Psalm 21 (20):1Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

The title is well-known; this Psalm is associated with Christ.

The psalm is sung by the companions of the King to celebrate His exaltation, recognizing that through His lineage the salvation of humanity has emerged. He earnestly longed for this and sought it in prayer. Consequently, it has been bestowed upon Him as a certain "crown of honourable stone" (Psalm 20:4), which adorns His head with glory. Across all nations, David is honored alongside his Lord and His earthly Son. This salvation serves not only as a diadem for Him but also as a gift of life, enduring life, glory, splendor, joy, gladness, hope, and unwavering grace.

Following this radiant and triumphant victory, following the evident defeat of the Assyrians, the revered Hezekiah became ill. Upon receiving the message of impending death from the prophet Isaiah, he earnestly beseeched God with heartfelt tears. Miraculously, he was not only healed from his affliction but was also assured an additional fifteen years to his life. Consequently, the holy David, representing the collective gratitude of the people, composed this psalm to exalt God for the king's restoration.

This psalm is designated 'to the end,' as it holds prophetic significance or reaches its culmination during the reign of King Hezekiah. It is documented that when Hezekiah was afflicted with a terminal illness, he was granted an additional fifteen years of life, as noted in the twentieth chapter of the Book of Kings. Witnessing this miraculous event, his companions expressed their gratitude to God for the king’s restoration. Hence, the expressions of thanks from these companions are articulated in this psalm, which states: ‘He asked of Thee, and Thou gavest him life.’ Alternatively, it may be that David, foreseeing the king's healing, composed this psalm in his honor.

A Tribute to the God-Man

This title aligns with Psalm 19, as that psalm also speaks of the Lord Savior, though with some distinctions. The previous psalm, as noted, contained the prophet’s supplication and discussed the faith in God that grants the Christian community deliverance from the trials of this world. Here, then, we find a tribute to His incarnation, followed by an account of His divine acts, so that all may recognize that the Son of the Most Holy Mary is indeed the Word of the Father. In the Lord Christ, as we firmly believe for our salvation, there exist two natures, the divine and the human, which eternally unite in one Person. This truth should be reiterated frequently, for it is essential to hear and hold onto it steadfastly.

A Psalm for David. This psalm expresses the collective gratitude of the people for the well-being of their king and bears a close resemblance to the previous one. Just as that psalm reveals the overarching prayer of the populace for their sovereign, this one illustrates how the king's prosperity is intertwined with the overall happiness of the community; for this was God’s intention in safeguarding the abundance of His people. The Holy Spirit especially guided the minds of the faithful toward Christ, who is both the cornerstone and the culmination of this kingdom, so that they might understand that true prosperity can only be realized through living under the authority that God has ordained.

Psalm 20 is often closely associated with Psalm 19 and is regarded as a hymn of gratitude from the people for the victory requested in Psalm 19, which was indeed bestowed upon the king. This interpretation is quite valid, as this psalm was unlikely to have been written specifically for the king’s coronation, evidenced by the past perfect tense in verse 3. It is important to note the additional context of this psalm as reflective of David's miraculous triumph over his adversaries. Here, David speaks on behalf of the people, who may not possess the profound understanding that this psalm suggests.

This Psalm, divinely inspired for David, serves as a hymn of gratitude to God, who grants triumph to the Righteous King, our Lord Jesus Christ. To Him belongs all glory, honor, and praise from the Holy Church, for He triumphed over death and the grave. Through His acceptance of death, He was adorned with glory and honor, reigning eternally as the Prince of Peace.

The third antiphon includes verses 2, 3, and 4 of Psalm 20, where the congregation expresses gratitude to the Lord for granting the king triumph over his foes. Additionally, it could be interpreted (considering verses 6 and 7) that the victorious king depicted in the psalm also symbolizes the Messiah, who, following the completion of the work of salvation, receives all authority in heaven and on earth.