Charles Ellicott Commentary Psalms 20

Day of trouble ... God of Jacob. —This certainly recalls the patriarch’s words (Genesis 35:3), I will make there an altar to God, who answered me in the day of my distress. The “name” alone of the God of Jacob was a safeguard to the people, called after their great forefather “Israel.” So even under the shadow of the greatness of human monarchs and heroes whole peoples have often felt secure and strong, using no other weapon but his name.

Defend you. —Better, set you up on high (Psalms 91:14), as in a fortress, out of the reach of foes.

All your offerings. —The king is sacrificing according to custom before battle (1 Samuel 13:9). This includes the burnt offering (ôlah, from a root meaning “to go up,” i.e., referring to the smoke) and the bloodless offering (minchah, from a root meaning “to portion out”) of fine flour .

The word translated in our version as memorial (Leviticus 24:7), which is a derivative of the verb translated here as “remember,” has been shown by eminent scholars to mean “incense.” Therefore, we may believe the psalmist meant—

“Accept the incense of all your minchah,
And the fat of your ôlah”

Indeed, Mr. Burgess would translate this as “smell” and “relish.”

Accept. —Literally, make fat (Psalms 23:5, anointest); i.e., regard or receive as a fat or worthy offering. The objection to the alternative translation, “turn to ashes,” i.e., “consume” (Leviticus 9:24; 1 Kings 18:38), is that the Hebrew word never elsewhere has that sense, but only that of “cleansing from ashes.”

We will set up our banners. —Rather, we will wave our banners. (Compare to Song of Solomon 6:10.) The whole army, or their representatives, assembled in the Temple courts, raise the encouraging shout.

Now I know. —Better, now I know that Jehovah has saved His anointed, that is, the king who is the subject of the poem, as it would be out of keeping with the rest of the poem to understand “Israel” or the “ideal” king here. The now is emphatic. After seeing the sacrifice performed, and feeling sure of its acceptance, this confidence is expressed.

From His holy heaven. —The prayer in Psalm 20:2 mentioned the sanctuary as the residence of the Divine power, and its symbol, the ark, being deposited there (1 Samuel 4:4). The inspiration now expresses an even higher conviction. The manifestation of help will not be through any earthly symbol of God’s might, but immediately from His dwelling-place on high.

With the saving. —Better, with the might of the help of.

Trust. —The poetry is weakened by the insertion of this word. Render, These in chariots and these on horses; but we in the name of Jehovah our God make boast. The mention of horses and chariots suggests a Syrian war, since the armies of Syria were particularly strong in this type of force. For an interesting historical reference to this verse, see Macaulay’s History of England, chapter 9.