The Book of Psalms
Psalm 21
Psalm XXI · Vol. II, p. 998
1 A thanksgiving for victory. 7 Confidence of further success.
To the chief musician, A psalm of David.
1 The kinga shall joy in thy strength,1 O LORD; and bin thy salvation how greatly shall he rejoice!2
a Ps.72.1; 20.6; 28.7; 99.4,7,8. Is.50.7,9.
1 This was fulfilled, when he that was crucified in weakness was raised in power, Ep.1.19,20. 2 Co.13.4.—C.
b Ps.13.5,6; 118.14. He.12.2. Is.53.10-12.
2 Ps. xx. was intended to be sung by a devoted and faithful people before battle; this psalm was designed to give expression to their feelings of gratitude and joy for victory achieved. The Lord had heard the prayers offered up; he had overthrown their foes; and now they unite in a song of thanksgiving.—P.
3 Ford thou preventest him with the blessings of goodness: thou settest a crown of pure gold on his head.4
d 1 Sa.16.13. 2 Sa.2.4; 5.3. Ps.45.3. Ac.2.28. He.2.9. Ca.3.11.
4 This may be intended to set forth figuratively the victory obtained by the monarch; he was crowned with triumph; or it may have originally indicated some such real event as is recorded in 2 Sa. 12. 30, when David, having conquered Rabbah, 'took their king's crown from off his head, and it was set on David's head.—P.
6 Forh thou hast made him most blessedi for ever: thou hast jmade him exceeding glad with thy countenance.
9 Thoum shalt make them as a fiery oven in the time of thine anger: the LORD shall swallow them up in his wrath, and the fire shall devour them.
m De.32.22. Mal.4.1. Mat.21.41,44; 22.7; 23.33-39; 24.2-51; 25.30,41,46. Lu.19.27,42-44; 21.6-26; 23.28-30. 1 Th.2.16. Re.vi.viii.ix.xiv.xvi.-xx. 2 Th.2.8,9. Ps.2.1-5,9. Pr.1.25-29. Job xviii.xx.xxii. Is.3.11; 26.11.
10 Theirn fruit shalt thou destroy from the earth, and their seed from among the children of men.
n Ps.37.28.
11 For they intended evil against thee: they imagined a mischievous device, owhich they are not able to perform.
A.M. cir. 2968. B.C. cir. 1030.
o Ps.2.1,4.
Notes
Ver. 3. Pure gold, the emblem of kingly power over the world, and in the church, that 'crown of righteousness' which Jesus won, and which through his grace believers receive, 2 Ti. 4. 8. C.
Ver. 8. At this point the address of the church is generally represented as turning directly to Messiah the Son of God. But there appears no good reason for this supposed change, which neither the grammar of the passage nor parallel scriptures require. Does it not rather appear an address to the Father who has seated, at his right hand, his beloved Son until he shall have put all things under his feet, and destroyed even the last of his enemies? 1 Co. 15. 24-28. C.
Ver. 11. Mischievous device. The mischievous devices both of Jews and Gentiles against the 'mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ,' Col. 2. 2. C.
Reflections.—Chiefly, my soul, behold here the everlasting honours, joys, happiness, and blissful influences of thy Redeemer! Behold how fixed is his kingdom and dignity in the infinite, everlasting, and unchangeable wisdom, power, mercy, equity, goodness, and truth of the Most High! Behold the inexpressible judgment which kindles upon and destroys his Jewish—his heathen—his antichristian—and other incorrigible enemies! But rejoice, my soul, in this God thy Saviour. Rejoice at the glory with which he is crowned—at the life granted to and lodged in him; and in his being made blessings for evermore to men—blessings for evermore to me! And let the ruinous overthrow of his Jewish or other enemies, make me to stand in awe of provoking him, by presumptuous refusals of him, or by rebellion against him. Rich is that salvation secured by him—honourable and lasting in its benefits! God gives exceedingly above what we can ask or think! Crowns, and all other enjoyments, are God's gifts to men! All affliction or destruction of persons or nations is generally, as history proves, the reward of their sin. And the ruin of the wicked, or those who reject Jesus Christ, is but the reward of their own sin.