Psalm 21 contains praise in response to God’s answering the intercession for the king in Psalm 20. While it may be a thanksgiving after battle victory, it is more probably a thanksgiving in anticipation of it, inspired by a prophetic oracle claiming that the intercession of Psalm 20 has been heard. This psalm also testifies that the king’s power derives from Yahweh (21:1, 5, 7, 9, 13).

21:1–6 The liturgy begins by addressing Yahweh directly with a thanksgiving that appears to respond to Yahweh’s answering the intercession of Psalm 20. You have granted him the desire of his heart, as requested earlier, “May he give you the desire of your heart” (20:4, cf. also 21:2b and 20:5b). At the forefront is the celebration of Yahweh’s strength, as a literal translation of verse 1 shows, “Yahweh, in …