Psalms 21:1

1 To victory, the psalm of David. Lord, the king shall be glad in thy virtue; and he shall full out have joy greatly on thine health. (To victory, the song of David. Lord, the king shall be glad for thy strength, or thy might; and he shall have great joy in thy victory.)

Psalms 21:1 Meaning and Commentary

Psalms 21:1

The king shall joy in thy strength, O Lord
Either in that strength which is in Jehovah himself, in whom is everlasting strength; and which is seen in the works of creation and providence, and is the same in Christ himself, as he is the mighty God; or else in the strength which Jehovah communicated to Christ as man, whereby he was strengthened in his human nature to go through and complete the work of man's redemption; or in the strength which the Lord puts forth, and the power which he exerts towards and upon his people, in conversion; which is the produce of the exceeding greatness of his power; and in strengthening them, from time to time, to exercise grace, discharge duty, and withstand temptations and sin; and in keeping them safe to the end; in supporting them under all their trials, and in carrying on and finishing the work of faith upon their souls; all which is matter of joy to Christ;

and in thy salvation how greatly shall he rejoice?
meaning either his own salvation by the Lord, from all his sorrows and troubles, and out of the hands of all enemies, being in the presence of God, where is fulness of joy, ( Psalms 16:9-11 ) ; or else the salvation of his people by him, which Jehovah appointed them to, secured for them in the covenant of grace, sent Christ to work out for them, applies by his Spirit, and at last puts into the full possession of: Christ rejoices at the effectual calling and conversion of his people, when salvation is brought near unto them; and especially at their glorification, when they shall be in the full enjoyment of it; then will they be his joy, and crown of rejoicing: this is the joy that was set before him, which made him go so cheerfully through his sufferings and death for them, ( Hebrews 12:2 ) ; the reasons of this joy are, because of the great love he bears to them; the interest and property he has in them; his undertakings for them, as their surety, to bring them safe to glory; his purchase of them by his blood; his intercession for them, that they might be with him to behold his glory; and, last of all, because of his Father's glory, his own glory, and the glory of the blessed Spirit, which are concerned in the salvation of these persons.

Psalms 21:1 In-Context

1 To victory, the psalm of David. Lord, the king shall be glad in thy virtue; and he shall full out have joy greatly on thine health. (To victory, the song of David. Lord, the king shall be glad for thy strength, or thy might; and he shall have great joy in thy victory.)
2 Thou hast given to him the desire of his heart; and thou hast not defrauded him of the will of his lips. (Thou hast given him his heart's desire; and thou hast not denied him what he asked for with his lips.)
3 For thou hast before come him in the blessings of sweetness; thou hast set on his head a crown of precious stone. (For thou hast come before him with the blessings of goodness; thou hast set upon his head a crown of pure gold.)
4 He asked of thee life, and thou gavest it to him; the length of days into the world, and into the world of world. (He asked for life from thee, and thou gavest it to him; yea, length of days forever and ever.)
5 His glory is great in thine health; thou shalt put glory, and great fairness, on him. (His glory is great because of thy help/Thy salvation hath brought him great glory; thou shalt put honour, and majesty, upon him.)
Copyright © 2001 by Terence P. Noble. For personal use only.