Psalm 20:8 - Printer Friendly

ESV: They collapse and fall, but we rise and stand upright.

NIV: They are brought to their knees and fall, but we rise up and stand firm.

NASB: They have bowed down and fallen, But we have risen and stood upright.

CSB: They collapse and fall, but we rise and stand firm.

NLT: Those nations will fall down and collapse, but we will rise up and stand firm.

KJV: They are brought down and fallen: but we are risen, and stand upright.

NKJV: They have bowed down and fallen; But we have risen and stand upright.

Reflecting on the defeat of his enemies, David writes these words as part of his response to the congregation in the tabernacle (Psalm 20:1–5). Perhaps David alludes to past battles in which the army of Israel suffered a temporary setback but revived and struck down the enemy. Or perhaps he was thinking about his battle with the giant Goliath in which he hurled a stone that sank into Goliath's forehead. First Samuel 17:49 reports that Goliath "fell on his face to the ground."

We read in Exodus 17 about a battle between the powerful pagan tribe of Amalek and Israel. Moses stood on a hilltop with the staff of God in his hand. Whenever Moses held up his hand, Israel prevailed, but when he lowered his hand, the battle went against Israel. When he grew tired, Moses sat on a stone and Aaron and Hur held up his hands. His hands remained steady until sunset, and Israel defeated the Amalekites. Similarly, when we pray, the enemy falls and we, like David and Israel, gain a victory!

Psalm 20:6–9 assures the congregation that the Lord will grant David victory over the enemy. His words express strong confidence in the Lord. The passage reminds us of the confidence in the Lord that Daniel's three friends had when they were threatened with the fiery furnace (Daniel 3:16–18), and it reminds us of the victory over the lions that God gave to Daniel, who consistently prayed (Daniel 6:19–24). Psalm 91 similarly expresses confidence in the Lord in treacherous times.

David prepares for battle. He offers prayer and sacrifices in the tabernacle and trusts in the Lord for victory. His army is ready to march into battle, and it is organized into groups, each with its banner. The congregation voices its invocation, asking the Lord to protect, help, support, and give David success. King David responds by assuring the congregation that the Lord answers prayer and will grant him victory over the enemy. He is certain the enemy will fall while he and his men will stand. Finally, the congregation calls upon the Lord to answer their prayer to save the king.

This psalm was written by David as a prayer before he went into battle. Psalm 21 offers praise for victory. It seems David had entered the tabernacle to pray before going to battle. The tone of the psalm is somber and urgent, whereas the tone of the next psalm (Psalm 21:1) is joyful. Perhaps our Lord's prayer in the garden of Gethsemane resembles the prayer in Psalm 20. At Gethsemane Jesus struggled with the prospect of suffering and dying and prayed for deliverance (Luke 22:39–44).

The book of Psalms is composed of individual songs, hymns, or poems, each of which is a ''Psalm'' in and of itself. These works contain a wide variety of themes. Some Psalms focus on praising and worshipping God. Others cry out in anguish over the pain of life. Still other Psalms look forward to the coming of the Messiah. While some Psalms are related, each has its own historical and biblical context.

Accessed 12/18/2024 12:33:18 PM