Fathers

Psalms 21

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The king shall joy in thy strength, O LORD; and in thy salvation how greatly shall he rejoice! Thou hast given him his heart's desire, and hast not withholden the request of his lips. Selah. For thou preventest him with the blessings of goodness: thou settest a crown of pure gold on his head. He asked life of thee, and thou gavest it him, even length of days for ever and ever. His glory is great in thy salvation: honour and majesty hast thou laid upon him. For thou hast made him most blessed for ever: thou hast made him exceeding glad with thy countenance. For the king trusteth in the LORD, and through the mercy of the most High he shall not be moved. Thine hand shall find out all thine enemies: thy right hand shall find out those that hate thee. Thou shalt make them as a fiery oven in the time of thine anger: the LORD shall swallow them up in his wrath, and the fire shall devour them. Their fruit shalt thou destroy from the earth, and their seed from among the children of men. For they intended evil against thee: they imagined a mischievous device, which they are not able to perform. Therefore shalt thou make them turn their back, when thou shalt make ready thine arrows upon thy strings against the face of them. Be thou exalted, LORD, in thine own strength: so will we sing and praise thy power.

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What the Fathers say

Psalms 21:4

Eastern Fathers

Irenaeus

"He asked life of Thee, and Thou gavest him length of days for ever and ever;" indicating that it is the Father of all who imparts continuance for ever and ever on those who are saved. For life does not arise from us, nor from our own nature; but it is bestowed according to the grace of God. And therefore he who shall preserve the life bestowed upon him, and give thanks to Him who imparted it, shall receive also length of days for ever and ever. …

Against Heresies 2:34.3 ↗

Western Saints

Augustine of Hippo

"He asked life; and You gave Him:" He asked a resurrection, saying, "Father, glorify Your Son;" [John 17:1] and You gave it Him, "Length of days for ever and ever" [Psalm 21:4]. The prolonged ages of this world which the Church was to have, and after them an eternity, world without end.

Exposition on Psalm 21 ↗

Thomas Aquinas

Next he shows how the petition of his lips is fulfilled: hence he says, "He asked life of you," when he asked you for the resurrection: Ps. 40: "But you, O Lord, have mercy on me, and raise me up, and I will repay them." And this was given to him: Ps. 2: "Ask of me, and I will give you the nations as your inheritance": Lk. 11: "Everyone who asks receives." Likewise every saint also asks for this, namely life, and especially eternal life: Ps. …

Exposition on the Psalms of David ↗