About the Story Behind Layer

The Story behind the Psalm shows how each part of the psalm fits together into a single coherent whole. Whereas most semantic analysis focuses on discrete parts of a text such as the meaning of a word or phrase, Story Behind the Psalm considers the meaning of larger units of discourse, including the entire psalm. (Click 'Expand' to the right for more information.)

The goal of this layer is to reconstruct and visualise a mental representation of the text as the earliest hearers/readers might have conceptualised it. We start by identifying the propositional content of each clause in the psalm, and then we identify relevant assumptions implied by each of the propositions. During this process, we also identify and analyse metaphorical language (“imagery”). Finally, we try to see how all of the propositions and assumptions fit together to form a coherent mental representation. The main tool we use for structuring the propositions and assumptions is a story triangle, which visualises the rise and fall of tension within a semantic unit. Although story triangles are traditionally used to analyse stories in the literary sense of the word, we use them at this layer to analyse “stories” in the cognitive sense of the word—i.e., a story as a sequence of propositions and assumptions that has tension.

Story Behind Visuals for Psalm 20

Summary Triangle

The story triangle below summarises the story of the whole psalm. We use the same colour scheme as in Participant Analysis. The star icon along the edge of the story-triangle indicates the point of the story in which the psalm itself (as a speech event) takes place. We also include a theme at the bottom of the story. The theme is the main message conveyed by the story-behind.

Background ideas

Following are the common-ground assumptionsCommon-ground assumptions include information shared by the speaker and hearers. In our analysis, we mainly use this category for Biblical/Ancient Near Eastern background. which are the most helpful for making sense of the psalm.

Help in the day of trouble - The root עזר (help) commonly denotes military aid (cf. 2 Chron. 14:10; 18:31; 32:8; Pss. 109:26; 124:8), so its presence in Ps. 20 suggests that the king needs divine assistance in battle (TWOT).
YHWH made a covenant with David and his descendants, promising to rescue them from their enemies when they called to him for help (cf. 2 Sam. 7; Pss. 2:8; 4:4; etc.).
The "anointed one" was afforded special favor and protection from God (1 Sam. 2:10; Ps. 28:8; Hab. 3:13). Because kings were typically anointed with oil for the task of ruling over Israel (Ps. 2:2; 45:7), the designation "anointed one" is often used to refer to the king.
Victory belongs to YHWH (Pss. 3:9; 33:16-17; Deut. 20:1), not to the army with the strongest military. "The horse is made ready for the day of battle, but the victory belongs to the Lord" (Prov. 21:31, ESV).
The king is supposed to trust in YHWH, not in chariots and horses (cf. Deut. 17:14-18; Isa. 30:16; 31:1-3).

Background situation

The background situation is the series of events leading up to the time in which the psalm is spoken. These are taken from the story triangle – whatever lies to the left of the star icon.

Expanded paraphrase

The expanded paraphrase seeks to capture the implicit information within the text and make it explicit for readers today. It is based on the CBC translation and uses italic text to provide the most salient background information, presuppositions, entailments, and inferences.

(For more information, click "Expanded Paraphrase Legend" below.)

Expanded paraphrase legend
Close but Clear (CBC) translation	The CBC, our close but clear translation of the Hebrew, is represented in bold text.
Assumptions	Assumptions which provide background information, presuppositions, entailments, and inferences are represented in italics.

v. 1

For the director. A psalm by David.

v. 2

As a battle approaches, and the king prepares to lead his army in battle, the people address the king and pray on his behalf: May YHWH answer you, king, on the day of trouble! For YHWH is known to answer in times of trouble. May the name of the God of Jacob protect you as YHWH protected our ancestor Jacob on the day of his trouble! YHWH has also promised to protect his people.

v. 3

May he send you help from his earthly dwelling place, the sanctuary and sustain you from Zion, where the sanctuary is located!

v. 4

You have offered sacrifices to YHWH before the battle as a way of seeking his favor, as it is appropriate for kings to do. May he remember every offering of yours and accept your burnt offering (i.e. , may he show you favor in the troublesome time! Selah.

v. 5

May he give you that which is according to your heart’s desire, (i.e., victory, and may he fulfill your whole plan for the battle! In other words, may YHWH reward your dependence on him.

v. 6

When you are victorious in battle, the whole kingdom will flourish, and so we, your people, want you to achieve victory. May we shout for joy over your victory against our enemies, and in the name of our God may we array ourselves with banners! The banners will symbolize our submission to YHWH as well as his leadership and protection of us. We will raise these banners in celebration of the victory YHWH will win for us. Then, everyone will see that we are YHWH's people and he is our God. May YHWH fulfill all your requests!

v. 7

After the king and the people have both called to YHWH, the king has confidence to say: Now, I know that even though the battle has yet to start, YHWH will deliver his anointed because he promises to answer those who call on him. And so I will proclaim: YHWH has granted victory to his anointed king. This means I am confident that I will win in the upcoming battle. The help that YHWH provides is better than any earthly means of achieving victory. He himself is the source of all power and authority, and he dispenses his power from his holy heaven. He YHWH will answer him the anointed king from the seat of his power, his holy heavens. Indeed, he will answer with the saving mighty deeds of his right hand. YHWH's right hand symbolizes his power, and he saves those who seek refuge at his right hand.

v. 8

YHWH has proven to his people that victory belongs to him (Prov. 21:31). Therefore, they say: Some [boast] in chariotry and others [boast] in horses, but we will boast in the name of YHWH our God. Horses and chariots are prestigious weapons of war. They demonstrate wealth and military might, and they are vastly superior to ordinary infantry. Nevertheless, YHWH's king is instructed to not be fooled by the visible might of horses and chariots, but is able to depend on YHWH alone for victory.

v. 9

This is what we have seen as the pattern until now: They who trusted in horses and chariots have collapsed and fallen but we have risen and stood upright. We are confident this pattern will continue, now.

v. 10

YHWH, grant victory to the king in the coming battle! We call on the name of YHWH to bring us victory. May he YHWH answer us on the day of our calling!

Psalm 20 Story behind the Psalm