God is the divine Deliverer who hears His people’s calls.
In Psalm 20:9, David concludes his prayer with the plea, “Save, O LORD; May the King answer us in the day we call.” (v.9) King David, who reigned over Israel from roughly 1010 BC to 970 BC, expresses confidence that God is the ultimate Sovereign who responds to the cries of His people. His final words firmly place the hope of salvation in the hands of the LORD, recognizing that no earthly strength or resource could ever compare. David’s position in history, alongside the formation and unification of Israel, gives weight to this psalm as an appeal to the God who had already proven faithful through the covenant promises given to Abraham and sustained through the leadership of Moses and Joshua.
The phrase “Save, O LORD” (v.9) is both a short exclamation and an earnest, desperate prayer. David acknowledges that deliverance comes from God alone. He also portrays God as the true King, higher than any earthly ruler. When David says, “May the King answer us in the day we call” (v.9), he bridges his request for protection with humility and reverence. Centuries later, Jesus is revealed as the fulfillment of the promise of the eternal King (Luke 1:32-33), connecting the hopes of David’s age to the Messiah in the New Testament.
This call for salvation portrays a timeless relationship of dependence on God. That reliance carries over to believers today—when faced with trials, the faithful can echo David’s words, looking to the Lord to be their Protector and Warrior. Whether on a battlefield, a storm of daily struggle, or even a moment of quiet need, the cry “Save, O LORD” (v.9) is still as relevant and powerful as when David first spoke it.
Set to dark mode
Psalms 20:9 meaning
In Psalm 20:9, David concludes his prayer with the plea, “Save, O LORD; May the King answer us in the day we call.” (v.9) King David, who reigned over Israel from roughly 1010 BC to 970 BC, expresses confidence that God is the ultimate Sovereign who responds to the cries of His people. His final words firmly place the hope of salvation in the hands of the LORD, recognizing that no earthly strength or resource could ever compare. David’s position in history, alongside the formation and unification of Israel, gives weight to this psalm as an appeal to the God who had already proven faithful through the covenant promises given to Abraham and sustained through the leadership of Moses and Joshua.
The phrase “Save, O LORD” (v.9) is both a short exclamation and an earnest, desperate prayer. David acknowledges that deliverance comes from God alone. He also portrays God as the true King, higher than any earthly ruler. When David says, “May the King answer us in the day we call” (v.9), he bridges his request for protection with humility and reverence. Centuries later, Jesus is revealed as the fulfillment of the promise of the eternal King (Luke 1:32-33), connecting the hopes of David’s age to the Messiah in the New Testament.
This call for salvation portrays a timeless relationship of dependence on God. That reliance carries over to believers today—when faced with trials, the faithful can echo David’s words, looking to the Lord to be their Protector and Warrior. Whether on a battlefield, a storm of daily struggle, or even a moment of quiet need, the cry “Save, O LORD” (v.9) is still as relevant and powerful as when David first spoke it.