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2015 February 22



Procession of the Middle King (detail) - (1459-1460)
Benozzo Gozzoli (c. 1421 - 1497)
Renaissance Style; International Gothic Influences
Chapel, Palazzo Medici Riccardi, Florence, Italy
Image Source: Web Gallery of Art


     Explanation: In Psalm 21, with great rejoicing, David praises God for victory. In the previous Psalm David anticipated deliverance in the day of trouble. In this Psalm he experiences it. Many consider the Psalm to be Messianic, or at least to have clearly Messianic references, especially in light of verses 4 and 6, which speak of eternal life and eternal blessedness as God's gifts to the King. The majesty and splendor which God bestowed upon David are suggested, in kind, by today's painting.

          [ THEMATICALLY AND CHRONOLOGICALLY RELATED SCRIPTURES: Psalm 20. 2 Samuel 12:26-31. Messianic Psalms: Psalm 2. Psalm 8. Psalm 16. Psalm 22. Psalm 34. Psalm 35. Psalm 40. Psalm 41. Psalm 45. Psalm 68. Psalm 69. Psalm 89. Psalm 102. Psalm 109. Psalm 110. Psalm 118. ]

          [ CHRONOLOGY: General. Patriarchs (Traditional). Judges # 1. Judges # 2. Kings # 1. Kings # 2. Prophets # 1. Prophets # 2. NT # 1. NT # 2. NT # 3. ]

          [ MAPS: Maps # 1. Maps # 2. Maps # 3. Maps # 4. Maps # 5. ]

          [ COMMENTARIES, ETC: GENERAL: Bible Study Tools; Bible Hub: Study Light; Blue Letter Bible // PSALMS: Monergism: Precept Austin: The Treasury of David; John Gill; John Calvin - Volumes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5]

          [ MUSIC: GENERAL: The Cyber Hymnal // PSALMS: Genevan Psalter (Instrumental). Psalm 21 - #1. Psalm 21 - #2. Psalm 21 - #3. ]

     The Psalm is a Psalm of victory -- past victories in the first part and future victories in the second part. David begins by stating that he will rejoice in the LORD's strength and in his salvation. The LORD gave him the desire of his heart. The LORD had blessings of goodness waiting for him. He sat a crown of pure gold on David's head (which may refer to David's defeat of the Ammonites at Rabbah -- cf., 2 Samuel 12:26-31). He gave David salvation, honor, and majesty; and he made him blessed and exceedingly glad. Through God's mercy David would not be moved (1-7). In the second stanza David states that the LORD will find his enemies and those who hate him and will devour them as if by fire. They and their descendants will be destroyed. Their devices and their mischief will come to nothing. They will turn back and be slaughtered. David closes by exalting the LORD and promising to sing the praise of his power (8-13).


THE PSALTER:

BOOK ONE OF FIVE:

Psalms 1-41.


Psalm 21

1 To the chief Musician, [Transposed To Psalm 20] *


A Psalm of David.

The king shall joy in thy strength, O LORD;
and in thy salvation how greatly shall he rejoice!
2 Thou hast given him his heart's desire,
and hast not withholden the request of his lips. Selah.
3 For thou preventest him with the blessings of goodness:
thou settest a crown of pure gold on his head.
4 He asked life of thee,
and thou gavest it him,
even length of days for ever and ever.
5 His glory is great in thy salvation:
honour and majesty hast thou laid upon him.
6 For thou hast made him most blessed for ever:
thou hast made him exceeding glad with thy countenance.
7 For the king trusteth in the LORD,
and through the mercy of the most High he shall not be moved.

8 Thine hand shall find out all thine enemies:
thy right hand shall find out those that hate thee.
9 Thou shalt make them as a fiery oven in the time of thine anger:
the LORD shall swallow them up in his wrath,
and the fire shall devour them.
10 Their fruit shalt thou destroy from the earth,
and their seed from among the children of men.
11 For they intended evil against thee:
they imagined a mischievous device,
which they are not able to perform.
12 Therefore shalt thou make them turn their back,
when thou shalt make ready thine arrows
upon thy strings
against the face of them.
13 Be thou exalted, LORD, in thine own strength:
so will we sing and praise thy power.


1 To the chief Musician upon Aijeleth Shahar, [Transposed From Psalm 22:1] *


* NOTE: On Opening and Closing Comments in the Psalms.
[Some commentators take the Psalm in Habakkuk 3 to be a standard model for the Psalms.
Habakkuk's Psalm begins with the name of the composer (Habakkuk) and a musical notation ("upon Shigionoth").
It closes with a dedication or a "send to" notice ("To the chief singer on my stringed instruments").
I have arranged similar material, where it is found in the Psalter, in accord with the model in Habakkuk.]




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