Who is the anointed one of Psalm 20?
In the first place he is the king of Israel, from David's line. Christians also read the psalm in light of Christ, the Anointed One, although the New Testament does not quote this psalm directly.
Psalms · psalm 20 of 150
Psalm 20: Summary, Key Verses and Study Questions
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What happens in Psalm 20?
Psalm 20 is a prayer of the people for their king before he goes out to battle. They ask the Lord to answer him in the day of trouble, remember his offerings and fulfill his plans. Then the king declares that God saves his anointed, and everyone confesses that some trust in chariots and horses but they call on the name of the Lord. It ends with a cry: O Lord, save the king.
The title directs the psalm to the choirmaster and attributes it to David. It is a royal psalm: it was used in worship before the king went out to war. Together with Psalm 21, which celebrates the victory, it forms a pair. Christians also read it as a prayer for those who govern and as a reminder of where true security lies.
Psalm 20 summary
The psalm begins with a blessing on the king. The people pray that the Lord answer him in the day of trouble, that the name of the God of Jacob protect him, that he send him help from the sanctuary and give him support from Zion. They ask God to remember all his offerings and regard his burnt sacrifices with favor, to grant him his heart's desire and fulfill all his plans.
The people declare their anticipated joy: we will shout for joy over your salvation, and in the name of our God we will set up our banners, may the Lord fulfill all your petitions. Then a voice speaks, perhaps that of the king or a priest: now I know that the Lord saves his anointed; he will answer him from his holy heaven with the saving might of his right hand.
One line contrasts the source of trust: some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God. They collapse and fall, but we rise and stand upright. The psalm closes with a plea: O Lord, save the king, and answer us when we call.
Chapter outline
- vv. 1-5: The people pray for their king: an answer, protection, offerings remembered and plans fulfilled.
- vv. 6-8: Certainty that the Lord saves his anointed; some trust in chariots and horses, others in the Lord's name.
- v. 9: Final plea: O Lord, save the king and answer when we call.
Key verses in Psalm 20
References follow ESV book names and verse numbers. Read each verse in your Bible before the explanation.
Psalm 20:1
The people ask the Lord to answer the king in the day of trouble and the name of the God of Jacob to protect him. Prayer for rulers was part of Israel's worship.
Psalm 20:4
They ask God to grant him his heart's desire and fulfill all his plans. It is a generous prayer: the people ask for their leader, not only for themselves.
Psalm 20:7
Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but the people call on the name of the Lord. Chariots and horses were the military technology of their day; the psalm says that true strength is in God.
Psalm 20:9
The psalm ends with a cry: O Lord, save the king, and answer us when we call. A people who pray this way recognize that their king, and they themselves, depend on God's help.
Main themes
- Prayer for those who govern
- Trust in the name of the Lord
- God and the anointed
- Chariots and horses versus God
- Salvation in battle
People and places
- The king
- The people
- The Lord
- Zion
Psalm 20 study questions and answers
6 questions with answers and references, ready for Sunday school, small group or a Bible quiz night.
1. For whom do the people pray?
Answer: For their king, that the Lord answer him in the day of trouble. — Psalm 20:1
2. From where do they ask that help be sent?
Answer: From the sanctuary and from Zion. — Psalm 20:2
3. What do they ask God to remember and accept?
Answer: All his offerings and his burnt sacrifices. — Psalm 20:3
4. What will they set up when the king is saved?
Answer: Banners in the name of their God. — Psalm 20:5
5. In what do some trust, and in what do God's people trust?
Answer: Some in chariots and horses; they in the name of the Lord. — Psalm 20:7
6. How does the psalm end?
Answer: With the plea: O Lord, save the king and answer us when we call. — Psalm 20:9
Application for today
Psalm 20 encourages us to pray for those who carry responsibility for others: authorities, pastors, group leaders. The New Testament also asks us to pray for rulers. A simple practice in the group is to set aside time to pray by name for the leaders of the city and the church.
Verse 7 raises a very current question: what are our chariots and horses? They may be money, contacts, training or technology. All of that has its place, but the psalm invites us to remember that victory comes from the Lord. For Christians, the anointed one is Jesus, and trusting his name is true security.
Psalm 20 is the prayer before the battle. Psalm 21 is its answer: the king rejoices in the Lord's strength because God has answered his prayer.
Frequently asked questions about Psalm 20
Who speaks in verse 6?
The text does not say. It may be the king, a priest or a prophet who, after the people's prayer, affirms with certainty that the Lord will save his anointed.
Is it wrong to trust in preparation and strategy?
No. The psalm does not despise chariots or horses but denies that they are the final source of victory. The Bible encourages preparation and wisdom, always under dependence on God.