Psalms 21: The crown received, not secured

Psalm 21 answers the petitions of Psalm 20 with thanksgiving. The king rejoices, but the verbs keep directing attention behind the crown: God gives the heart’s desire, meets him with blessing, sets gold on his head, grants life, lays honor upon him, and makes him glad with his countenance. Royal glory is therefore substantial without becoming self-explanatory. Stability rests on trust and the mercy of the Most High. The second half turns toward severe judgment on enemies whose destructive intentions fail, using fire and the drawn bow without softening the violence of royal conflict. Yet the closing voices do not praise the king as an independent force. The Book of Psalms returns to the source named at the beginning: “Be thou exalted, LORD, in thine own strength.”