Chapter 20
This psalm is a prayer for the kings of Israel, but with relation to Christ.
—Even the greatest of men may be much in trouble. Neither the crown on the king's head, nor
the grace in his heart, would make him free from trouble. Even the greatest of men must be much
in prayer. Let none expect benefit by the prayers of the church, or their friends, who are capable
of praying for themselves, yet neglect it. Pray that God would protect his person, and preserve his
life. That God would enable him to go on in his undertakings for the public good. We may know
that God accepts our spiritual sacrifices, if by his Spirit he kindles in our souls a holy fire of piety
and love to God. Also, that the Lord would crown his enterprises with success. Our first step to
victory in spiritual warfare is to trust only in the mercy and grace of God; all who trust in themselves
will soon be cast down. Believers triumph in God, and his revelation of himself to them, by which
they distinguish themselves from those that live without God in the world. Those who make God
and his name their praise, may make God and his name their trust. This was the case when the pride
and power of Jewish unbelief, and pagan idolatry, fell before the sermons and lives of the humble
believers in Jesus. This is the case in every conflict with our spiritual enemies, when we engage
them in the name, the spirit, and the power of Christ; and this will be the case at the last day, when
the world, with the prince of it, shall be brought down and fall; but believers, risen-from the dead,
through the resurrection of the Lord, shall stand, and sing his praises in heaven. In Christ's salvation
let us rejoice; and set up our banners in the name of the Lord our God, assured that by the saving
strength of his right hand we shall be conquerors over every enemy.
Chapter 21
Chapter Outline
Thanksgiving for victory. (1–6)
Confidence of further success. (7–13)Verses 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,