psalm 20 chiastic structure

Read Psalm 20 at Bible Gateway.

Psalm 20 Hebrew paragraph divisions:

For the Leader. A Psalm of David.
Psa 20:1 May the Lord answer you in the day of trouble; May the name of the God of Jacob set you up on high;
Psa 20:2 May He send you help from the sanctuary, And strengthen you out of Zion;
Psa 20:3 May He remember all your offerings, And accept your burnt sacrifice. Selah
Psa 20:4 May He grant you according to your heart’s desire, And fulfill all your purpose.
Psa 20:5a We will rejoice in your salvation, And in the name of our God we will set up our banners! {n}
Psa 20:5b May the Lord fulfill all your petitions.
Psa 20:6a Now I know that the Lord saves His anointed; {n}
Psa 20:6b He will answer him from His holy heaven With the saving strength of His right hand.
Psa 20:7a Some trust in chariots, and some in horses; {n}
Psa 20:7b But we will remember the name of the Lord our God.
Psa 20:8 They have bowed down and fallen; But we have risen and stand upright.
Psa 20:9 Save, Lord! May the King answer us when we call. {p}

Psalm 20 chiastic structure:

1a) Psa 20:1a, May the Lord answer you in the day of trouble;

1b) Psa 20:1b-3, Salvation in the name of the Lord + help from the sanctuary + strength out of Zion:

1) Psa 20:1b, May the name of the God of Jacob set you up on high;
2) Psa 20:2, May He send you help from the sanctuary, And strengthen you out of Zion;
3) Psa 20:3, May He remember all your offerings, And accept your burnt sacrifice. Selah;

1c) Psa 20:4, May He grant you according to your heart’s desire, And fulfill all your purpose;

central axis) Psa 20:5a {n} We will rejoice in your salvation, and in the name of our God we will set up our banners!

2c) Psa 20:5b, May the Lord fulfill all your petitions;

2b) Psa 20:6-8, Salvation in the name of the Lord + answer from heaven + strength of His right hand:

3) Psa 20:6a, Now I know that the Lord saves His anointed; {n}
2) Psa 20:6b, He will answer him from His holy heaven with the saving strength of His right hand;
1) Psa 20:7-8, Contrast: Those who trust in their own strength vs. those who trust in God:

1.1) Psa 20:7a, Some trust in chariots, and some in horses; {n}
2.1) Psa 20:7b, But we will remember the name of the Lord our God;
1.2) Psa 20:8a, They have bowed down and fallen;
2.2) Psa 20:8b, But we have risen and stand upright;

2a) Psa 20:9, Save, Lord! May the King answer us when we call. {p}

I was fascinated by the way the B pair was composed of 3 points; but in the 2B pair those points were repeated in reverse order, just as they are in chiastic structures. I have seen this before in Scripture.

The B.1 point reveals that it is the name of the God of Jacob which sets us up on high. The NKJV says “defend” here, but the Hebrew is to set upright on high. As we remember the name of the Lord our God, we arise and stand upright. What is it about remembering the name of God that accomplishes salvation and causes us to stand up instead of to fall down?

The Lord’s personal name is YHVH, Yehovah. When He sent Moses to command Pharaoh to let the children of Israel go from serving in Egypt, He revealed that He would do wonders so that Pharaoh could learn what “I am YHVH” means (Exo 7:5). In short, “I am YHVH” means I am He who delivers from bondage, who redeems from slavery and the kingdom of darkness, who takes a people who were no people, and makes them the people of the Lord God, I am He who gives life for death, hope and a future for despair and a broken past. I am He who makes a distinction between Myself and the world, I am He who has both the authority and the ability to work wonders, to bring destruction to the ungodly but salvation to the those who trust in Me. I am Ruler and King above Pharaoh, and all kings, and above all gods who are no gods at all. When we remember these things about YHVH, the God we love and serve, we rise up and stand upright, for God responds to faith and trust in Him. ♥