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Psalm 21

Thanksgiving for Victory

To the leader. A Psalm of David.

1

In your strength the king rejoices, O L ord,

and in your help how greatly he exults!

2

You have given him his heart’s desire,

and have not withheld the request of his lips. Selah

3

For you meet him with rich blessings;

you set a crown of fine gold on his head.

4

He asked you for life; you gave it to him—

length of days forever and ever.

5

His glory is great through your help;

splendor and majesty you bestow on him.

6

You bestow on him blessings forever;

you make him glad with the joy of your presence.

7

For the king trusts in the L ord,

and through the steadfast love of the Most High he shall not be moved.

 

8

Your hand will find out all your enemies;

your right hand will find out those who hate you.

9

You will make them like a fiery furnace

when you appear.

The L ord will swallow them up in his wrath,

and fire will consume them.

10

You will destroy their offspring from the earth,

and their children from among humankind.

11

If they plan evil against you,

if they devise mischief, they will not succeed.

12

For you will put them to flight;

you will aim at their faces with your bows.

 

13

Be exalted, O L ord, in your strength!

We will sing and praise your power.


7. For the king trusteth. Here again the pious Israelites glory that their king shall be established, because he relies upon God; and they express at the same time how he relies upon him, namely, by hope or trust. I read the whole verse as one sentence, so that there is but one principal verb, and explain it thus:- The king, as he places by faith his dependence on God and his goodness, will not be subject to the disasters which overthrow the kingdoms of this world. Moreover, as we have said before, that whatever blessings the faithful attribute to their king, belong to the whole body of the Church, there is here made a promise, common to all the people of God, which may serve to keep us tranquil amidst the various storms which agitate the world. The world turns round as it were upon a wheel, by which it comes to pass, that those who were raised to the very top are precipitated to the bottom in a moment; but it is here promised, that the kingdom of Judah, and the kingdom of Christ of which it was a type, will be exempted from such vicissitude. Let us remember, that those only have the firmness and stability here promised, who betake themselves to the bosom of God by an assured faith, and relying upon his mercy, commit themselves to his protection. The cause or the ground of this hope or trust is at the same time expressed, and it is this, that God mercifully cherishes his own people, whom he has once graciously received into his favor.


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