TRV
Study This Verse
Public-domain commentary
Matthew Henry
From his Commentary on the Whole Bible. Henry comments on passages, not single verses — this entry covers Psalms 21:7–13. His two-level outline is real structure in the source text, so it is rendered as structure.
The psalmist, having taught his people to look back with joy and praise on what God had done for him and them, here teaches them to look forward with faith, and hope, and prayer, upon what God would further do for them: The king rejoices in God (Psa 21:1), and therefore we will be thankful; the king trusteth in God (Psa 21:7), therefore will we be encouraged. The joy and confidence of Christ our King is the ground of all our joy and confidence.
I.They are confident of the stability of David's kingdom.
Through the mercy of the Most High, and not through his own merit or strength, he shall not be moved. His prosperous state shall not be disturbed; his faith and hope in God, which are the stay of his spirit, shall not be shaken. The mercy of the Most High (the divine goodness, power, and dominion) is enough to secure our happiness, and therefore our trust in that mercy should be enough to silence all our fears. God being at Christ's right hand in his sufferings (Psa 16:8) and he being at God's right hand in his glory, we may be sure he shall not, he cannot, be moved, but continues ever.
II.They are confident of the destruction of all the impenitent implacable enemies of David's kingdom.
The success with which God had blessed David's arms hitherto was an earnest of the rest which God would give him from all his enemies round about, and a type of the total overthrow of all Christ's enemies who would not have him to reign over them. Observe,
1.The description of his enemies. They are such as hate him, Psa 21:8. They hated David because God had set him apart for himself, hated Christ because they hated the light; but both were hated without any just cause, and in both God was hated, Joh 15:23, Joh 15:25.
2.The designs of his enemies (Psa 21:11): They intended evil against thee, and imagined a mischievous device; they pretended to fight against David only, but their enmity was against God himself. Those that aimed to un-king David aimed, in effect, to un-God Jehovah. What is devised and designed against religion, and against the instruments God raises up to support and advance it, is very evil and mischievous, and God takes it as devised and designed against himself and will so reckon for it. (3.) The disappointment of them: "They devise what they are not able to perform," Psa 21:11. Their malice is impotent, and they imagine a vain thing, Psa 2:1. (4.) The discovery of them (Psa 21:8): "Thy hand shall find them out. Though ever so artfully disguised by the pretences and professions of friendship, though mingled with the faithful subjects of this kingdom and hardly to be distinguished from them, though flying from justice and absconding in their close places, yet thy hand shall find them out wherever they are." There is no escaping God's avenging eye, no going out of the reach of his hand; rocks and mountains will be no better shelter at last than fig-leaves were at first. (5.) The destruction of them; it will be an utter destruction (Luk 19:27); they shall be swallowed up and devoured, Psa 21:9. Hell, the portion of all Christ's enemies, is the complete misery both of body and soul. Their fruit and their seed shall be destroyed, Psa 21:10. The enemies of God's kingdom, in every age, shall fall under the same doom, and the whole generation of them will at last be rooted out, and all opposing rule, principality, and power, shall be put down. The arrows of God's wrath shall confound them and put them to flight, being levelled at the face of them, Psa 21:12. That will be the lot of daring enemies that face God. The fire of God's wrath will consume them (Psa 21:9); they shall not only be cast into a furnace of fire (Mat 13:42), but he shall make them themselves as a fiery oven or furnace; they shall be their own tormentors; the reflections and terrors of their own consciences will be their hell. Those that might have had Christ to rule and save them, but rejected him and fought against him, shall find that even the remembrance of that will be enough to make them, to eternity, a fiery oven to themselves: it is the worm that dies not.
III.In this confidence they beg of God that he would still appear for his anointed (Psa 21:13), that he would act for him in his own strength, by the immediate operations of his power as Lord of hosts and Father of spirits, making little use of means and instruments. And, 1. Hereby he would exalt himself and glorify his own name. "We have but little strength, and are not so active for thee as we should be, which is our shame; Lord, take the work into thy own hands, do it, without us, and it will be thy glory." 2. Hereupon they would exalt him: "So will we sing, and praise thy power, the more triumphantly." The less God has of our service when a deliverance is in the working the more he must have of our praises when it is wrought without us.
Historical interpretation
Historical Reception
2 surviving comments on this verse. Each one is dated, so this reads as a timeline rather than a list.
Select a marker to jump to its quote. Markers stagger vertically where authors wrote within a few decades of each other.
“Turned away” [is] an expression properly applied to the sinner, for “Cain went out from the face of the Lord,” and the psalmist says, “You will make them turn their back.” One who is righteous does not turn away from the Lord but runs to meet him and says, “My eyes are ever toward the Lord.” And when the Lord said, “Whom shall I send?” Isaiah offered himself of his own accord and said, “Behold, here I am.”
"For You shall set them low." For You shall rank them among those from whom in degradation and contempt You will turn away. "In Your leavings You shall make ready their countenance" [Psalm 21:12]. And in these things that Thou leavest, that is, in the desires of an earthly kingdom, You shall make ready their shamelessness for Your passion.
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Summary
Psalms 21:12 powerfully portrays the Lord's decisive and overwhelming victory over the enemies of His anointed king, promising their utter rout and humiliation. Through vivid military imagery, the verse underscores divine judgment and the unwavering protection God extends to those who trust in Him, revealing His active readiness to confront and defeat all opposition to His righteous rule and purposes. It is a declaration of God's sovereign and irresistible might.
Context
Literary Context
Psalm 21 is a psalm of thanksgiving, celebrating God's gracious deliverance and the victory He has granted to the king. It stands in close relationship with Psalm 20, which is a prayer offered before battle, seeking divine intervention for the king's success. In Psalm 21, the battle has been won, and the king attributes his triumph entirely to the Lord's strength and blessing, not his own might. Specifically, Psalm 21:11 describes the enemies' futile attempts to devise mischief and evil schemes against the king, setting the stage for verse 12. This verse then details the certain and devastating outcome of God's intervention against those very adversaries, functioning as a declaration of the result of God's active defense of His chosen one. The psalmist moves from the enemies' malicious intent to their inevitable downfall at God's hand.
Historical & Cultural Context
This psalm reflects the ancient Near Eastern understanding of kingship, where the king was often seen as God's chosen representative on earth, and his battles were, by extension, God's battles. Victory or defeat in war was frequently interpreted as a direct indicator of divine favor or displeasure. The imagery of arrows, bowstrings, and turning one's back in flight is deeply rooted in ancient military practices. Archers were crucial in battle, and a rout (enemies turning their backs and fleeing) signified a complete and humiliating defeat, often leading to heavy casualties among the fleeing. The king, though leading armies, understood that ultimate victory came from divine intervention, reinforcing the theological concept that "the battle is the Lord's," as seen in 1 Samuel 17:47 and throughout Israel's history, where God often intervened miraculously.
Key Themes
The verse contributes significantly to several major themes within the Psalter and the broader biblical narrative. It highlights Divine Judgment and Vengeance, emphasizing God's active and personal role in bringing about the downfall of the wicked and those who oppose His righteous will and His anointed. It powerfully illustrates God's Sovereignty in Battle, asserting that true victory is not a matter of human military might but of God's irresistible power and readiness to act on behalf of His chosen ones. The theme of the Utter Defeat of Enemies is central, with "make them turn their back" signifying a complete rout and flight, demonstrating the enemies' inability to withstand God's might and the humiliation of their defeat. Finally, the imagery of God making ready "thine arrows upon thy strings" underscores God's Readiness to Act decisively and precisely against all opposition, assuring His people of His constant vigilance and intervention to uphold justice and protect His covenant. This theme resonates with other passages describing God as a warrior, such as Exodus 15:3.
Exposition and Analysis
Key Word Analysis
From the primitive root H3559, meaning "to be erect," "to set up," "to establish," "to fix," or "to prepare." When applied to God preparing His arrows, it signifies a deliberate, purposeful, and effective action. It implies a meticulous and precise deployment of divine judgment, ensuring that the arrows are perfectly aimed and will achieve their intended devastating effect, not a hasty or random preparation. This preparation guarantees the certainty of the outcome.
Meaning "a cord (of a tent)" or "the string (of a bow)." In this context, it specifically refers to the bowstring, the critical component for launching arrows. The mention of "strings" emphasizes the readiness of the divine weapon, implying that the bow is drawn taut, the arrow is nocked, and the release is imminent. It highlights the immediate and poised nature of God's impending action.
A plural noun referring to "the face" (as the part that turns). Used here with a prepositional prefix ("against the face of them"), it means "in their presence" or "before their faces." This emphasizes the direct, inescapable, and personal nature of God's judgment. The enemies are confronted head-on with divine power; there is no hiding or avoiding this confrontation, ensuring they cannot escape or withstand His power.
Verse Breakdown
"Therefore shalt thou make them turn their back"
This clause declares the inevitable and divinely orchestrated consequence for the king's enemies. The "thou" refers to God, indicating His direct and sovereign agency in causing their rout and flight. It's not merely that they will flee, but that God will make them flee, highlighting His absolute control over the outcome of the conflict and the complete humiliation of the adversaries, who are forced to show their backs in shameful retreat.
"[when] thou shalt make ready [thine arrows] upon thy strings"
This describes the divine action that precipitates the enemies' defeat. The imagery of God preparing His arrows on His bowstrings portrays Him as a divine warrior, poised and ready to strike. "Making ready" implies a deliberate and precise act, suggesting that God's judgment is not haphazard but targeted and effective, ensuring the complete and decisive defeat of His foes through His direct intervention.
"against the face of them"
This final phrase emphasizes the directness, inescapability, and confrontational nature of God's judgment. The arrows are aimed directly at the enemies, leaving them no avenue for escape or defense. It underscores the personal and unavoidable nature of divine justice, where the adversaries are brought face-to-face with the irresistible power of God, experiencing His wrath directly.
Literary Devices
Psalms 21:12 employs several potent literary devices to convey its message of divine judgment and victory. The most prominent is Metaphor, where God is depicted as a divine warrior or archer. This imagery transforms the abstract concept of divine judgment into a concrete, relatable, and fearsome action, making God's power tangible and immediate. Closely related is Imagery, which is rich and vivid, painting a clear picture of arrows being readied on taut bowstrings and enemies turning their backs in panicked, humiliating flight. This sensory detail enhances the emotional impact and underscores the completeness of the defeat. Anthropomorphism is also present, as God is attributed with human-like actions (making ready arrows, having strings), allowing human understanding to grasp His active and personal involvement in earthly affairs. Finally, the phrase "make them turn their back" functions as Synecdoche, where a part (turning the back) represents the whole (complete defeat, rout, and flight). The overall effect is a powerful and dramatic declaration of God's sovereign and irresistible might against His adversaries.
Theological and Thematic Connections
This verse profoundly articulates God's active engagement in the affairs of His creation, particularly in defending His anointed and executing justice. It reinforces the biblical truth that God is not a passive observer but a divine warrior who intervenes decisively on behalf of His people. The defeat of the enemies is not merely a military outcome but a theological statement about God's righteousness, His unwavering commitment to uphold His covenant and promises, and His absolute sovereignty over all earthly powers. It assures believers that ultimate justice belongs to the Lord, and those who oppose His will or His people will inevitably face His certain judgment. This divine readiness to act serves as both a profound comfort to the faithful, knowing their defender is mighty, and a solemn warning to the wicked, demonstrating that God's sovereignty extends even to the outcomes of battles and the fate of nations.
Reflection and Application
For believers today, Psalm 21:12 offers profound assurance regarding God's unwavering protection and His ultimate justice, even when we face spiritual or personal battles that are not physical. While we may not encounter literal armies, we often contend with spiritual opposition, the schemes of evil, or various forms of adversity and injustice in the world. This verse reminds us that we serve a God who is not distant or indifferent but actively engaged, prepared, and poised to intervene on behalf of His faithful. It encourages us to trust in His sovereign power to defend us from the unseen forces of evil and to ultimately bring about righteousness in His perfect timing. Our confidence is not in our own strength, wisdom, or strategies, but in the Lord's readiness to fight for us, knowing that He will ultimately triumph over all that opposes His good purposes. This truth empowers us to stand firm in faith, knowing that though evil may seem to prevail for a time, God's decisive and inescapable judgment will ultimately establish His perfect justice and secure the victory for His people.
Questions for Reflection
FAQ
Is this verse promoting violence or human vengeance?
No, this verse is not promoting human violence or vengeance. Instead, it is a poetic and theological declaration of divine judgment and protection. The imagery of God as a warrior with arrows is a powerful metaphor for His sovereign power and His active role in executing justice and defending His anointed king. In the context of the Psalms, such language often describes God's just response to those who oppose His righteous rule and harm His people. It emphasizes that ultimate justice belongs to the Lord, as echoed in Romans 12:19, where believers are instructed not to take revenge but to leave room for God's wrath. The verse assures believers that God is actively engaged in upholding righteousness and will ultimately bring about the downfall of evil, ensuring that His purposes prevail.
Christ-Centered Fulfillment
Psalms 21:12 finds its ultimate and most profound fulfillment in Jesus Christ, the true and eternal Anointed King (Messiah). While the psalm initially celebrates the victory of an earthly king, it foreshadows the greater triumph of God's Son over all spiritual and physical opposition. The enemies who plot against the king in the Old Testament ultimately prefigure the spiritual forces of darkness—sin, death, and the devil—that conspired against Christ. Just as God made ready His arrows against the earthly king's adversaries, so too did He decisively act through Christ to defeat these ultimate enemies. On the cross, Jesus, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world, disarmed the powers and authorities, making a public spectacle of them (Colossians 2:15). His resurrection is the ultimate declaration that the "battle is the Lord's" and that the enemies have been made to "turn their back" in utter and eternal defeat. Furthermore, Christ's glorious return will bring the final and complete execution of divine judgment, where all who oppose Him will be utterly vanquished, and His righteous kingdom will be fully and eternally established (Revelation 19:11-16). Thus, Psalms 21:12 points to the decisive and eternal victory achieved by and through our Lord Jesus Christ, assuring believers of His triumph over all spiritual adversaries.