1 May the Lord give ear to you in the day of trouble; may you be placed on high by the name of the God of Jacob;
Eusebius of Caesarea · AD 339 This entire psalm voices a prayer as spoken by holy people to the person of Christ. For since for our sakes and on our behalf he received insult when he became man, we are taught to join our prayers with his as he prays and supplicates the Father on our behalf, as one who repels both visible and invisible attacks against us.
Cassiodorus · AD 585 By saying "in the day of tribulation," he indicates a time of the most severe affliction in which we entreat the Lord with an intense longing.
Thomas Aquinas · AD 1274 In the preceding Psalms he treated of liberation from persecution and gave thanks for the liberation; here, however, having been liberated, or standing in hope of liberation, he asks to be promoted to greater things. This Psalm, therefore, is divided into two parts. In the first part, a petition for exaltation is set forth.
2 May he send you help from the holy place, and give you strength from Zion;
Augustine of Hippo · AD 430 "Send You help from the Holy, and from Sion defend You" [Psalm 20:2]. Making for You a sanctified Body, the Church, from watching safe, which waits when You shall come from the wedding.
Thomas Aquinas · AD 1274 The second cause: "May he send you help from the sanctuary," that is, from the assembly of the saints. And there is a twofold assembly of the saints. One reigning with God in glory; the other fighting on earth; and from both we are helped, because the Angels intercede for us: 1 Jn. 2: "We have an advocate," namely, the assembly of Angels: Rev.
3 May he keep all your offerings in mind, and be pleased with the fat of your burned offerings; (Selah.)
Augustine of Hippo · AD 430 "Be mindful of all Your sacrifice" [Psalm 20:3]. Make us mindful of all Your injuries and despiteful treatment, which You have borne for us. "And be Your whole burnt offering made fat." And turn the cross, whereon You were wholly offered up to God, into the joy of the resurrection.
Thomas Aquinas · AD 1274 The third cause is that one's works may be pleasing to God; hence he says, "May he be mindful of all your sacrifice." Every good work is like a sacrifice, because all things ought to be offered to God: 1 Cor. 10: "Do all things for the glory of God." Therefore all our works are a sacrifice in a certain way: whether almsgiving -- Heb.
4 May he give you your heart's desire, and put all your purposes into effect.
Augustine of Hippo · AD 430 "Diapsalma." The Lord render to Thee according to Thine Heart" (ver. 4). The Lord render to Thee, not according to their heart, who thought by persecution they could destroy Thee; but according to Thine Heart, wherein Thou knewest what profit Thy passion would have.
Bonaventure · AD 1257 The third counsel is that by which we are made ready to pursue what is lawful, what is fitting, and what is expedient according to the exercise of virtuous operation. What you have well conceived in mind, you may bring to completion in deed.
Thomas Aquinas · AD 1274 "May he grant." Above, the Psalmist asked in prayer for promotion to good, which is the outwardly desired good; here he asks for that good which is inwardly sought: and concerning this he does two things. First he asks that what he requests be fulfilled. Second he sets forth the reason, at "We shall rejoice." Concerning the first he does two things.
5 We will be glad in your salvation, and in the name of our God we will put up our flags: may the Lord give you all your requests.
Evagrius Ponticus · AD 399 People rejoice in riches, or in glory or in nobility of birth, but the righteous in the salvation of God.
Augustine of Hippo · AD 430 "We will exult in Your salvation" [Psalm 20:5]. We will exult in that death will in no wise hurt You; for so You will also show that it cannot hurt us either. "And in the name of the Lord our God will we be magnified." And the confession of Your name shall not only not destroy us, but shall even magnify us.
Thomas Aquinas · AD 1274 "We shall rejoice." Here the reason for being heard is set forth. God gladly gives good things to those who share them with others: 1 Pet. 4: "Administering it to one another." And therefore the reason for being heard is when the good that is sought ought to be shared with others.
6 Now am I certain that the Lord gives salvation to his king; he will give him an answer from his holy heaven with the strength of salvation in his right hand.
Augustine of Hippo · AD 430 Sometimes people run off to a mountain to pray, as though God will be able to hear them better from there. Do you want to make contact with God in your prayer? Humble yourself. But again, just because I have said, "Do you want to make contact with God?
Cassiodorus · AD 585 The salvation which he established is recognized as our power when it is neither diminished by diseases nor injured by pains. Such a salvation makes us powerful, since it protects us within its eternal existence.
Thomas Aquinas · AD 1274 "Now I know." Here the hope of being heard is set forth, and he says: considering that from your good we shall be multiplied, "now I know that the Lord has saved his Christ"; so that it may be understood either of Christ, through whom many have been saved, or of David, whom he saved by predestination. "Now," as if "from now" before it happens: 1 Pet.
7 Some put their faith in carriages and some in horses; but we will be strong in the name of the Lord our God.
Augustine of Hippo · AD 430 "Some in chariots, and some in horses" [Psalm 20:7]. Some are drawn away by the ever moving succession of temporal goods; and some are preferred to proud honours, and in them exult: "But we will exult in the name of the Lord our God." But we, fixing our hope on things eternal, and not seeking our own glory, will exult in the name of the Lord our God.
Cassiodorus · AD 585 Among the ancients there were two types of triumphs: a greater one having to do with chariots, which was called a laureled triumph; the other, a lesser triumph, was called an ovation. But leaving such things to worldly people, he affirms that he has been exalted in the name of the Lord.
Thomas Aquinas · AD 1274 Consequently he sets forth the proof of this power. And first he sets forth the diversity of trust and glory among men. Second he sets forth the outcome for both, at "They have been bound." For there is a twofold kind of men. Some place all their hope in secular power: against whom it is said, Jer. 17: "Cursed is the man who trusts in man": Ps.
8 They are bent down and made low; but we have been lifted up.
Eusebius of Caesarea · AD 339 They say these things will happen in the time of the advent of that Savior. Then all the powers of the adversaries and those hidden and secret enemies of God who have turned their backs on the Savior will be laid low. All who receive that Savior will rise from the first fall.
Arnobius the Younger · AD 460 We will rise upright as others are collapsing, because our King is saved, and arising from the dead he ascends into the heavens, and as he sits on the right hand of God the Father he hears us in the day we call him. To him be glory forever. Amen.
Thomas Aquinas · AD 1274 "They." Here the diverse outcome is set forth, which is the outcome of the wicked. Jerome has "bowed down," and then it is clear, because bowing down is the way to falling, and so the power of the world gradually fails. Or "bound," because temporal goods bind, and especially sinners: Wis.
9 Come to our help, Lord: let the king give ear to our cry.
Augustine of Hippo · AD 430 "O Lord, save the King:" that He, who in His Passion hath shown us an example of conflict, should also offer up our sacrifices, the Priest raised from the dead, and established in heaven. "And hear us in the day when we shall call on Thee" (ver. 9). And as He now offereth for us, "hear us in the day when we shall call on Thee."
Thomas Aquinas · AD 1274 "O Lord." The conclusion of this entire Psalm is set forth: which indeed seems to tend to two things. For it petitions either for the true Christ or for Christ figuratively. As to the first he says, "O Lord, save the king," that is, Christ. Or for David. And so he prays for those who are praying. "Hear us on the day when we shall call upon you": Ps.