Salmos 21
Bob Utley · You Can Understand the Bible
Salmos 21
CONTEXTUAL INSIGHTS Psalm 20 and 21 may be connected. Psalm 20 is the liturgical prayer for victory in battle and Psalm 21 is a liturgical welcoming of the King and soldiers home in victory. There are several Psalms in this first book of the Psalms (Psalm 1-41) that deal with this theme. See Introduction to the Psalms, VI. B. Notice the possible strophes. By comparing the strophe divisions from various English translations a person can ascertain how many main truths are expressed in a psalm. NASB – 2 NKJV – 5 NRSV – 4 NJB – 6 Obviously it is difficult to be certain of how to identify strophes. There is often no textual marker. Modern students must check the parallelism check the Hebrew beat pattern check related subject matter (every strophe has one major subject)
Salmos 21:1-6
21:1 Note the synonymous parallelism between "in Your strength" and "in Your salvation." The term (BDB 447, FEMININE SINGULAR) translated salvation has several possible connotations. prosperity – Job 30:15 deliverance/help – 2 Sam. 10:11; 1 Chr. 19:12; Ps. 22:1 salvation – Gen. 49:18; Ps. 3:2,8; 14:7; 35:3; 53:6; 62:2; and many more victory – Exod. 15:2; Ps. 20:6; 21:1,5; 44:4; 68:20-21; 118:14,15,21 YHWH is our great hope and there is no other! In light of this, faithful followers (in this context, the King) will continue to be glad – BDB 970, KB 1330, Qal IMPERFECT, cf. Ps. 9:2 rejoice – BDB 162, KB 189, Qal IMPERFECT, cf. Ps. 9:14 SPECIAL TOPIC: SALVATION (OT term) ▣ "O Lord" This is the covenant name for Israel's God, from the VERB "to be." SPECIAL TOPIC: NAMES FOR DEITY, D. 21:2 This verse seems to link to Ps. 20:4 and is connected to the King's prayer for military victory. Notice the two parallel PERFECT VERBS (i.e., completed action). has given – BDB 678, KB 733, Qal PERFECT has not withheld — BDB 586, KB 602, negated, Qal PERFECT ▣ NASB, NKJV, NET, NRSV, Peshitta "request" "prayer" "wish" "ask" The word (BDB 77, KB 92) is found only here in the OT. It seems, in context, to refer to a ritual liturgical prayer before a battle, possibly in the tabernacle/temple. Remember, for words only used once in the OT (hapax legomena), there are only so many ways to seek its meaning/connotation. the main truth of the strophe Hebrew parallelism relate cognate roots from other Semitic languages from the same period context, context, context; words have meaning only in contexts ▣ "Selah" See note at Ps. 3:2 and the Introduction to Psalms, VII. Some commentators feel it denotes a point in the liturgy where there is a transition to another liturgical act (i.e., praise, song, sacrifice, another liturgy read, bowing, etc.). 21:3-6 These are the actions of YHWH on behalf of the King. meet him with the blessings of good things (i.e., YHWH Himself welcomes the victorious king) set a crown of fine gold on his head (i.e., a reaffirmation of kingship or the liturgical transfer of the battle helmet for the royal crown) gave him his prayer for life (i.e., victory in battle) placed upon him splendor (BDB 217, KB 241) majesty (BDB 214, KB 240) – these are descriptions of YHWH (cf. 1 Chr. 16:27; Ps. 45:3; 96:6; 104:1; 111:3), but because of YHWH's image in mankind (cf. Gen. 1:26-27), they share these attributes (cf. Ps. 8:5) make him blessed for a long life ‘olam must be interpreted in context, see SPECIAL TOPIC: FOREVER a literary parallel would be "long live the king," cf. 1 Sam. 10:24; 1 Kgs. 1:25,31,34,39; Dan. 2:4; 3:9 make him joyful in Your presence (this would denote temple worship) It is not just the King who is the recipient of YHWH's actions, but through him all the covenant people. ▣ "forever" See same root (BDB 723 I) in v. 5.
Salmos 21:7-13
21:7 "the king trusts in the Lord" This is an affirmation of the king's faith orientation (BDB 105, KB 120, Qal active participle, cf. Ps. 4:5; 9:10; 13:5; 22:4,5,9; and many more). The king has strength, joy, and deliverance only through YHWH. ▣ "the lovingkindness of the Most High" The special covenant term, "lovingkindness" (hesed, BDB 338, see SPECIAL TOPIC: LOVINGKINDNESS) means YHWH's covenant loyalty. YHWH is always faithful, the King and the nation will be also, if they continue to "trust" (BDB 105, KB 120) in Him (cf. Ps. 125:1). Nehemiah 9 is a record of YHWH's faithfulness and Israel's unfaithfulness! For "Most High" (Elyon, BDB 751) see SPECIAL TOPIC: NAMES FOR DEITY, B. ▣ NASB, LXX, JPSOA "he will not be shaken" NKJV, NRSV, Peshitta "he shall not be moved" "he will always be secure" "will keep him from falling" The VERB (BDB 556, KB 555, Niphal IMPERFECT) means "totter," "shake," or "slip." It can be used in several senses. place on the throne security in life godly lifestyle To see the different senses see Ps. 10:6; 15:5; 16:8; 21:7; 30:6; 62:2,6; 112:6; Prov. 10:30; 12:3. There is stability in YHWH but not in a fallen world. 21:8-12 These verses describe what YHWH (i.e., through the king's army) will do if the king and people stay faithful. power over your enemies your enemies will be destroyed (see SPECIAL TOPIC: FIRE) your enemies and their descendants will be cut off and disappear your enemies will not succeed in their plans (i.e., to plan against YHWH's king and covenant people is to plan against Him, cf. Ps. 21:11a; Ps. 2:1-3; 83:1-5) your enemies will retreat in battle Some scholars (AB) see these verses as describing YHWH's actions in battle on behalf of His covenant king and people (i.e., YHWH as the Divine Warrior, Holy War imagery). ▣ "hand" This is a Hebrew idiom of the power to act. SPECIAL TOPIC: HAND. 21:9 "The Lord will swallow them up" This VERB (BDB 118, KB 134, Piel IMPERFECT) is an idiom for complete destruction (cf. Job 2:3; 10:8; Lam. 2:2,5,8). Sheol was personified as an animal which swallows people (cf. Num. 16:30; Prov. 1:12; Isa. 5:14; Hab. 2:5). 21:12a This imagery is used of troops fleeing in disarray and defeat. They have turned their backs to YHWH's covenant army and king. 21:13 This verse concludes the Psalm with commanded praises of YHWH. Be exalted – BDB 926, KB 1202, Qal IMPERATIVE, cf. 2 Sam. 22:47; Ps. 18:46; 46:10; 57:5,11; 108:5 We will sing – BDB 1010, KB 1479, Qal COHORTATIVE We will praise – BDB 274, KB 273, Piel COHORTATIVE ▣ "Your strength" This mantra begins the Psalm (cf. Ps. 21:1) and closes (cf. Ps. 21:13) the Psalm. God is the chief character of the Bible. It is His book; it is about Him!