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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.comKeil and Delitzsch Commentary - Psalms 20:6 - 20:6
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(Heb.: 20:7-9) While Psa 20:2 were being sung the offering of the sacrifice was probably going on. Now, after a lengthened pause, there ascends a voice, probably the voice of one of the Levites, expressing the cheering assurance of the gracious acceptance of the offering that has been presented by the priest. With עַתָּה or וְעַתָּה, the usual word to indicate the turning-point, the instantaneous entrance of the result of some previous process of prolonged duration, whether hidden or manifest (e.g., 1Ki 17:24; Isa 29:22), is introduced. howshiya` is the perfect of faith, which, in the certainty of being answered, realises the fulfilment in anticipation. The exuberance of the language in Psa 20:7 corresponds to the exuberance of feeling which thus finds expression.
In Psa 20:3 the answer is expected out of Zion, in the present instance it is looked for from God's holy heavens; for the God who sits enthroned in Zion is enthroned for ever in the heavens. His throne on earth is as it were the vestibule of His heavenly throne; His presence in the sanctuary of Israel is no limitation of His omnipresence; His help out of Zion is the help of the Celestial One and Him who is exalted above the heaven of heavens. גְּבוּרֹות does not here mean the fulness of might (cf. Psa 90:10), but the displays of power (Psa 106:2; Psa 145:4; Psa 150:2; Psa 63:1-11 :15), by which His right hand procures salvation, i.e., victory, for the combatant. The glory of Israel is totally different from that of the heathen, which manifests itself in boastful talk. In Psa 20:8 הִזְכִּירוּ or יַזְכִּירוּ must be supplied from the נַזְכִּיר in Psa 20:8 (lxx μεγαλυνθησόμεθα = נגביר, Psa 12:5); הִזְכִּיר בְּ, to make laudatory mention of any matter, to extol, and indirectly therefore to take credit to one's self for it, to boast of it (cf. הִלֵּל בְּ, Psa 44:9). According to the Law Israel was forbidden to have any standing army; and the law touching the king (Deu 17:16) speaks strongly against his keeping many horses. It was also the same under the judges, and at this time under David; but under Solomon, who acquired for himself horses and chariots in great number (1Ki 10:26-29), it was very different. It is therefore a confession that must belong to the time of David which is here made in Psa 20:8, viz., that Israel's glory in opposition to their enemies, especially the Syrians, is the sure defence and protection of the Name of their God alone. The language of David to Goliath is very similar, 1Sa 17:45. The preterites in Psa 20:9 are praet. confidentiae. It is, as Luther says, “a song of triumph before the victory, a shout of joy before succour.” Since קוּם does not mean to stand, but to rise, קַמְנוּ assumes the present superiority of the enemy. But the position of affairs changes: those who stand fall, and those who are lying down rise up; the former remain lying, the latter keep the field. The Hithpa. הִתְעֹודֵד signifies to show one's self firm, strong, courageous; like עֹודֵד, Psa 146:9; Psa 147:6, to strengthen, confirm, recover, from עוּד to be compact, firm, cogn. Arab. âd f. i., inf. aid, strength; as, e.g., the Koran (Sur. xxxviii. 16) calls David dhâ-l-aidi, possessor of strength, II ajjada, to strengthen, support, and Arab. 'dd, inf. add, strength superiority, V tāddada, to show one's self strong, brave, courageous.