Psalms 21
AOSNPsalms 21:1-13
God’s people thank him for giving victory to the king.
Psalms 21:2
God has given the king what he desired. God protected him and blessed him (see Psalm 20:5; see also 2:8).
Psalms 21:3-6
The king returned victorious from battle and received honor from the people. His greatest honor came from God, who gave him blessings, life, and his presence.
Psalms 21:3
rich blessings: See Proverbs 10:6.
Psalms 21:4
God offers a rich quality of life (Psalms 61:6–7; 91:14–16; 128:4–6). This life is characterized by:
God's presence (Psalms 16:11; 23:6; 27:4; 36:9),
joy (Psalm 16:11)
goodness (Psalm 23:6; 34:14–15), and
protection (Psalm 41:2; 61:7).
Psalms 21:6
God's eternal blessings also bring a full life now (see Psalm 133).
Psalms 21:7
The king was victorious not because of his strength or goodness, but because God honored his faith.
Psalms 21:8-12
As long as even a single enemy opposed the king’s authority, God’s kingdom was not fully present. This prayer requests victory over all evil in the world.
Psalms 21:9
The fiery furnace and fire represent the seriousness of God's judgment on the wicked. In the Old Testament, fire often represents God’s anger against sin and destructive judgment (Psalms 11:6; 18:8; 50:3; 68:2; 78:21; 79:5; 80:16; 89:46; 97:3; 104:4; 140:10; see Isaiah 66:24).
Psalms 21:10
descendants … offspring: Evil will end when God destroys all opposition to himself (Psalm 109:13; compare 18:50; 22:30–31; 25:13; 102:28).
Psalms 21:13
Be exalted (compare Psalm 57:5, 11; 108:5) expresses communal praise and joy in God’s greatness and power.
Aquifer Open Study Notes © 2026 Mission Mutual, an adaptation of the Tyndale Open Study Notes © 2023 Tyndale House Publishers. Licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.