Psalms Reading – 1.20.2022
Psalm 21
For the director of music. A psalm of David.
1 The king rejoices in your strength, LORD.
How great is his joy in the victories you give!
2 You have granted him his heart’s desire
and have not withheld the request of his lips.
3 You came to greet him with rich blessings
and placed a crown of pure gold on his head.
4 He asked you for life, and you gave it to him—
length of days, for ever and ever.
5 Through the victories you gave, his glory is great;
you have bestowed on him splendor and majesty.
6 Surely you have granted him unending blessings
and made him glad with the joy of your presence.
7 For the king trusts in the LORD;
through the unfailing love of the Most High
he will not be shaken.
8 Your hand will lay hold on all your enemies;
your right hand will seize your foes.
9 When you appear for battle,
you will burn them up as in a blazing furnace.
The LORD will swallow them up in his wrath,
and his fire will consume them.
10 You will destroy their descendants from the earth,
their posterity from mankind.
11 Though they plot evil against you
and devise wicked schemes, they cannot succeed.
12 You will make them turn their backs
when you aim at them with drawn bow.
13 Be exalted in your strength, LORD;
we will sing and praise your might.
This royal psalm picks up the similar themes from Psalm 20 and answers the prayers for victory asked in that psalm. Psalm 20 addresses David as the people sing a blessing over him, whereas, Psalm 21 praises God for how he has provided success for the king.
These two psalms remind us that we should not only ask God for help but, also, give thanks to God when he answers our prayers. Can you envision the energy of the worshipers who first sang asking for help and then sang in response with praise and thanksgiving for the answer?
The king rejoices in the strength the Lord has given him. Because his heart’s desires aligned with God’s will, God answered. God poured out abundant blessings over and over revealing the greatness of His glory.
I love the line that David was made glad with the joy of God’s presence. Unlike so many others, David knew God personally. The heart of the Christian faith is such a close connection that propels us to be effective disciple-makers of Jesus Christ.
David enters into this joyful place because he has put his absolute trust in the Lord. Such trust is possible because he has experiential knowledge of the Lord’s unfailing love for him. Do you know of God’s unfailing love for you as revealed in Jesus Christ? Have you received that love?
Stop, reflect, and enjoy this holy place that David has entered as you enter into it yourself. Declare with David, “Be exalted in your strength, Lord; we will sing and praise your might.”
Memory Verse:
Psalm 19:14, May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.
Question(s) to Consider:
Are you careful to give thanks to God for his answers? For what would you give Him thanks right now? Are you happy in the joy of God’s presence? If not, what is holding you back?