This Psalm has been called David's Triumphant Song, and we may remember it as the Royal Triumphal Ode. "The King" is most prominent throughout, and we shall read it to true profit if our meditation of Him shall be sweet while perusing it. We must crown Him with the glory of our salvation; singing of His love, and praising His power. The next Psalm – Psalm 22 – will take us to the foot of the Cross, this introduces us to the steps of the Throne.
C.H. Spurgeon
Verse 1. "The King shall joy in thy strength, O Lord". Jesus is a royal personage. The question "Art thou a king then?" received a full answer from the Saviour's lips: "Thou sayest that I am a king". To this end was I born, and for this purpose came I into this world, that I might bear witness unto the truth". He is not mearly A King, but THE King: king over minds and hearts, reigning with a dominion of love, before which all other rule is but brute force. Jesus has wrought out the salvation of His people, but as a man He found His strength in Jehovah His God. That strength so abundantly given is here gratefully acknowledged and made the subject of joy - "The KING shall joy in thy strength, O Lord".
C.S.H.
Verse 3. "For thou preventest him with the blessing of goodness …" The word "prevent" is now generally used to represent the idea of hindrance. "Thou preventest him," would mean commonly "Thou hinderest him". But here the word "prevent" means to "go before". Thou goest before him with the blessings of thy goodness as a pioneer, to make crooked ways straight, and rough places smooth; or, as one who strews flowers in the path of another, to render the way beautiful to the eye, and pleasant to tread.
Samuel Martin
Verse 3. "Thou preventest him with the blessings of thy goodness". A large portion of our blessing is given to us before our asking or seeking. Existence, reason, intellect, the calling of our nation to the knowledge of Christ, and Christ Himself, with many other things are unsought and yet bestowed on men; as was David's right to the throne. No one ever asked for a Saviour till God of His own motion promised "the seed of the woman".
William Plumer
Verse 4. "He asked life of thee, and thou gavest it him, even length of days for ever and ever". The first words may suit king David, but the "length of days for ever and ever" can only refer to the King Messiah. Jesus, as man, prayed for resurrection, and He received it … and "because I live, ye shall live also" is the delightful intimation which the Saviour gives us, that we are partakers of His eternal life. We had never found this jewel if He had not rolled away the stone which covered it.
C. H. Spurgeon
Verse 5. "His glory is great in thy salvation: honour and majesty hast thou laid upon him". Christ was "a man of sorrows" on earth, but He is full of joy in heaven. He that "wipes away all tears from the eyes of His people" surely has none of His own. There was a joy set before Him before He suffered, and doubtless it was given Him when he sat down at God's right hand.
John Hurrion
Verse 9. "Thou shalt make them as a fiery oven in the time of thine anger". Those that might have had Christ to rule and save them, but rejected Him, and fought against Him; even the remembrance of that will be enough to make them to eternity a fiery oven unto themselves.
Matthew Henry
Verse 9. "… the time of thine anger". If God be willing to pour out His heavy displeasure upon those that displease Him, what can hinder His mighty arm from performing? Creatures indeed may be angry, but oftentimes, like drones without stings, cannot hurt. Saul may be angry at David, but cannot find him; Satan may desire to kill Job; Jonah may be angry till death for Nineveh's preservation; princes, if they take prisoners, may have them rescued from them again – as Lot was from the king of Sodom; or bought with a price – as Joseph of the Ishmaelites. BUT, no power can rescue us from God's anger, no ransom but Christ's blood can redeem us.
John Cragge
Verse 12. "Therefore … thou shalt make ready thine arrows upon thine strings". The judgments of God are called his "arrows", being sharp, swift, sure and deadly. What a dreadful situation, to be set as a target at which these arrows are directed. No further commentary is needed on this verse.
George Horne
