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.
Psalms 21 stands as a powerful testament to God's faithfulness and the blessings He bestows upon those who trust in Him. Often seen as a companion to Psalms 20, where the people of Israel and David prayed for victory before battle, Psalms 21 offers a resounding "thank you" after the triumph. It's a celebration of God's strength, a declaration of David's joy, and an anticipation of future victories secured by the Lord's unwavering support.
Thanksgiving for Past Victories (Psalms 21:1-7)
The psalm opens with an expression of the king's joy in the Lord's strength (Psalms 21:1). David acknowledges that his victories are not his own doing, but a direct result of God's favor and power. He praises God for granting him his heart's desire, including victory over his enemies (Psalms 21:1-2). This echoes the sentiment found throughout the Old Testament, where God's people recognize Him as the source of their success and protection.
The psalm highlights the abundant blessings bestowed upon David, including the preservation of his life, the majesty associated with his kingship, and the joy of God's presence (Psalms 21:3-6). The mention of "length of days forever and ever" (Psalms 21:4) is particularly significant. It points forward to the Messiah, a descendant of David who would reign eternally. This connection is further strengthened by God's promise in 2 Samuel 7:11-16, where He establishes David's lineage on the throne forever. These promises, coupled with the tangible victories David experienced, fueled the confidence of David and his people in God's goodness and faithfulness.
What was the key to David's blessings? The answer lies in God's faithful love, or hesed in Hebrew (Psalms 21:7). This covenant faithfulness between God and David provided unshakable stability. The intimacy of their relationship allowed God to act freely on the king's behalf.
Anticipation of Future Triumph (Psalms 21:8-13)
The second half of Psalms 21 shifts its focus to the future, anticipating continued victories for King David, victories that are credited to God (Psalms 21:8-13). The psalm speaks of God "swallowing up" the enemies of His chosen people, emphasizing His power to overcome any opposition.
The psalm reminds us that we cannot excuse sinful behavior by pointing to the sins of our ancestors. Those who persist in wickedness can expect to face God's judgment. The passage uses vivid imagery to depict the fate of David's enemies. They will flee in terror, as if facing a drawn bow pointed directly at them. This illustrates the depth of faith the people possessed in God's power and His plans.
Regardless of the plots devised by David's enemies, God would turn their plans against them (Psalms 21:11-12). The psalm concludes with a call to exalt and praise God's strength and power forever (Psalms 21:13). This is a fitting end to a psalm that celebrates God's faithfulness and anticipates His continued protection.
Psalms 21 serves as a reminder that our strength and joy are rooted in God. By trusting in His faithfulness and seeking His presence, we can experience victory over our enemies and live in the fullness of His blessings. Like David, we can confidently declare that the Lord is our strength and our song, our salvation and our hope.
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.
Psalms 21 stands as a powerful testament to God's faithfulness and the blessings He bestows upon those who trust in Him. Often seen as a companion to Psalms 20, where the people of Israel and David prayed for victory before battle, Psalms 21 offers a resounding "thank you" after the triumph. It's a celebration of God's strength, a declaration of David's joy, and an anticipation of future victories secured by the Lord's unwavering support.
Thanksgiving for Past Victories (Psalms 21:1-7)
The psalm opens with an expression of the king's joy in the Lord's strength (Psalms 21:1). David acknowledges that his victories are not his own doing, but a direct result of God's favor and power. He praises God for granting him his heart's desire, including victory over his enemies (Psalms 21:1-2). This echoes the sentiment found throughout the Old Testament, where God's people recognize Him as the source of their success and protection.
The psalm highlights the abundant blessings bestowed upon David, including the preservation of his life, the majesty associated with his kingship, and the joy of God's presence (Psalms 21:3-6). The mention of "length of days forever and ever" (Psalms 21:4) is particularly significant. It points forward to the Messiah, a descendant of David who would reign eternally. This connection is further strengthened by God's promise in 2 Samuel 7:11-16, where He establishes David's lineage on the throne forever. These promises, coupled with the tangible victories David experienced, fueled the confidence of David and his people in God's goodness and faithfulness.
What was the key to David's blessings? The answer lies in God's faithful love, or hesed in Hebrew (Psalms 21:7). This covenant faithfulness between God and David provided unshakable stability. The intimacy of their relationship allowed God to act freely on the king's behalf.
Anticipation of Future Triumph (Psalms 21:8-13)
The second half of Psalms 21 shifts its focus to the future, anticipating continued victories for King David, victories that are credited to God (Psalms 21:8-13). The psalm speaks of God "swallowing up" the enemies of His chosen people, emphasizing His power to overcome any opposition.
The psalm reminds us that we cannot excuse sinful behavior by pointing to the sins of our ancestors. Those who persist in wickedness can expect to face God's judgment. The passage uses vivid imagery to depict the fate of David's enemies. They will flee in terror, as if facing a drawn bow pointed directly at them. This illustrates the depth of faith the people possessed in God's power and His plans.
Regardless of the plots devised by David's enemies, God would turn their plans against them (Psalms 21:11-12). The psalm concludes with a call to exalt and praise God's strength and power forever (Psalms 21:13). This is a fitting end to a psalm that celebrates God's faithfulness and anticipates His continued protection.
Psalms 21 serves as a reminder that our strength and joy are rooted in God. By trusting in His faithfulness and seeking His presence, we can experience victory over our enemies and live in the fullness of His blessings. Like David, we can confidently declare that the Lord is our strength and our song, our salvation and our hope.