Psalm 21:2-4 NIV

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 21:1-13

A royal thanksgiving for answers to prayer. (For a day of national thanksgiving.) We fail to see, in the structure of this psalm, sufficient indications of its being the counterpart of the preceding one, to lead us to call it a Te Deum , to be sung on returning from battle as victor. It would equally well suit other occasions on which the grateful hearts of king and people desired to render praises in the house of God for mercies received; e.g. Psalms 21:4 : would be equally... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 21:1-13

Let the children of Zion be joyful in their King. This psalm concerns the king. But the question is which king? It may have been David. There is much that might apply to him. Perhaps on his recovery from some sickness, or on his return from some signal victory over his enemies, or on the occasion of his birthday or some great anniversary, David and his people may have rejoiced before the Lord with the voice of joy and praise. But a greater than David is here. If the psalm in part is true... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 21:1-13

Thanksgiving for prayer answered. Close connection between this and the previous psalm—that a prayer for the king; this a thanksgiving that the prayer has been answered. The people speak to God ( Psalms 21:1-7 ); then ( Psalms 21:8-12 ) they speak to the king; then in Psalms 21:13 they speak again to God. The occasion of the psalm has been disputed. Some think it is a birthday ode; some, a coronation hymn; and others, a thanksgiving for victory in battle. Let us take it first— I. ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 21:2

Thou hast given him his heart' s desire (comp. Psalms 20:4 , "Grant thee according to thine own heart"). And hast not withholden the request of his lips. "Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh." The deliverance from his enemies, which David had earnestly desired in his heart, he had also devoutly requested with his lips ( Psalms 20:1 , Psalms 20:5 ). Selah . The pause here may have been for the presentation of a thank-offering. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 21:2

The triumph of victory. "Thou hast given him his heart' s desire." We seem to hear in this psalm the trumpets and harps and shawms of the temple, and jubilant voices of Levites praising God for some great victory. Joy-bells are rung and Te Deum laudamus chanted because the king has come home in triumph. The psalm is closely connected with the preceding one. There we see the king going forth to war, consecrating his banner and trusting his cause to God. The Church prays, "The Lord hear... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 21:3

For thou preventest him with the blessings of goodness ; i.e. thou givest him blessings before he asks, and more than he asks.. "The blessings of goodness" is pleonastic, since a blessing cannot be otherwise than a good. Thou settest a crown of pure gold on his head . It is remarked that David, as the result of one of his wars, did actually take the crown of the conquered king, which was a crown of gold, from off the king' s head, and place it upon his own head ( 2 Samuel 12:30 ); but... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 21:4

He asked life of thee, and thou gavest it him, even length of days for ever and ever. The "life" intended cannot be ordinary human life, since in David' s case this certainly did not continue "for ever and ever." We must understand the psalmist to have asked for continuance in his posterity , and this was guaranteed him in the message which God sent him by Nathan ( 2 Samuel 7:13 , 2 Samuel 7:16 ). In the full sense the promise was, of course, Messianic, being fulfilled only in... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 21:4

Prayer. What is true of Christ is true, in a sense, of his people. Here we learn— I. THE TRUE NATURE OF PRAYER . It is the desire of the heart ( Psalms 21:2 ). This is frequently taught by doctrine and fact in Holy Scripture. Words are of the mouth, thoughts are of the heart. "Words without thoughts never to heaven go." It is asking of God for things agreeable to his will. While there is real "asking," there is also loving trust and acquiescence. God' s will is aye the... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 21:2

Thou hast given him his heart’s desire - See the notes at Psalms 20:4. This had been the prayer of the people that God would “grant him according to his own heart, and fulfil all his counsel,” and this desire had now been granted. All that had been wished; all that had been prayed for by himself or by the people, had been granted.And hast not withholden - Hast not denied or refused.The request of his lips - The request, or the desire which his lips had uttered. The meaning is, that his... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 21:3

For thou preventest him - Thou goest before him; thou dost anticipate him. See Psalms 17:13, margin. Our word “prevent” is now most commonly used in the sense of “hinder, stop, or intercept.” This is not the original meaning of the English word; and the word is never used in this sense in the Bible. The English word, when our translation was made, meant to “go before,” to “anticipate,” and this is the uniform meaning of it in our English version, as it is the meaning of the original. See the... read more

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 21:1-13

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 21:1-13

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 21:1-13

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 21:2

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 21:2

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 21:3

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 21:4

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 21:4

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 21:2

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 21:3

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