Psalm 20
To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David.

This Psalm and the one following it (21) catch the notice of the scholars because of some words used in both of them that are only found here. They are petitions to God for help on behalf of the King but they are written in the second person, not the first as we normally find with David concerning help that he needed personally.

They are some of the older Psalms and believed by some to come from the time of David’s sin with Bathsheba, murder of Urriah and the death of their first child. They are included in our scriptures, so we are confident they are inspired scripture but were they written by Nathan the prophet to David?
Did David record from memory later some of the things Nathan said in his presence? We simply do not know.

1 The LORD hear thee in the day of trouble; the name of the God of Jacob defend thee;

Remember that there were several months involved in this story. It was not over in a week and David did not see his sin clearly during this time. Nathan, however, did and knew that only God Himself could rescue the man from his “day of trouble,” and only God could defend him from the worst of the consequences of his actions.

2 Send thee help from the sanctuary, and strengthen thee out of Zion;

This “sanctuary” and “Zion” were not those that resided upon earth but were the Heavenly source from which all real help must come. This is the only real help which will rescue the fallen saint.

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

The pause, “Selah,” says that he had finished a thought for which he wished that the reader might pause and contemplate what he had just said. “Consider your need for help. Remember the source of all help. And, remember that you have often worshiped in His Presence.” This is quite a stinging reminder for the serious servant of God who has fallen into sin.

4 Grant thee according to thine own heart, and fulfil all thy counsel.

The writer knew that the sin of David was not from the redeemed soul of the man but from some other place.

Rom 7:20
     20  Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. KJV

And, he knew that the wisdom of David, his “counsel,” was contrary to his actions, having been often given to others to warn them of sin.

5 We will rejoice in thy salvation, and in the name of our God we will set up our banners: the LORD fulfil all thy petitions.

The “we” undoubtedly was all of those who truly loved and served God who also knew of the circumstance. (How could the King keep such a thing secret from his inner circle?) But the writer expressed the hope every child of God knows when a brother or sister falls into sin, “I will rejoice when
you are delivered.”

6 Now know I that the LORD saveth his anointed; he will hear him from his holy heaven with the saving strength of his right hand.

The writer was certain of the keeping power of God and confident that He would rescue His anointed one. The is the hope of every believer for every single one of them fails, sometimes very badly. What a blessing to have confidence in the Keeping Power of our God!

7 Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the LORD our God. 8 They are brought down and fallen: but we are risen, and stand upright.

This is a statement of the refusal of human help, “We put no confidence in the Flesh,” rather a casting of themselves (the writer and the other saints who knew of the problem) solely and completely upon “the Name of the Lord our God.” All other sources of help are perpetually doomed to failure in a spiritual struggle.

9 Save, LORD: let the king hear us when we call.

Nathan was used of God to be the “voice” that spoke to David concerning his sins, but if other saints were involved they were certainly praying and willing to add their voices to that of the prophet.

Again, the appeal is to God Who Alone could make their words to the King persuasive.

Good advice for every saint who has such an encounter with another believer who is trapped in sin.

— April 28, 2020