Psalm 21:4 - Printer Friendly

ESV: He asked life of you; you gave it to him, length of days forever and ever.

NIV: He asked you for life, and you gave it to him-- length of days, for ever and ever.

NASB: He asked for life from You, You gave it to him, Length of days forever and ever.

CSB: He asked you for life, and you gave it to him -- length of days forever and ever.

NLT: He asked you to preserve his life, and you granted his request. The days of his life stretch on forever.

KJV: He asked life of thee, and thou gavest it him, even length of days for ever and ever.

NKJV: He asked life from You, and You gave it to him— Length of days forever and ever.

David aged and died like any other mortal man. He lived 70 years (2 Samuel 5:4), so how do we interpret the comment here that God gave him "length of days forever and ever?" In 2 Samuel 7 we read the covenant the Lord made with David. He said, "When your days are fulfilled and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you…and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever" (2 Samuel 7:12–13) God also promised David: "Your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before me. Your throne shall be established forever" (2 Samuel 7:16).

The Lord promised David an endless dynasty, and when Jesus, the Son of David, Israel's Messiah, returns to earth He will reign forever from the throne of David (Luke 1:30–33).

Psalm 21:1–7, much like the first part of Psalm 20, records the praise David and the congregation offer to the Lord for granting David victory over his enemy. This section precedes the congregation's confidence in what the Lord will do through David. Second Samuel 7:1–17 provides a background to these verses by reporting the covenant God made with David. Part of the covenant was an assurance that God would subdue David's enemies.

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.

Accessed 5/7/2024 9:27:54 PM