Psalms 21

David giveth God thanks, both in his own et the Churches behalf, for the obtained victories, and the blessed estate of his kingdom, being a type of eternal King and Kingdom of Jesus Christ: and prophesieth of the durableness of both, together with the downfall and destruction of all the Enemies of the same, to the praise of God.

1. A Psalm of David for the chief song-master. [See Psa.4.on v.1.]

2. O LORD the king is gladded over thy strength; and how much is he cheared over thy salvation?

3. Thou hast given him the wish of his heart; and thou hast not refrained the utterance of his lips; [i.e. that which he hath uttered and desired of thee in his prayer] Sela. [See Psa.3.on v.3.]

4. For thou preventest him with blessings of the good, thou settest a Crown of fine gold upon his head.

5. He desired life of thee: [When he was in danger of it by his Enemies: understand Gods gracious blessing withal; compared with Psa.36.6. and 133.3.] thou hast given it him; [Oth. Thou hast given him length of days for ever and evermore, [i.e. a long life. Compare Deut.30.20. this hath respect partly unto David, according to the body, being he dyed in a good old age; but chiefly it looketh upon the Messiah, Davids seed according to the flesh (see Isa.53.10.) and again unto David and all the members of Christ, in regard that by faith in him they have eternal life.]

6. Great is his honour through thy salvation; Majesty and glory hast thou joined unto him.

7. For thou didst set him (for) blessings forever. [Compare Gen.12.on v.2. Isa.19.20. Ezek.34.20.] Thou cheerest him through joy with thy countenance. [See Num.6.on v.25.26. and Psa.16.15.]

8. For the King trusteth in the LORD, and through the kindness of the most high shall be not waver. [As above Psa.15.v.5.]

9. Thine hand shall find [i.e. meet with, surprise, seize on and punish] all thine Enemies, [Oth. Shall find (vengeance) for all, etc. Or shall be sufficient for all thine Enemies, viz. For to quell and subdue the same] thy right hand shall find thy haters.

10. Thou shalt set them as a fiery furnace at the time of thy (angry) face, [i.e. of thine anger, viz. When thou shalt look upon, judge and punish them in wrath. Compare Psa.34.7. and Gen.32.v.20. Levit.17.10. and 20.6. Jerem.3.12. and 4.26. Lam.4.16. Observe that the face of God is taken here for his anger, and above v.7. for his favour. Compare Psa.25.18,19.] The LORD shall swallow them up in his wrath, and the fire shall consume them.

11. Thou shalt make their fruit perish from the Earth, [i.e. the fruit of their body (as the Scripture speaketh) that is to say, their children: otherwise by the fruit of a mans hand there is understood, that which he receiveth or gotteth by his labour, Prov.31.16,31.] and their seed [i.e. their children or posterity] from the children of men.

12. For they have framed evil against thee; [God accounteth that done unto himself, that is done unto his people. See Gen.20.on v.6.] they have devised a shameful deed, (yet) shall able (to do) nothing.

13. For thou shalt set them for a while, [Heb. Shoulder, or dyke, mount, i.e. a raised or eminent place, which thou shalt aim at as at a but, or mark, to hit them home into the very face] with thy strings [Hebr. Coards, i.e. the string of thy bow,] shalt thou lay on upon their face [i.e. sit and dispose the arrows upon their bow against them.]

14. Exalt thy self, LORD in thy strength; then shall we sing and praise thy might with Psalms.