Psalm 21:12 - Printer Friendly

ESV: For you will put them to flight; you will aim at their faces with your bows.

NIV: You will make them turn their backs when you aim at them with drawn bow.

NASB: For You will make them turn their back; You will take aim at their faces with Your bowstrings.

CSB: Instead, you will put them to flight when you ready your bowstrings to shoot at them.

NLT: For they will turn and run when they see your arrows aimed at them.

KJV: Therefore shalt thou make them turn their back, when thou shalt make ready thine arrows upon thy strings against the face of them.

NKJV: Therefore You will make them turn their back; You will make ready Your arrows on Your string toward their faces.

The congregation continues to pray in celebration of their confidence (Psalm 21:8–11). They are entirely convinced that because God favors David, his enemies have no chance of success. Psalm 91:14–15 promises victory for those who trust in the Lord, but especially for the Messiah. These verses state: "Because he holds fast to me in love, I will deliver him; I will protect him, because he knows my name. When he calls to me, I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will rescue him and honor him."

The phrase translated "aim at their faces" enhances the reference to enemies turning to run away. It's one thing to imagine an enemy turning to run from a conflict. However, the people praying here expect a more immediate, fearful response: the way a person might react to having a drawn bow aimed directly at their face. This evokes the image of someone reacting in reflexive, immediate fear.

The Devil is the believers' most ferocious enemy. He prowls around like a lion seeking someone to devour (1 Peter 5:8), but we can put him to flight, just as David put his enemies to flight. The way to do this is to "resist him, firm in your faith" (1 Peter 5:9). The "faith" is the body of doctrine given to us in the Bible. The better we know and obey the Bible, the more resistant to the Devil we are!

Psalm 21:8–13 contains the people's address to King David. They express their confidence that he will win future battles because they believe the Lord will swallow up his enemies. This section is similar to the closing section of Psalm 20. Psalm 18:50, 2 Samuel 7:16, and Genesis 12:1–3 guarantee the continuance of the nation of Israel and David's descendants. Psalm 21 ends with a swelling chorus of praise.

Psalm 21 opens and closes with praise to the Lord for the strength He gave David and his army for gaining a victory over the enemy. In verses 1–7 David and the people extol God for answering their prayer and for giving David rich blessings. They rejoice in knowing the Lord is present, and they express their trust in the Lord. They feel safe knowing the Lord's love is unfailing. The people of the congregation voice their assurance that King David will defeat his enemies. David's enemies may plan evil and devise mischief against him, but they will not succeed. David will rout them, and his arrows will strike them. The closing verse of Psalm 21 is a prayer by David and the congregation—it is also a pledge to sing and praise the Lord God for His power.

This psalm is likely a follow-up to Psalm 20. In Psalm 20 the congregation of Israel and David prayed for victory in an upcoming battle. Psalm 21 offers thanks for the victory and expresses David's joy over the strength from the Lord that secured the victory. David also anticipates victory in future encounters. Second Samuel 7:4–16 contains the covenant God made with David.

The book of Psalms is composed of individual songs, hymns, or poems, each of which is a ''Psalm'' in and of itself. These works contain a wide variety of themes. Some Psalms focus on praising and worshipping God. Others cry out in anguish over the pain of life. Still other Psalms look forward to the coming of the Messiah. While some Psalms are related, each has its own historical and biblical context.