Jamieson, Fausset and Brown on Psalms 21

PSALM 21

Psa 21:1-13. The pious are led by the Psalmist to celebrate God's favor to the king in the already conferred and in prospective victories. The doxology added may relate to both Psalms; the preceding of petition, chiefly this of thanksgiving, ascribing honor to God for His display of grace and power to His Church in all ages, not only under David, but also under his last greatest successor, "the King of the Jews."

1. thy strength ... thy salvation--as supplied by Thee.

2. The sentiment affirmed in the first clause is reaffirmed by the negation of its opposite in the second.

3. preventest--literally, "to meet here in good sense," or "friendship" (Psa 59:10; compare opposite, Psa 17:13).

blessings of goodness--which confer happiness.

crown of pure gold--a figure for the highest royal prosperity.

4-6. (Compare 2Sa 7:13-16). The glory and blessedness of the king as head of his line, including Christ, as well as in being God's specially selected servant, exceeded that of all others.

7. The mediate cause is the king's faith, the efficient, God's mercy.

8. The address is now made to the king.

hand--denotes power, and

right hand--a more active and efficient degree of its exercise.

find out--reach, lay hold of, indicating success in pursuit of his enemies.

9. The king is only God's agent.

anger--literally, "face," as appearing against them.

as a fiery oven--as in it.

10. fruit--children (Psa 37:25; Ho 9:16).

11. This terrible overthrow, reaching to posterity, is due to their crimes (Ex 20:5, 6).

12. turn their back--literally, "place them [as to the] shoulder."

against the face of them--The shooting against their faces would cause them to turn their backs in flight.

13. The glory of all is ascribable to God alone.