local communities—that God would grant them righteous hearts and fulfill their good counsel for the welfare of all.
Questions for Reflection
FAQ
Is this verse a blank check for any desire I have?
Answer: No, the phrase "according to thine own heart" in this context carries an implicit and crucial assumption of a heart that is righteous, pure, and aligned with God's will. In ancient Israel, the king was expected to rule justly and in accordance with God's covenant and law. Therefore, the prayer is for God to fulfill desires and plans that are inherently good, godly, and ultimately beneficial for His kingdom and people. It is not a promise to grant arbitrary or selfish wishes, but rather to bring to fruition the aspirations of a heart that actively seeks God's purposes. This understanding is profoundly consistent with other scriptures, such as Psalms 37:4, where delighting in the Lord precedes the granting of heart's desires, implying a transformed and sanctified desire.
How does this verse relate to God's sovereignty and human free will?
Answer: Psalms 20:4 beautifully illustrates the dynamic and complementary interplay between God's sovereignty and human responsibility. It unequivocally acknowledges God's ultimate power to "grant" and "fulfil," thereby demonstrating His sovereign control over all outcomes. At the same time, it fully recognizes the human agent (the king, and by extension, all believers) who possesses a "heart" with desires and "counsel" with plans. The verse suggests that when human desires and plans are submitted to and aligned with God's divine will, His sovereignty actively works to bring them to pass. It is not a call to passive waiting, but rather an encouragement for active seeking, diligent planning, and profound trust in God's power to establish those efforts that genuinely honor Him. It portrays a divine-human partnership where God empowers and completes what He has Himself inspired within His faithful servants.
Is this verse only for kings or leaders?
Answer: While the immediate historical and literary context of Psalms 20:4 is indeed a prayer for the king, the profound principles embedded within it are universally applicable to all believers. The core message—that God desires to fulfill the righteous aspirations and plans of those whose hearts are aligned with Him—transcends the specific role of a monarch. Every believer is called to seek God's will, cultivate a heart that delights in Him, and commit their plans to Him in every sphere of life. Whether in personal decisions, family matters, professional endeavors, or ministry pursuits, we can confidently pray for God to "grant" us "according to [our] own heart" and "fulfil all [our] counsel," provided our desires and plans are submitted to His divine purposes. Proverbs 16:9 powerfully reminds us that "A man's heart deviseth his way: but the LORD directeth his steps," emphasizing God's guiding hand in our well-intentioned plans.
CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Psalms 20:4 finds its ultimate and most profound fulfillment in the person and redemptive work of Jesus Christ. He is the true and perfect King, the Son of David, whose "heart" was flawlessly and eternally aligned with the Father's will. Unlike any earthly monarch, Jesus never harbored a desire or conceived a "counsel" that was not in perfect harmony with God's divine plan for salvation. His entire earthly life was a living testament to this perfect alignment, as He Himself declared, "My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work" (John 4:34). The Father indeed "granted" Him "according to His own heart" and "fulfilled all His counsel." The ultimate "counsel" of Christ was the redemption of humanity through His atoning sacrifice on the cross, a plan conceived in the very heart of God from eternity past. The Father "fulfilled" this counsel by raising Jesus from the dead, exalting Him to His right hand, and establishing His eternal kingdom over all creation (Philippians 2:9-11; Acts 2:32-36). As believers, we are intimately united "in Christ," and through the indwelling Holy Spirit, our hearts are progressively transformed to desire what God desires, and the Spirit Himself intercedes for us according to God's will (Romans 8:26-27). Thus, the prayer of Psalms 20:4 becomes a living reality for us as we live by faith in the One whose heart and counsel were perfectly fulfilled, and through whom we receive the power to live out God's purposes for our lives, participating in the ongoing fulfillment of His kingdom on earth, with "Christ in you, the hope of glory" (Colossians 1:27).