1The Lord hear thee in the day of trouble; the name of the God of Jacob defend thee;
2Send thee help from the sanctuary, and strengthen thee out of Zion;
3Remember all thy offerings, and accept thy burnt sacrifice; Selah.
4Grant thee according to thine own heart, and fulfil all thy counsel.
5We will rejoice in thy salvation, and in the name of our God we will set up our banners: the Lord fulfil all thy petitions.
6Now know I that the Lord saveth his anointed; he will hear him from his holy heaven with the saving strength of his right hand.
7Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the Lord our God.
8They are brought down and fallen: but we are risen, and stand upright.
9Save, Lord: let the king hear us when we call.
📖 Chapter study
Summary
The people pray for their king before a battle, asking God to protect him and grant victory, affirming that Israel's trust is in the name of the Lord, not in chariots or horses.
Explanation
This is a communal liturgical psalm, likely sung before the king went out to war, with the people interceding for him. The line 'some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the Lord' contrasts the military might of neighboring nations (war chariots and cavalry were cutting-edge technology at the time) with Israel's trust in God Himself. The application for today: when facing challenges that seem to demand 'weaponry' (resources, connections, power), the Bible invites us to remember that true security comes from a source greater than any material advantage.
Fun facts
- War chariots were the most advanced military technology in the ancient Near East — for a long time, Israel had no cavalry of its own comparable to Egypt's or Assyria's, making trust 'in the name of the Lord' a genuine contrast in military power.
- This psalm is generally classified as a 'royal psalm' because, together with Psalm 21 (immediately following), it formed a pair used in ceremonies involving the king of Judah.