Psalms 20 and 21 form a pair of royal Psalms. Psalm 20 is a prayer of supplication that LORD will give the king success in battle. Psalm 21 is a prayer of thanksgiving for honoring the request in Psalm 20.

Psalm 20

1-5 – The congregation or nation speaking to the king asks the LORD to give the king success in battle.

6-8 – The congregation speaks about the king; they proclaim their faith in the LORD alone to give the king victory.

9 – Here is a final plea to the LORD to save the king in battle

Psalm 21

1-7 – We begin with a prayer of thanksgiving that the LORD has given the king success in battle. Verse 7 is the stated assumption that the LORD’s blessing on the king is because the king trusts in the LORD.

8-12 – The congregation appears to be talking to the king and they declare their confidence in the king’s future success.

13 – The LORD is praised for his strength and power to give the king success in battle.

Psalm 19 celebrates the Torah, the Law of Moses, which sets out the requirements of the Covenant people in relationship with God. In particular, the Law is celebrated as the supreme revelation of God, until of course the incarnation of Jesus Christ.

1-6 – The heavens declare the glory of God: including, his power, wisdom, worthiness of honor and worship. This is the general revelation of God about himself, but without words.

7-11 – The Law of the LORD, the Torah, is the LORD’s specific revelation of himself through words. The Law of the LORD is perfect for reviving the soul. This includes God’s testimony about himself, his laws, his precepts, his commandments, and his rules. Again, all of which are true and perfect. They enlighten and reward the one who keeps them.

12-14 – This Psalm leads the singer to a humble response, to look at one’s own sins and failures. The Psalmist asks to be kept from presumptuous sins that have dominion or power over us. Finally, the Psalmist comes to verse 14, which uses words of sacrifice and worship, that his words and his meditations would be acceptable as a sacrifice in God’s sight.

Psalm 18 is a royal song. It celebrates the way God has shown love for his people by giving the Davidic monarchy and by preserving David through many dangers. The text of this Psalm is almost identical to 2 Samuel 22. 2 Samuel 22 is David’s personal expression of gratitude to the Lord. Psalm 18 is an adaptation of the song for the whole nation to sing because their wellbeing is now tied to the Davidic Kings. The nation is praying that the Davidic Kings would be great leaders, so that the nation may carry out their God given purpose of bringing light to the gentiles.

1-3 – The Lord is my strength. Here is the main theme of the Psalm. The LORD is my:

Strength, my rock, my fortress, and my deliverer. The LORD is my shield, the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. (v:18 – my support)

The Lord keeps David safe against his enemies.

4-6 – In my distress, I prayed to God for help. God heard my voice and rescued me.

7-19 – Here is an imaginative scene of a heavenly rescue.

20-30 – David claims his own righteousness, and God rewarded David in this deliverance.

- 30 – following the LORD’s perfect (blameless) way, enables a man to become blameless

31 – 45 – The LORD has given David mercy. God’s gift of mercy was military prowess over the enemy.

46 – 50 – The LORD is faithful to his anointed king. David’s prominence has come from the LORD and not David’s own power or greed or lust.

49 – Paul uses this verse in Romans 15:9 as part of his proof that it was always God’s plan that the gentiles receive the light and the knowledge of God through a Davidic King, in this case Jesus.