Psalm 20/Notes/Lexical.v. 7.100890

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  • From his holy heaven (מִשְּׁמֵ֣י קָדְשֹׁ֑ו): The king is confident that YHWH will answer[1] from his holy heaven; i.e., from "the sacred place in which God resides, and from which He gives victory to his people."[2]
  • SDBH on mighty deeds: "Events that require the ability to accomplish great things through characteristics such as physical strength, power, bravery, skill, wealth, good character, or a combination thereof."
  • What it looks like for YHWH to grant victory is to execute more saving mighty deeds. Of his right hand[3] (יְמִינֽוֹ) refers to YHWH’s power and authority. The king knows he will need YHWH’s help to save him. He knows he will need mighty deeds. And he is confident YHWH will provide them.
  1. ↑ The requirement YHWH lay on the king was simply to ask for help, and then YHWH promised to respond. YHWH answers those who call to him (cf. Pss 3:4; 9:10; 18:3-6; 17:6-9; 34:16-18; 50:15; 86:7; 91:15; 99:6; 120:1; 2 Sam 22:4; Isa 58:9; etc.).
  2. ↑ Briggs 1906, 179. So Ross: "The dwelling place on Mount Zion represented God’s presence and suggested his condescension, but in the heavens was his throne (Ps 11:4)" (Ross 2011, 501). "References to God’s throne in heaven lend a royal quality to it, indicative both of the splendor of the place and the authority of the God who rules the universe from heaven" (DBI 1271).
  3. ↑ YHWH's right hand:
      • YHWH's right hand wins victory (cf. Ps 98:1).
      • YHWH's right hand is strong and victorious (cf. Ps 89:13).
      • YHWH saves those who seek refuge at his right hand (Ps 17:7).
      • YHWH's right hand >> strength: "It is the Lord’s right hand that becomes the hope and confidence of God’s people in time of need. Isaiah 41:10b explicitly conjoins strength and help to the instrumental usage of right hand, 'I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, surely, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.' See also Isa 41:13; Ps 18:35 [H 36]. In Isa 45:1 Cyrus of Persia is said to be 'taken by the right hand.' We understand this to mean that Cyrus’s right hand was strengthened by the Lord" (TWOT 1999, 382).