Psalm 21 (20):2Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Lord, through Your might, by which the Word took on human form, the man Christ Jesus will celebrate with joy. We too shall rejoice abundantly in Your deliverance. And through that which brings life to all, we shall rejoice with great joy.

Lord, by Your might the king will find joy. Bestow upon him blessings eternally. He who has gained such confidence from You will be esteemed and renowned throughout all ages. Instead of saying "with Thy face," Simmach expresses it as "before Thy face." Consequently, he shall celebrate and experience everlasting happiness, having attained Your presence, which signifies Your grace. This is rooted in his faith in You. You will fill him with joy in Your presence. The face of the Father is the Son; as it is written, "He who has seen Me has seen the Father" (John 14:9). Together with Him, we will delight in heaven, just as the companions of the bridegroom rejoice alongside him.

With great strength and compassion, the Prophet declares that You have graciously received the supplication of our sovereign and granted him everything he requested; indeed, it is more accurate to say that You have bestowed upon him even beyond his requests. Furthermore, He also included this:

O Lord, through Your might the king will find joy. The faithful ruler proclaims, By Your strength, O Lord, which supports and is unconquerable, this is clear from the past blessings You have granted him. Because of Your deliverance, the king will greatly rejoice; he will celebrate in the salvation and wellness that You, O Lord, have provided for him.

O Lord, through Your might the King shall find joy, and he shall greatly rejoice in Your salvation (Ps. 20:2). Let us not delve into the origins of the joy that flows from David's lips in this heartfelt proclamation. Is it the joy of David himself, who on a day much like today recalled with deep gratitude how by Your wondrous hand he was lifted from the shepherd's field to the throne, witnessing Your salvation not only in his own life but also for his people? Or perhaps it is the foreseen joy of the Messiah, whom he glimpsed in prophetic vision ascending on high, seated as King at Your right hand, so that in Him all humanity may behold Your salvation. As not only a prophet of Christ through divinely inspired words, but also as a prophetic image of Him through his just life, David could unify this sublime joy into a singular expression. Regardless, it is clear that the King, beloved of God, shares with us a genuine royal joy. “Sons of Zion!” You are assembled before God to “rejoice in your King” (Psalm 149:2) — anointed, crowned, and exalted by God. Indeed, true joy in both the King and His kingdom is one. Thus, let us heed intently the sacred utterance of this joy emanating from the mouth of the King Prophet; let us strive to grasp, as much as we can, his ecstasy, or rather his instruction; for he guides us through the joy of the King into the joy of the Lord, proclaiming the strength of God and the salvation of God as the strongest foundation and purest source of royal delight. “O Lord, by Your strength shall the King rejoice, and for Your salvation shall he rejoice greatly” (Ps. 20:2).

The joy and contentment of the King and the kingdom commence when the sense of power counters the fear of treachery or violence that every society experiences. While civil law may assure personal security, it is the might that protects public order and the inviolability of the law. The heart of a fragile nation trembles at every disturbance at its borders, and even whispers in the wind may appear as fierce tempests. If weak realms live in constant trepidation of the strong, the strong equally fear the mightiest and the potential alliance of many or the boldness of a single entity. Thus, on what foundation do the powers of this earth stand firm? Can true joy exist for kings and kingdoms? Humanity voyages across lands and seas seeking a steadfast support and refuge for their establishment. In the realm of governance, drawn from the rulers of this world’s darkness, force and oppression, cunning and deceit, bravery and brashness, authenticity and pretense, fidelity and swearing, alliances and conflicts, peace and war, wealth and might — in essence, all methods are indiscriminately embraced to forge a façade of splendid greatness and authority. Yet does this plethora of means typically lead to the desired success? Does it provide an advantage over those whose endeavors are bound by justice? How fervently one would wish that those tirelessly striving to construct this fading idol of vanity, which continually slips from their grasp, would reflect and ‘turn’ with Solomon to a dispassionate examination of ‘vanity’ (Ecclesiastes 4:7)! Like him, they would come to ‘see under the sun that neither the swift nor the vigorous triumph, nor riches secure favor for the wise, but rather, time and chance govern all’ (Ecclesiastes 9:11). ‘Time and chance’ — in worldly language, the Sage refers to the causes of events unknown to humanity. What is time but the unfolding of all things under the guidance of the Eternal? What is chance but the unseen force concealed in actions that are visible yet unpredictable, the shadow of the Almighty’s hand, the guise of Providence? O time, of whose capriciousness the frivolous lament so often, and which is accused of both slowness and swiftness, how clear you would seem to us were we to observe your elevated nature — mercy and justice, trials and rewards, patience and punishment! O chance, to which the blind spectators of the world ascribe their own blindness, how much more would you seem visionary and just had we the insight to discern the hidden hand guiding your arrows to their targets and to distinguish, like the Prophet, ‘the arrow of salvation’ (2 Kings 13:17) from the arrow of destruction! Until all in this world appears unfathomable and uncertain, so unreliable and perilous, we endeavor to secure our earthly happiness solely by our own wits and efforts. “See,” the prophet tells Moab, “you trust in your fortifications and treasures, but you will be exposed” (Jeremiah 48:7). “Suddenly,” he warns, “the land of Moab will fall” (Isaiah 15:1). “Consume,” another admonishes the prince of Tyre, “whether by cunning or shrewdness, you have fortified yourself; through your schemes and acquisitions you have amassed power; perish as you are plagued by the sores of the heart” (Ezekiel 28:4-5, 8).

Let us, beloved, be attentive to both the present judgments of God and those of the past, and accept this parable from the Prophet’s lips, one that has come to pass regarding the new king of Babylon, that proud giant who dared to envision sharing in the Almighty's dominion: “God will shatter the stronghold of sinners, striking the tongue” of the unrighteous ruler with “a plague of fury, from which He will show no mercy” (Isaiah 14:5-6). With a thundering voice, You call out to those “tongues” (Ps. 2:1) that “rave” with insolence, and You will persist in Your declarations to successive generations: “Let not the high boast in pride, nor let the strong take pride in their might... But let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows the Lord” (1 Samuel 2:3, 10). Blessed are the people who, not idolizing their own strength, glory, and greatness, “set their hearts on the might of God” (Ps. 47:14). “Blessed are the people to whom the Lord is their God” (Psalm 144:15). “With Him at their right hand” (Psalm 16:8), they will not be swayed by confusion or fear. A kingdom ruled by faith and trust in God, when riled by the injustices of outsiders, finds solace in “God, the just and mighty Judge” (Ps. 7:12); when threatened with violence, it seeks refuge in “God who girds... with strength” (Psalm 18:32); and when faced with clandestine plots and unintended assaults, it is safeguarded by a “guardian who will neither slumber nor sleep” (Psalm 121:4). Even if weary, it “seeks God who saves” the feeble “from weakness and the storm” (Psalm 55:9). Engaging in a righteous struggle, it challenges the world, recognizing as its supreme commander the one entitled ‘the God of hosts’ (1 Samuel 17:15), who “goes forth in the strength” of His beloved people and “gives strength to His people” (Ps. 28:11). With peace secured, it cherishes it as both an earthly benefit and a heavenly blessing, knowing that “the Lord blesses His people with peace” (Ps. 28:11). And as it embraces such divine power, to which even foes begin to recognize the finger of God, then its joy and cheerfulness are as inseparable as Your invincible power, unchanging mercy, and unassailable glory. This joy, this gladness, enlivens the heart and speech of the Psalmist king: “O Lord, by Your strength shall the king be glad.” It is neither the might of man nor my own power that comforts me, O Lord! Vanities offer a solace that the world can both provide and withdraw. But once I acknowledge that You have chosen me as Your instrument of strength, in grateful wonder I lose myself; I sense only Your omnipotent power, rejoice in it, glorify it, and find my life in it, becoming blessed. “O Lord, by Your power the king shall rejoice!” Yet the sense of power represents only half of royal joy. “O Lord, by Your power the king shall rejoice, and for Your salvation he shall rejoice greatly” (Ps. 20:2).

The gladness expressed by David can be viewed as reflective of the words of those who came before him. Having understood the prophecies spoken prior regarding the deliverance that would arise from his lineage and the strength encapsulated in that salvation, David rejoiced with great joy. Convinced of this truth, and knowing that his adversaries had been completely vanquished by divine power, he offers You, O God, the consummator of triumph, the reward of his victory. His joy is profound, as he is liberated from the wickedness of his foes; yet his delight stems not merely from his own rescue, but from the fact that this salvation originates from You. In seeking deliverance from You and earnestly appealing to God in prayer, he is assured that his hope will remain steadfast and his pleas will not go unanswered, for through prayer he will attain what he earnestly desires.

David could have silently expressed his gratitude to the Lord for the triumphs bestowed upon him, as well as for the renowned blessings with which he was favored by God. However, he sought to declare explicitly that his reign was not solely by divine grace, but that the blessings showered upon him were intended for the collective well-being of all. Thus, the faithful perceive David as a king under the protection of God, who is attentive to his salvation. This leads them to hope that God’s grace will likewise be extended to them—enduring and steadfast. The essence of his words is clear: O Lord, through Thy might, safeguard the king, granting him health and joy, so that he may credit his success to Your power.

The prophecy regarding Christ our Lord, the Sovereign of glory, who rejoiced at His resurrection through the divine power for the redemption of humanity that He Himself accomplished. The rulers of the earth also celebrate, those who, by the grace of Christ, are partakers of the kingdom, and he who embraces salvation. This also serves as a prophetic revelation concerning the Holy Trinity.

In other words, the king acknowledges that the triumph over his adversaries is not his own doing but rather joyfully declares that he owes this victory to the sole omnipotent strength and redemptive assistance of the Lord.