Read & explore together
The Day of Trouble
Psalm 20 is a prayer-song for a day of trouble. It asks Yahweh to help, support and save, and it contrasts trust in military strength with trust in the name of Yahweh.
Understanding the passage
Read these words in context
This passage is presented as poetry and song. In these verses, speakers pray for Yahweh to answer, help and accept offerings, then express confidence that Yahweh saves his anointed. The psalm ends with a direct cry for Yahweh to save and answer when called.
Psalms 20:1–9Main takeaway
Psalm 20 teaches that in trouble, God’s people ask Yahweh for help and place their trust in his saving power rather than human strength.
Explore the poem and its images
Open a card to explore the full explanation and its Bible references.
01A prayer for helpThe psalm opens with repeated requests: may Yahweh answer, protect, help and support. “The day of trouble” shows need, and “the name of the God of Jacob” points to who God is.
Explanation
The psalm opens with repeated requests: may Yahweh answer, protect, help and support. “The day of trouble” shows need, and “the name of the God of Jacob” points to who God is. Help is asked for “from the sanctuary” and support “from Zion”, keeping the prayer centred on Yahweh.
02Requests joined with worshipThe prayer includes worship as well as rescue. The singers ask God to remember offerings and accept a burnt sacrifice.
Explanation
The prayer includes worship as well as rescue. The singers ask God to remember offerings and accept a burnt sacrifice. Then they ask him to grant the heart’s desire and fulfil counsel. In this psalm, prayer is not only about danger, but also about bringing requests before God.
03Confidence shared by the groupThe voice shifts to “we”. The people say they will triumph in God’s salvation and set up banners in God’s name.
Explanation
The voice shifts to “we”. The people say they will triumph in God’s salvation and set up banners in God’s name. This is followed by confidence: “Now I know that Yahweh saves his anointed.” The saving strength comes from Yahweh’s “right hand” and from his “holy heaven”.
04Trust in Yahweh, not in chariotsThe clearest contrast comes near the end. Some trust in chariots and horses, but the singers trust in the name of Yahweh.
Explanation
The clearest contrast comes near the end. Some trust in chariots and horses, but the singers trust in the name of Yahweh. The result is also contrasted: “They are bowed down and fallen, but we rise up, and stand upright.” The psalm closes with another direct call for Yahweh to save and answer.
Questions to explore
Pause, look back at the verses and talk together.
01What does the psalm ask Yahweh to do in the day of trouble?
List the requests in the opening verses, such as answer, set you up on high, send help and grant support.
02How does the psalm connect prayer with worship?
Notice that the prayer mentions offerings and sacrifice before speaking about heart’s desire and requests.
03What contrast does the psalm make about trust, and what different outcomes follow?
Compare those who trust in chariots and horses with those who trust in the name of Yahweh, then observe the different results.
Read the Bible passage
World English Bible ClassicScripture quotation · Public domain
Psalms 20:1–9
1May Yahweh answer you in the day of trouble. May the name of the God of Jacob set you up on high,
2send you help from the sanctuary, grant you support from Zion,
3remember all your offerings, and accept your burned sacrifice. Selah.
4May he grant you your heart’s desire, and fulfill all your counsel.
5We will triumph in your salvation. In the name of our God, we will set up our banners. May Yahweh grant all your requests.
6Now I know that Yahweh saves his anointed. He will answer him from his holy heaven, with the saving strength of his right hand.
7Some trust in chariots, and some in horses, but we trust in the name of Yahweh our God.
8They are bowed down and fallen, but we rise up, and stand upright.
9Save, Yahweh! Let the King answer us when we call!