Psalm 21:2

Thou hast given him his heart's desire, and hast not withholden the request of his lips. Selah.

EXPOSITORY (ENGLISH BIBLE)

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(2) Request.—The Hebrew word occurs nowhere else, but is connected with a root, to be poor, and, therefore, in want. The “not” is emphatic: “And the request of his lips thou hast by no means withheld.” The mention in Psalm 21:4 of a prayer for long life, or perhaps, rather, continuance of life, suggests that this “request” was uttered in sickness. On the other hand the general tone of the psalm connects it with a victory.

Benson Commentary

Psalm 21:2. Thou hast given him his heart’s desire — Thou hast granted all that he desired in his heart, as well as that which he openly requested with his lips. “The desire of Christ’s heart was his own resurrection and exaltation, for the benefit of his church; and now he ever liveth to make request with his lips, for the conversion and salvation of sinners. Such desires will be granted, and such requests will never be withholden. Let us be careful to frame ours after that all-perfect model of divine love.” — Horne.

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

21:1-6 Happy the people whose king makes God's strength his confidence, and God's salvation his joy; who is pleased with all the advancements of God kingdom, and trusts God to support him in all he does for the service of it. All our blessings are blessings of goodness, and are owing, not to any merit of ours, but only to God's goodness. But when God's blessings come sooner, and prove richer than we imagine; when they are given before we prayed for them, before we were ready for them, nay, when we feared the contrary; then it may be truly said that he prevented, or went before us, with them. Nothing indeed prevented, or went before Christ, but to mankind never was any favour more preventing than our redemption by Christ. Thou hast made him to be a universal, everlasting blessing to the world, in whom the families of the earth are, and shall be blessed; and so thou hast made him exceeding glad with the countenance thou hast given to his undertaking, and to him in the prosecution of it. The Spirit of prophecy rises from what related to the king, to that which is peculiar to Christ; none other is blessed for ever, much less a blessing for ever.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Thou hast given him his heart's desire - See the notes at Psalm 20:4. This had been the prayer of the people that God would "grant him according to his own heart, and fulfil all his counsel," and this desire had now been granted. All that had been wished; all that had been prayed for by himself or by the people, had been granted.

And hast not withholden - Hast not denied or refused.

The request of his lips - The request, or the desire which his lips had uttered. The meaning is, that his petitions had been filly granted.

Selah - See the notes at Psalm 3:2.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

2. The sentiment affirmed in the first clause is reaffirmed by the negation of its opposite in the second.

Matthew Poole's Commentary

No text from Poole on this verse.

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

Thou hast given him his heart's desire,.... Which the church had prayed for in Psalm 20:4; whatever Christ's heart desired, or his lips requested, has been given him;

and hast not withholden the request of his lips. Whatever he asked in the council and covenant of peace was granted; he asked for all the elect, as his spouse and bride; these were the desire of his heart and eyes, and they were given him; he asked for all the blessings of grace for them, and all grace was given to them in him; he asked for glory, for eternal life, and it was promised him; and not only the promise of it was put into his hand, but the thing itself; see Psalm 2:8, 1 John 5:11; and Psalm 20:4; whatever he requested of his Father, when here on earth, was granted; he always heard him; that memorable prayer of his in John 17:1 is heard and answered, both in what respects himself, his own glorification, and the conversion, sanctification, union, preservation, and glorification of his people; whatever he now desires and requests in heaven, as the advocate and intercessor for his saints, is ever fulfilled; which is an instance of the great regard Jehovah has unto him, and may be considered as a reason of his joy in him.

Selah; on this word; see Gill on Psalm 3:2.

Geneva Study Bible

Thou hast given him his heart's desire, and hast not withholden the request of his lips. Selah.

EXEGETICAL (ORIGINAL LANGUAGES)

Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

2. This verse refers chiefly, but not exclusively, to the prayers for the success of the expedition referred to in Psalm 20:3-5.

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 2. - Thou hast given him his heart' s desire (comp. Psalm 20:4, "Grant thee according to thine own heart"). And hast not withholden the request of his lips. "Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh." The deliverance from his enemies, which David had earnestly desired in his heart, he had also devoutly requested with his lips (Psalm 20:1, 5). Selah. The pause here may have been for the presentation of a thank-offering. Psalm 21:2

Keil and Delitzsch Biblical Commentary on the Old Testament

(Heb.: 21:2-3) The Psalm begins with thanksgiving for the bodily and spiritual blessings which Jahve has bestowed and still continues to bestow upon the king, in answer to his prayer. This occupies the three opening tetrastichs, of which these verses form the first. עז (whence עזּך, as in Psalm 74:13, together with עזּך, Psalm 63:3, and frequently) is the power that has been made manifest in the king, which has turned away his affliction; ישׁוּעה is the help from above which has freed him out of his distress. The יגיל, which follows the מה of the exclamation, is naturally shortened by the Kerמ into יגל (with the retreat of the tone); cf. on the contrary Proverbs 20:24, where מה is interrogative and, according to the sense, negative). The ἁπ. λεγ. ארשׁת has the signification eager desire, according to the connection, the lxx δέηεσιν, and the perhaps also cognate רוּשׁ, to be poor; the Arabic Arab. wrš, avidum esse, must be left out of consideration according to the laws of the interchange of consonants, whereas ירשׁ, Arab. wrṯ, capere, captare (cf. Arab. irṯ equals wirṯ an inheritance), but not רוּשׁ (vid., Psalm 34:11), belongs apparently to the same root. Observe the strong negation בּל: no, thou hast not denied, but done the very opposite. The fact of the music having to strike up here favours the supposition, that the occasion of the Psalm is the fulfilment of some public, well-known prayer.