The content of Psalm 21 naturally follows the content of Psalm 20 and seems to flow from it. Psalm 20 is a beautiful expression of God’s rescue of those who trust in him Psalm 21 rejoices in the blessings bestowed after that powerful rescue.
While David rejoices because God has finally established him as a king who anticipates the eternal kingship of Christ, this psalm also applies to all believers. Recall from our look at Psalm 20 that every believer reflects Christ’s image as a prophet, priest, and king.
The first section of Psalm 21 is a litany of praise for God’s powerful rescue and his abundant blessings:
O Lord, in your strength the king rejoices,
and in your salvation how greatly he exults!
You have given him his heart’s desire
and have not withheld the request of his lips. Selah
For you meet him with rich blessings;
you set a crown of fine gold upon his head.
He asked life of you; you gave it to him,
length of days forever and ever.
His glory is great through your salvation;
splendor and majesty you bestow on him.
For you make him most blessed forever;
you make him glad with the joy of your presence.
For the king trusts in the Lord,
and through the steadfast love of the Most High he shall not be moved (Psalm 21:1-7, ESV).
The next block of text confesses how God will judge all those who hate him and conspire against him:
Your hand will find out all your enemies;
your right hand will find out those who hate you.
You will make them as a blazing oven
when you appear.
The Lord will swallow them up in his wrath,
and fire will consume them.
You will destroy their descendants from the earth,
and their offspring from among the children of man.
Though they plan evil against you,
though they devise mischief, they will not succeed.
For you will put them to flight;
you will aim at their faces with your bows (8-12, ESV).
Those who plan evil against God will be totally destroyed, but God will be exalted.
Be exalted, O Lord, in your strength!
We will sing and praise your power (13, ESV).
When God displays his power and showers his blessings, the only proper response is praise.
May you see his power displayed today! May you bathe in his blessings forever!
Glenda Faye Mathes 