Psalm 20 is classified as a royal psalm. A possible context: Israel faces a trial, perhaps an attack from an enemy, and the people pray for the Davidic king. They believe that the God of Jacob, who delivered Jacob in times of trial (Gen 35:3), would also help their king in leading Israel to victory (Ps 20:1-5).
They know that it is in God, who rules the whole universe "from his holy heaven" (v 6), who is in charge. So their trust is in him rather than in the size of their military force (v 7).
There are different ways to apply this psalm outside the context of Israel's theocracy. The Davidic king is a forerunner of the Messiah. Today we pray for the victory of the Messiah and the success and growth of the Kingdom of God. The "day of trouble" can be any time of distress, including the prophetic Great Tribulation.
In Jewish tradition this is a psalm that is prayed for a pregnant woman as she approaches the time of labor. One sage pointed out that the psalm has 9 verses, representing the 9 months of a pregnancy.
Of course the Great Tribulation mentioned above is likened in Jer 30:6-7 to a time of labor and is referred to in Messianic circles as the "birth pangs of the Messiah."
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