Verse-by-Verse Bible Commentary
Psalms 20:8

Clarke's Commentary

Verse Psalms 20:8. They are brought down and fallen — They were so confident of victory that they looked upon it as already gained. They who trusted in their horses and chariots are bowed down, and prostrated on the earth: they are all overthrown.

But we are risen — We who have trusted in the name of Jehovah are raised up from all despondency; and we stand upright - we shall conquer, and go on to conquer.

Bridgeway Bible Commentary

Psalms 20-21 Before and after battle

These two psalms belong together as a pair. The former is a prayer for the king before he leads the people in battle; the latter, a thanksgiving after victory.
Addressing the king, the people call down God’s power and protection upon him (20:1-2). They pray that God will remember the king’s faithfulness and give him victory (3-5). The king replies that victory is certain, because he has God’s help. God’s power is greater than military might (6-8). In response, the people offer a further plea, brief and urgent, for God’s help (9).

The people join in thanksgiving to God that he has answered their prayer of the previous psalms (see Psalms 20:4). God has given the king his heart’s desire, enabling him to lead his people to victory (21:1-4). Although the king receives glory because of his victory, the glory is not self-centred. It is glory given him by God, in whom he trusts (5-7). Having offered thanks to God, the people turn and address the king. They assure him that through God’s power he will continue to have victory over all his enemies (8-12). King and people then unite in praise to God (13).

Coffman's Commentaries on the Bible

“Some trust in chariots, and some in horses; But we will make mention of Jehovah our God. They are bowed down and fallen; But we are risen and stand upright. Save, Jehovah: Let the King answer us when we call.”

Again, all the people take up the vocal declamation of this psalm in the last three verses.

“Some trust in chariots, etc.” (Psalms 20:7). “Men who put their trust in chariots, horses and weapons of war and do not rely on the name of the Lord will surely be brought down.”George DeHoff, p. 109.

In all ages, it has been God who rules among the kingdoms of men and exalts over them whosoever is pleasing to Him (Daniel 4:25). Many an army equipped with the most advanced weapons of the day has fallen before far inferior forces, because it was the will of God. Biblical examples of this are the armies of Pharaoh in the Red Sea, and that of Sennacherib before the walls of Jerusalem, which “melted like snow in the glance of the Lord,” as stated in Byron’s immortal poem.

As noted above, this reference to Israel’s not having chariots and horses is applicable only to the times prior to Solomon who vastly multiplied such instruments of ancient warfare.

Also, as Watkinson observed, “It was this attitude that nerved the youthful David in his victorious combat with Goliath (1 Samuel 17:45).”W. L. Watkinson, p. 95. The evident reference to that event, implicit in these words, also strongly favors the Davidic authorship of the psalm, concerning which Rawlinson said, “There is no reason to doubt the Davidic authorship, asserted in the title and admitted by most critics.”The Pulpit Commentary, p. 139.

“They are bowed down and fallen… we are… upright” (Psalms 20:8). This means merely that the enemy shall be defeated and humiliated and that Israel shall be triumphant and exalted.

“Save, Jehovah: Let the King answer us when we call.” Dummelow favored the LLX rendition of this, which has, “O Lord, save the king: and answer us when we call.”J. R. Dummelow, p. 337. However, we prefer the ASV, especially when the word “King” is capitalized, thus recognizing the Lord as the true King of Israel.

“In the Bible, assurance never breeds complacency, but rather offers grounds for urgent prayer and calling upon God to save.”New Bible Commentary Revised, p. 463. The great assurance of Psalms 20:8, indicated by the use of the prophetic perfect tense, suggests that the war is already over and that victory has been won; but that was not the case. The prophecy was true, all right, and victory did come; but the people did not neglect to continue their crying out to God in supplication and prayers.

Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible

They are brought down and fallen - That is, those who trust in chariots and horses. The reference here is undoubtedly to the enemies against whom the king was about to wage war, and the language here is indicative of his certain conviction that they would be vanquished. So certain was he now of this that he could speak of it as if it were already done. “They “are” brought down.” He sees them in anticipation prostrate and subdued; he goes forth to war with the certainty on his mind that this would occur. The word rendered “brought down” - כרע kâra‛ - means “to bend,” “to bow” (as the knees); and then it refers to one who bows down before an enemy, that is, one who is subdued, Isaiah 10:4; Isaiah 65:12; Psalms 72:9; Psalms 78:31.

But we are risen, and stand upright - That is, he sees this in anticipation. He is certain of success and triumph. Depressed though we may now be, yet we are certain of victory.

Calvin's Commentary on the Bible

8.They are bowed down. It is probable that there is here pointed out, as it were with the finger, the enemies of Israel, whom God had overthrown, when they regarded no event as less likely to happen. There is contained in the words a tacit contrast between the cruel pride with which they had been lifted up for a time when they audaciously rushed forward to make havoc of all things on the one hand, and the oppression of the people of God on the other. The expression, to rise, is applied only to those who were before sunk or fallen; and, on the other hand, the expression, bowed down and fallen, is with propriety applied to those who were lifted up with pride and presumption. The prophet therefore teaches by the event, how much more advantageous it is for us to place all our confidence in God than to depend upon our own strength.

Smith's Bible Commentary

Psalms 20:1-9 is to the chief musician also. It is a psalm of David.

The LORD hear thee in the day of trouble ( Psalms 20:1 );

Actually, Jehovah, "May Jehovah hear you in the day of trouble."

the name of the God of Jacob [which is Jehovah or Yahweh] defend thee; Send thee help from the sanctuary, and strengthen thee out of Zion; Remember all thy offerings, and accept thy burnt sacrifice ( Psalms 20:1-3 );

In other words, "May the Lord hear you, the name of the Lord, or Jehovah, the name of the God of Jacob defend you. May He send help and strengthen you, and remember, or take notice of all your offerings and accept your burnt sacrifices."

May he grant thee according to your own heart [that is, the desires of your heart], and fulfill all of your counsel. We will rejoice in thy salvation, and in the name of our God [Yahweh or Jehovah] we will set up our banners: for Jehovah fulfill all your requests. Now know I that Jehovah saves his anointed; he will hear him from his holy heaven with the saving strength of his right hand. Some trust in chariots, some in horses: but we will remember the name of Jehovah our God. They are brought down [those that are trusting in horses and chariots], and they are fallen: but [because we have trusted in the name of the Lord,] we are risen, and stand upright. Save, LORD: let the king hear us when we call ( Psalms 20:4-9 ). "

Dr. Constable's Expository Notes

Psalms 20

Before a battle with an enemy, David found encouragement in the intercession of his people to trust God for victory.

"This psalm gives a good example of what it means to intercede for another." [Note: Carl Armerding, Psalms in a Minor Key, p. 52.]

Dr. Constable's Expository Notes

2. The assurance of the king 20:6-8

Dr. Constable's Expository Notes

The king was sure of success. Often in the psalms the writers expressed strong confidence by describing an event yet future as already having taken place with the desired result, as here.

Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

They are brought down and fallen,.... These are they that rode in chariots and on horses, and trusted in them; who are brought down from their places of honour and safety; and fall, not into the hands of their enemies, and into a low and mean estate, but to the ground by death; as also such who, being like Capernaum, lifted up to heaven with their own outward attainments, and think to get thither by them, are brought down to hell, and fall into the pit of corruption;

but we are risen, and stand upright; who remember the name of the Lord, and trust in him; the church is sometimes in a very low and depressed condition; it consists of a poor and an afflicted people, and who are persecuted by men; so the church has been under the Heathen Roman emperors, and under the Papacy, and will be as long as she is in the wilderness, and the witnesses prophesy in sackcloth; and especially when they will be slain, and their bodies lie on the earth unburied; but these shall rise and stand upright, and ascend to heaven; there will be a glorious state of the church; there will be a reviving of the interest of Christ, through the bringing in the fulness and forces of the Gentiles, and the conversion of the Jews; the dry bones will live again, and stand upon their feet, an exceeding great army; in those days the righteous will flourish and have abundance of peace and prosperity. This may also include the first resurrection, which the saints will have a part in; the dead in Christ will rise first, and will stand before the Lord with confidence, and not be ashamed; when the ungodly shall not stand in judgment, nor sinners in, the congregation of the righteous; for though these words are expressed in the present tense, because of the certainty of them, they belong to future times; hence the following petitions.

Henry's Complete Commentary on the Bible

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

      Here is, I. Holy David himself triumphing in the interest he had in the prayers of good people (Psalms 20:6; Psalms 20:6): "Now know I (I that pen the psalm know it) that the Lord saveth his anointed, because he hath stirred up the hearts of the seed of Jacob to pray for him." Note, It bodes well to any prince and people, and may justly be taken as a happy presage, when God pours upon them a spirit of prayer. If he see us seeking him, he will be found of us; if he cause us to hope in his word, he will establish his word to us. Now that so many who have an interest in heaven are praying for him he doubts not but that God will hear him, and grant him an answer of peace, which will, 1. Take its rise from above: He will hear him from his holy heaven, of which the sanctuary was a type (Hebrews 9:23), from the throne he hath prepared in heaven, of which the mercy-seat was a type. 2. It shall take its effect here below: He will hear him with the saving strength of his right hand; he will give a real answer to his prayers, and the prayers of his friends for him, not by letter, nor by word of mouth, but, which is much better, by his right hand, by the saving strength of his right hand. He will make it to appear that he hears him by what he does for him.

      II. His people triumphing in God and their relation to him, and his revelation of himself to them, by which they distinguish themselves from those that live without God in the world. 1. See the difference between worldly people and godly people, in their confidences, Psalms 20:7; Psalms 20:7. The children of this world trust in second causes, and think all is well if those do but smile upon them; they trust in chariots and in horses, and the more of them they can bring into the field the more sure they are of success in their wars; probably David has here an eye to the Syrians, whose forces consisted much of chariots and horsemen, as we find in the history of David's victories over them, 2 Samuel 8:4; 2 Samuel 10:18. "But," say the Israelites, "we neither have chariots and horses to trust to nor do we want them, nor, if we had them, would we build our hopes of success upon that; but we will remember, and rely upon, the name of the Lord our God, upon the relation we stand in to him as the Lord our God and the knowledge we have of him by his name," that is, all that whereby he makes himself known; this we will remember and upon every remembrance of it will be encouraged. Note, those who make God and his name their praise may make God and his name their trust. 2. See the difference in the issue of their confidences and by that we are to judge of the wisdom of the choice; things are as they prove; see who will be ashamed of their confidence and who not, Psalms 20:8; Psalms 20:8. "Those that trusted in their chariots and horses are brought down and fallen, and their chariots and horses were so far from saving them that they helped to sink them, and made them the easier and the richer prey to the conqueror, 2 Samuel 8:4. But we that trust in the name of the Lord our God not only stand upright, and keep our ground, but have risen, and have got ground against the enemy, and have triumphed over them." Note, A believing obedient trust in God and his name is the surest way both to preferment and to establishment, to rise and to stand upright, and this will stand us in stead when creature-confidences fail those that depend upon them.

      III. They conclude their prayer for the king with a Hosanna, "Save, now, we beseech thee, O Lord!" Psalms 20:9; Psalms 20:9. As we read this verse, it may be taken as a prayer that God would not only bless the king, "Save, Lord, give him success," but that he would make him a blessing to them, "Let the king hear us when we call to him for justice and mercy." Those that would have good of their magistrates must thus pray for them, for they, as all other creatures, are that to us (and no more) which God makes them to be. Or it may refer to the Messiah, that King, that King of kings; let him hear us when we call; let him come to us according to the promise, in the time appointed; let him, as the great Master of requests, receive all our petitions and present them to the Father. But many interpreters give another reading of this verse, by altering the pause, Lord, save the king, and hear us when we call; and so it is a summary of the whole psalm and is taken into our English Liturgy; O Lord! save the king, and mercifully hear us when we call upon thee.

      In singing Psalms 20:6-9 we should encourage ourselves to trust in God, and stir up ourselves to pray earnestly, as we are in duty bound, for those in authority over us, that under them we may lead quiet and peaceable lives in all godliness and honesty.