John Calvin Commentary Psalms 20:5

"We will triumph in thy salvation, And in the name of our God we will set up our banners: Jehovah fulfil all thy petitions." — Psalms 20:5 (ASV)

That we may rejoice in your salvation. This verse may be explained in two other ways, besides the meaning it has according to the translation I have provided. Some consider it to be a prayer, as if it were said, "Lord, make us rejoice." Others think that the faithful, after finishing their prayer, encourage themselves to cherish good hope; or rather, already inspired with an assured hope of success, they begin to sing, so to speak, of the victory, just as it is usual for David to mix such rejoicings with his prayers, thereby stirring himself up to continue more eagerly in prayer.

But after considering the whole more carefully, my opinion is that what is meant to be expressed is the effect or fruit that would result from the bestowal of God's grace and favor, for which the people prayed; and therefore, I have thought it necessary to add the word that at the beginning of the verse.

The faithful, as an argument to obtain God's favor toward their king, express the joy they would all experience together in seeing it exercised toward him, and the thanksgiving they would offer together for it. The meaning of their language is: It is not for the preservation and welfare of one man that we are concerned; it is for the safety and well-being of the whole Church.

The expression, In your salvation, can refer to God as well as to the king, for the salvation God bestows is often called the salvation of God; but the context requires that it be understood as referring to the king. The people lived, to use the words of Jeremiah, under the shadow of the king (Lamentations 4:20); and therefore, the faithful now testify that as long as he is safe and prosperous, they will all be joyful and happy.

At the same time, to distinguish their joy from pagan dances and rejoicings, they declare that they will set up their banners in the name of God; for the Hebrew word דגל, dagal, used here, means to set or lift up a banner. The meaning is that the faithful, in grateful acknowledgment of God's grace, will celebrate his praises and triumph in his name.