This Psalm has been much used for Coronations, thanksgivings, and fast sermons; and no end of sickening flattery has been tacked thereto by the trencher-chaplains of the world's church. If kings had been devils, some of these gentry would have praised their horns and hoofs; for although some of their royal highnesses have been very obedient servants of the prince of darkness, those false prophets have dubbed them "most gracious sovereigns", and have been as much dazzled in their presence as if they had beheld the beatific vision.
C. H. Spurgeon
Verse 1. "The Lord hear thee in the day of trouble…" And who is there among the sons of men to whom a "day of trouble" does not come? A "day of trouble" is the heritage of every child of Adam. How sweet the wish, then, "The Lord hear thee in a day of trouble". It is the prayer of another on behalf of some troubled one; and yet, it implies the troubled one himself has also prayed – "The Lord hear thee;" i.e. "The Lord hear and answer thine own prayer."
Barton Bouchier
Verse 1. "… the name of the God of Jacob defend thee". This is a beautiful allusion to the history of the patriarch Jacob. Jehovah had appeared for him, when he fled from his brother Esau, at Bethel, and Jacob said to his household in Genesis 35:3, "Let us arise and go up to Bethel; and I will make there an alter unto God, WHO ANSWERETH ME IN THE DAY OF MY DISTRESS, and was with me in the way which I went".
John Morison
Verse 1. "…the name of the God of Jacob defend thee." A papist once told me that if a priest would but give him one drop of holy water, and make a circle with it around a field of wild beasts, it would defend him and the beasts would not harm him. I retired in disgust, but thought, what a fool I am that I cannot put such a trust in my God as this spoor deluded man puts in his priest and a drop of holy water! O brethren, get encircled with covenant engagements, and covenant blood, and covenant grace, and covenant promises, and covenant securities.
John Irons
Verse 2. "Send thee help from the sanctuary…" Here we see the nature of true faith, that it causes us to see help in heaven, and so pray for it when there is none to be seen on earth. As the holy martyr Stephen, when his enemies were ready to burst with anger, and gnash at him with their teeth, looked stedfastly into heaven, and saw Christ standing at the right hand of God ready to defend him. So faith in the promises of the Word doth see help in heaven ready for us, when there are no means on earth.
Nicholas Bownd
Verse 3. "The Lord … Remember all thy offerings, and accept thy burnt sacrifices." This may be referred to Christ; "All thy offerings:" the humiliation that brought Him from heaven to earth; the hard manger; the ox and ass for courtiers; the weary flight into Egypt; the poor cottage in Nazareth; the doing all good and bearing all evil; the being called a gluttonous man and a wine-bibber. "And accept thy burnt sacrifice:" The thorny crown on His head; the nails in His hands and feet; the reproaches that filled His ears; the gloating multitude on whom His dying gaze rested; the vinegar and the gall; the evil odours of the hill of death and corruption. "REMEMBER" them now, O Father; call to mind for us sinners, and for our salvation all these "offerings"; accept, instead of our eternal punishment, His"burnt sacrifice", who did no sin, neither was guile found in His mouth.
J. M. Neale
Verse 5. "…our banners…" Will you know the STAFF, the COLOURS, and the FLAG or STREAMER of this ensign? The STAFF is the Cross; the COLOURS are blood and water; and the STREAMER is the Gospel.
Mark Frank
Verse 7. "Some trust in chariots and some in horses; but we will remember the name of the Lord our God". It is easy to persuade papists to lean on priests and saints, on old rags and painted pictures; but it is hard to get a Protestant to trust in the living God.
William Arnot
This Page Title – Gleanings in the Psalms – Psalm 20 The Wicket Gate Magazine "A Continuing Witness". Internet Edition number 56 – placed on line September 2005 Magazine web address – www.wicketgate.co.uk |