INTRODUCTION TO PSALM 21 TO THE CHIEF MUSICIAN, A PSALM OF DAVID. This psalm was either written by David; and therefore called a "psalm of David"; or it was written, as it may be rendered, "for David", by some other person, on account of his victories and triumphs; or rather "concerning David" s; t... [ Continue Reading ]
THE KING SHALL JOY IN THY STRENGTH, O LORD,.... Either in that strength which is in Jehovah himself, in whom is everlasting strength; and which is seen in the works of creation and providence, and is the same in Christ himself, as he is the mighty God; or else in the strength which Jehovah communica... [ Continue Reading ]
THOU HAST GIVEN HIM HIS HEART'S DESIRE,.... Which the church had prayed for in Psalms 20:4; whatever Christ's heart desired, or his lips requested, has been given him; AND HAST NOT WITHHOLDEN THE REQUEST OF HIS LIPS. Whatever he asked in the council and covenant of peace was granted; he asked for a... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR THOU PREVENTEST HIM WITH THE BLESSINGS OF GOODNESS,.... Not temporal, but spiritual blessings, which spring from the grace and goodness of God, and consist of it; and relate to the spiritual and eternal welfare of those for whose sake he receives them, and who are blessed with them in him: his b... [ Continue Reading ]
HE ASKED LIFE OF THEE, [AND] THOU GAVEST [IT] HIM,.... Both for himself, as man, when he was about to die, that he might be raised to life again, which was granted him; and for his people, that they might live spiritually and eternally, and accordingly life is given to him for them; and he has power... [ Continue Reading ]
HIS GLORY [IS] GREAT IN THY SALVATION,.... That is, the glory of the King Messiah is great in the Lord's salvation of him; delivering him from all his troubles and sorrows, and out of the hands of all his enemies, when he was raised from the dead, and was set at the right hand of God, and crowned wi... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR THOU HAST MADE HIM MOST BLESSED FOR EVER,.... Not as God, for as such he is over all blessed for ever, and not made so; but as man and Mediator; the words may be rendered, "thou hast set him to be blessings for ever" z; which design the blessings which are laid up in Christ for his people, and w... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR THE KING TRUSTETH IN THE LORD,.... That is, the King Messiah, as the Targum paraphrases it; he trusted in the Lord for his support and sustenance as man, for assistance and help in his time of trouble, and for deliverance out of it; he trusted in the Lord that he would hear him for himself, and... [ Continue Reading ]
THINE HAND SHALL FIND OUT ALL THINE ENEMIES,.... The Jews, that would not have him to reign over them, who crucified him and persecuted his apostles; the Gentiles, who were also concerned in his death; the Roman emperors, who persecuted the Christians, and are signified by the red dragon that waited... [ Continue Reading ]
THOU SHALT MAKE THEM AS A FIERY OVEN,.... Some think the allusion is to David's causing the Ammonites to pass through the brick kiln, 2 Samuel 12:31; others to the burning of Sodom and Gomorrah: it represents what a severe punishment shall be inflicted on the enemies of Christ; they shall be cast in... [ Continue Reading ]
THEIR FRUIT SHALL THOU DESTROY FROM THE EARTH,.... Meaning the offspring of wicked men; the fruit of the womb, Psalms 127:3; the same with their seed in the next clause: AND THEIR SEED FROM AMONG THE CHILDREN OF MEN; see Psalms 37:28; which must be understood of such of their seed, and offspring as... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR THEY INTENDED EVIL AGAINST THEE,.... All evil, whether in thought or deed, if not immediately and directly, yet is ultimately against the Lord, whose law is transgressed, and who is despised and reflected upon as a lawgiver; all sin is an hostility committed against God, or against Christ, again... [ Continue Reading ]
THEREFORE SHALL THOU MAKE THEM TURN THEIR BACK,.... Or flee and run away to private places, to hide themselves from the wrath of God and of the Lamb, though to no purpose; or "make them turn [behind thy] back": God will turn his back upon them, and be negligent and careless of them, and not regard t... [ Continue Reading ]
BE THOU EXALTED, LORD, IN THINE OWN STRENGTH,.... Exert thy strength, display thy power in such manner, that thou mayest be exalted and magnified on account of it. This was fulfilled at the destruction of Jerusalem, when the kingdom of God came with power, Mark 9:1; and will be again when Babylon sh... [ Continue Reading ]