Seventh-day Adventist Bible CommentaryPsalms 21

The king. Verses 1–7 express the gratitude of the congregation for the victory God has given the king. It is always becoming to make public recognition of answered prayer. The king is probably David. Here the expression ledawid, “by David,” or “for David” (see p. 616), should probably be translated “concerning David.” In thy strength. The chariots and horses were powerless against God’s strength (see Ps. 20:7). The reversing of the order of ideas in the parallelism is a favorite rhetorical device: “joy … strength”; “salvation … rejoice.” God’s salvation had previously been anticipated (Ps. 20:5, 6, 9). Now it is realized. Ancient Jewish tradition regarded the psalm as Messianic, as is shown by the free translation of the Targum: “O Lord, in thy strength king Messiah shall rejoice.”

Desire. The prayer for the king (Ps. 20:4) has been answered. The phrase “heart’s desire” has become a part of the English vernacular. Answers to prayer may be expected when human desires correspond to God’s desires and when the will is subject to Him (see DA 668). Withholden. “Denied.” Selah. See p. 629.

Preventest. Literally, “confrontest.” See on Ps. 18:5. God showed His favor to the king by coming to meet him with blessings (see Deut. 28:2). Crown. To be understood metaphorically, as God’s recognition of the king’s right to rule (see 2 Sam. 7:12–16).

For ever and ever. Compare the formula used in praying for the king (see 1 Kings 1:31; Neh. 2:3). The clause points to the unlimited continuation of the king’s dynasty.

Made him most blessed. Or, “set him to be blessings.” Abraham was thus “set” to be a blessing (see Gen. 12:2). God intended that the king—and every son of God—should be not only the receiver but the dispenser of blessings (see also Isa. 19:24; Eze. 34:26). Glad with thy countenance. See on Ps. 4:6; 16:11.

Shall not be moved. See on Ps. 15:5; cf. Ps. 16:8.

All thine enemies. In vs. 8–12 the congregation addresses the king. In vs. 1–7 “thou” refers to God; in these verses “thou” means the king. The psalmist looks forward to complete victory over all enemies, even as the present victory provides such a promise.

Fiery oven. Some Hebrew ovens were probably heated by burning wood inside of them; thus they would have the appearance of a furnace (see Mal. 4:1). The ultimate destruction of the wicked will be complete (see Rev. 20:14, 15). Anger. From the Heb. paneh, literally, “face,” but which may also mean “will,” as the Ugaritic texts (see pp. 618, 619) have shown (see on Ps. 9:20). The passage may therefore be rendered, “Thou shalt make them as a fiery furnace at the time of thy will,” that is, at a time God would see fit to do it.

Fruit. That is, their children (see Gen. 30:2; Lam. 2:20).

Not able. The best of men’s plans fail if God is against them.

Against the face. This is a graphic picture of the enemies put to flight by pursuers who get ahead of them and aim their arrows at their faces.

Be thou exalted. Like Ps. 20, the psalm ends with a prayer. The psalmist has completed, on the lips of the congregation, his good wishes and prophecies for the king. Now he turns to Jehovah and prays Him to reveal Himself as the source of all His people’s strength (as in v. 1). Here is a final picture of universal praise (see Rev. 7:10–12; 12:10; 19:1–3).