Psalm 21 (20):3Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Christ longed to partake in the Passover, and when He chose to do so, He was able to set it aside, and likewise, when He chose, He could reclaim His spirit—and You bestowed this ability upon Him.

In His great strength and compassion, the Prophet affirms that You have graciously heard the supplication of our sovereign and have granted him everything he requested; to put it more accurately, You have bestowed upon him even greater blessings than he sought. For He also added this:

The longing of his heart you have fulfilled He refers to the longing of Hezekiah's heart regarding triumph over his adversaries, the extension of his days, or any righteous plea he may have made. And the longings of his lips, he has not withheld from him Here, the previous sentiment is reiterated, highlighting these words with joy and gratitude toward God. It is inherent for one who truly desires something to frequently express and amplify those wishes verbally. Here, desire should be understood as a petition. Another interpretation suggests that one who seeks nothing from a carnal perspective and walks in the Spirit receives from God according to the longing of his heart. God enriches his heart with blessings.

Initially, the prophetic assurances were conveyed to David, and subsequently, the rationale behind their fulfillment is clarified. What could this rationale be except for the hope in the Lord? This hope, in times of hardship, ensures that humanity remains anchored by the Most High God and steadfast upon this solid ground.

David could have expressed gratitude to God in privacy for the triumphs he experienced and for the notable blessings he received from the Lord. However, he sought to declare solemnly that his reign was not merely a result of divine grace; rather, all the good bestowed upon him was meant for the benefit of everyone. Consequently, the faithful perceive David as a monarch whom God Himself upholds and safeguards: this leads them to hope that God's grace will also be extended to them, enduring and steadfast. The essence of his appeal is this: O Lord, by Your might, sustain the king, allowing him, through Your mercy, to remain in good health, so that he may be joyful, attributing his success to Your strength.

Through His will and divine intention, Christ the Lord sought after the lost souls. The longing expressed in His words, His supplication to God the Father for the disciples, is encapsulated in His plea: ‘Father, keep them in Your name’ (John 17:11). This illustrates His deep yearning, evident when with just a command He restored health to the afflicted and brought the dead back to life.

The desires of his heart you have fulfilled, and the longings of his lips you have not withheld. For you have welcomed him with a bountiful blessing. O Lord, you have afflicted him, as your beloved servant, with a richness of the sweetest blessings, graciously prepared for him by your love. You have placed a crown of precious stones upon his head. This alludes to the crown of the king of the Ammonites presented to David, who triumphed over him; however, since David represents the King of Christ, it also signifies the crown of everlasting glory with which the Son of God, the victor over death and hell, is adorned in his humanity.