What is the meaning of Psalm 20:3?

May He remember

• The petition asks God to act in light of what He already knows—“remember” in Scripture often signals divine intervention (Genesis 8:1; Psalm 106:4).

• God’s memory is flawless; the phrase reassures the worshiper that past obedience has not gone unnoticed (Hebrews 6:10, “God is not unjust; He will not forget your work…”).

• When believers echo this prayer today, we are confidently asking the Lord to bring our faithfulness forward into present help (Malachi 3:16).

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all your gifts

• “Gifts” points to every voluntary offering, large or small, that was brought to the sanctuary (Proverbs 3:9).

• These gifts expressed gratitude and dependence; they were tangible acts of honoring the Lord (1 Chronicles 29:17).

• Because God weighs motives, the verse reminds us that sincere generosity is remembered eternally (Matthew 6:4).

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and look favorably

• Blessing flows when God’s face shines on His people (Numbers 6:25–26); “favor” is His active pleasure.

• The plea mirrors Abel’s accepted sacrifice, “The LORD looked with favor on Abel and his offering” (Genesis 4:4).

• Favor means more than acceptance—it brings protection, guidance, and victory, themes that surround Psalm 20 (Psalm 34:15; 5:12).

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on your burnt offerings

• Burnt offerings were wholly consumed, symbolizing total surrender (Leviticus 1:3–4).

• They sought atonement and wholehearted devotion, foreshadowing the complete sacrifice of Christ (Ephesians 5:2).

• By asking God to “look favorably,” worshipers anticipated fire from heaven or some confirming sign of acceptance (2 Chronicles 7:1).

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Selah

• A purposeful pause invites reflection:

– Consider God’s faithfulness to remember.

– Recall past gifts and sacrifices.

– Rest in His favor before moving on.

• Similar pauses in Psalm 3, 46, and 62 encourage the same heart-level absorption.

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summary

Psalm 20:3 voices a confident plea that God will actively honor every past act of worship. Each remembered gift, each wholehearted sacrifice, draws His favorable eye and sets the stage for present deliverance. The verse reassures believers that nothing offered to the Lord in faith ever slips from His memory; instead, He responds with favor that protects, guides, and blesses.