Biblical hermeneutics is the theory and study of biblical textual interpretation. It is with this strategy that I hope to more fully understand Psalm 20 so it may shape me rather than trying to shape The Bible into what I want. To help me, I have also chosen to read the same psalm in the ESV, NLT, NIV translations of The Bible. I have decided to focus my study on Psalm 20 because it is very close to me. A little over a year ago, my dorm prayer leader prayed for me as I was struggling to start my school year. As soon as we finished I went to my room and climbed into bed.
I was laying there, talking with my God when I so clearly heard Him say, “Psalm 20”. When I was done questioning its authenticity to make sure it was really Him, I grabbed my Bible and found comfort in His words. My heart was filled as His presence and listening ear were confirmed. So much of my growth during my freshman year was based on what this psalm confronts, but I had never looked very deeply into it. Through this opportunity, I will be able to go more in depth with it, really understanding its history and cultural meaning to its first hearers as well as how to translate it into how I live today.
I believe that in the process of hermeneutics, many lenses will be needed in order to gain a full perspective of its meaning and relevance at the time in which it was written and in our world today. One of these lenses includes that of historical context. I believe this was written while Philistia was in power along with King David. David is actually our author who is preparing to start a war against Syria. This is just after the return of the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem by David. Psalm 20 was specifically written to the director of music most likely to be sung by a choir upon a king’s coronation or a king’s departure for battle.
However, this was meant to reach many more. There are many suggestions that say David wrote this for himself, kings to come after him, and the people. It is a prayer for victory that anyone can relate to. In further reading, we find that psalm 21 gives thanks for that victory. Another necessary lens is that of literary context. In the genre of Psalms it’s better to think in psalms. This is why I am looking at the entire chapter 20 instead of sections or stories. They are most commonly songs and poems driven by emotion. This means they are not meant to be read completely literally as it’s littered with metaphors.
This often calls us to read with our hearts as well as our minds because they are meant to not only teach us but really reach us, too. Psalms are usually either individual or corporate. In this case, psalm 20 is corporate because it can be used within community for prayer and praise. Categories are also involved such as thanksgiving, joy, lament, and more. I would categorize this particular psalm as Royal/Enthronement mainly due to its most common use. Thinking in a certain way and categorizing them helps answer the question; what is the point of the emotion or metaphor being expressed?
It is in answering this question that we use our new lenses to analyze the biblical text. First, we understand that this is a prayer for victory which is later answered in Psalm 21. God is associated with triumph, so it only makes sense that as God’s presence is restored to them through the Ark of the Covenant, they would also prevail. God is with them. This would mean a lot to the people, but one of the reasons why is because of the emotions expressed in psalm 20. Amongst what is conveyed is a plea for victory, unity with God, faith, assurance, and the anticipation of joy.
These are declaring God’s kingdom and the attitude that should come with anyone wanting to truly be a part of it. The first hearers lived in an age where war and troubling times seemed to be a norm. This is telling them to go to God in their times of trouble because he is listening to their cries. The NLT’s verse 2 says, “May he send you help from his sanctuary and strengthen you from Jerusalem. ” This is showing how God is listening and His people are of the highest priority because His help is coming directly from the throne room. There are no loops to get to Him nor is His ear turned toward other problems.
One of the reasons this is important is because it’s showing that our God is a relational God which would have still been a fairly unique and new concept for the first hearers. Verse 3 further confirms this concept by making known God’s awareness of His children and their sacrifices for Him. Then verse 4 seems to bring up another concept. It says, “May he give you the desires of your heart and make all your plans succeed” (NIV). There is a sense that if one is in close relationship with God, He will give them new desires that will not fall, but triumph.
He will not set you up for failure, no matter if what is staring you down seems to be failure at the time. This connects to a larger idea within the psalm as well which is unity with God. Be so close to God that you offer your desires and plans to Him so that He may renew them. Verse 6 marks a transition. David now seems to possibly be speaking from experience. He expresses that he “knows” that when he trusts in God, he will triumph and find deliverance. Now, David is conveying that I told you to go to God when “you are in distress” (NIV.
Verse 1) because I know for a fact that He is trustworthy and delivers. He then calls them to a more complete trust in verse 7 that reads, “Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God” (NIV). They are not meant to lay their trust in anything but God. This is different from what everybody else is doing which I believe is another example of how they are also meant to be holy/set apart. It is in this trust, which causes their offering up of everything, that establishes the assurance of their futures and the coming rewards.
This can be taken as a call to faith and therefore it will not be easy; however, the rewards are great and guaranteed. Because of this, there is an anticipation for joy. Verse 5 says, “May we shout for joy over your salvation, and in the name of our God set up our banners! ” (ESV). It is certain that God is good and He saves, so they’re ready to rejoice when the time comes. By being able to understand the text in this way, it sounds as if I should trust God with all the desires and plans of my heart and have faith that triumph is coming and therefore so is rejoicing.
That I should rely on nothing but Him, rejecting the trust so many put in today’s technologies or other advancements. That I should go to Him anytime I find myself in suffering and know that He is listening. That I should pray according to His will so that He and I may find more unity within our desires together. That I should know when He places desires in my heart, He will fulfill them. That because I know all of these things, I should live a life that reflects them with prayer, faith, and trust. There’s be a lot of “should” ’s used.
I can most confidently say that is because what’s been stated include difficult and intimidating endeavors. I struggle to trust. Therefore I also struggle in wanting give everything I have, even that which is closest to my heart, to God. I think I usually like to section it off. As if He can have this part, but not this part. One of the things, I’ve learned in my walk with God thus far is that this offering and trust needs to be renewed. In the past, I have put my everything fully into God’s hands, but as life goes on more are added to the list of things in need of offering.
Each time we must choose to give and trust which is never easy for me. This psalm; however, works completely against all of the reasons I would not offer Him everything. I think I decline to trust most of the time because I am used to being on my own therefore I am the one who takes care of myself. The psalm expresses that God is listening, present, and active in my life. Which can also be hard for me to believe; that He would love me enough to be that attentive to my seemingly insignificant life in comparison.
There have also been times where I’ve felt God place desires in my heart that I feel may never be fulfilled. Yet, I have experienced the joy that comes when they are fulfilled and when God and I triumph together. I know that what David writes about our God is the truth. Sadly, in the hustle and bustle of life and the walls I tend to build, I begin to forget it. I know the many “should” ’s I should be learning from this, but because I feel like I have experienced them already I am ending this study with a personal challenge. It’s simply really; just remember.
Remember that God is with me through every broken bone and every great accomplishment. Remember that He is safe. Remember that, as my Father and husband, he will ensure my deliverance and triumph. Remember that He is my source of joy. Remember that the desires and dreams He places in my heart are good and are just waiting to be fulfilled. Remember that there were and are others like me who are struggling yet know when their trust is put in God, everything will be better than okay. Remember that I am royalty. On numerous occasions, God has spoken to me as if I am a princess.
It’s a call to leadership that I’ve wanted to run from. Because of the royalty incorporated in this psalm it touches that side of me. It was meant for God’s royal warriors and whether I like it or not I think I am one of them. So, I will keep His word close to my heart and humbly pick up my armor ready for any battle because He is trustworthy. I will do my best to remember that battles can seem constant, but God is constant; constant in being present, loving, listening, answering, protecting, providing, and worthy of my trust.
