Psalms 20:7

"Some trust in chariots, and some in horses;

But we will make mention of Jehovah our God.

They are bowed down and fallen;

But we are risen and stand upright.

Save, Jehovah:

Let the King answer us when we call."

Again, all the people take up the vocal declamation of this psalm in the last three verses.

"Some trust in chariots, etc." (Psalms 20:7). "Men who put their trust in chariots, horses and weapons of war and do not rely on the name of the Lord will surely be brought down."[12]

In all ages, it has been God who rules among the kingdoms of men and exalts over them whosoever is pleasing to Him (Daniel 4:25). Many an army equipped with the most advanced weapons of the day has fallen before far inferior forces, because it was the will of God. Biblical examples of this are the armies of Pharaoh in the Red Sea, and that of Sennacherib before the walls of Jerusalem, which "melted like snow in the glance of the Lord," as stated in Byron's immortal poem.

As noted above, this reference to Israel's not having chariots and horses is applicable only to the times prior to Solomon who vastly multiplied such instruments of ancient warfare.

Also, as Watkinson observed, "It was this attitude that nerved the youthful David in his victorious combat with Goliath (1 Samuel 17:45)."[13] The evident reference to that event, implicit in these words, also strongly favors the Davidic authorship of the psalm, concerning which Rawlinson said, "There is no reason to doubt the Davidic authorship, asserted in the title and admitted by most critics."[14]

"They are bowed down and fallen ... we are ... upright" (Psalms 20:8). This means merely that the enemy shall be defeated and humiliated and that Israel shall be triumphant and exalted.

"Save, Jehovah: Let the King answer us when we call." Dummelow favored the LLX rendition of this, which has, "O Lord, save the king: and answer us when we call."[15] However, we prefer the ASV, especially when the word "King" is capitalized, thus recognizing the Lord as the true King of Israel.

"In the Bible, assurance never breeds complacency, but rather offers grounds for urgent prayer and calling upon God to save."[16] The great assurance of Psalms 20:8, indicated by the use of the prophetic perfect tense, suggests that the war is already over and that victory has been won; but that was not the case. The prophecy was true, all right, and victory did come; but the people did not neglect to continue their crying out to God in supplication and prayers.