Psalm 21 – The King Rejoices
In Psalm 21 – the king rejoices, but why? What are his reasons for rejoicing? What might we learn from this psalm of thanksgiving?
Psalm 21 – Part 1
We learn in the first line of Psalm 21 why the king rejoices. The people speak to God.
“The king rejoices in your strength, Lord.
How great is his joy in the victories you give!” (1)
On the surface it appears simple. The king rejoices because of God’s strength which gave him victory in battle. In Psalm 20 we heard a prayer for victory for the king and that he be given his heart’s desire. Psalm 21 shows the answer to that prayer. God gave the king his heart’s desire, to win over his enemies.
“You have granted him his heart’s desire
and have not withheld the request of his lips.
You came to greet him with rich blessings
and placed a crown of pure gold on his head.
He asked you for life, and you gave it to him—
length of days, for ever and ever.
Through the victories you gave, his glory is great;
you have bestowed on him splendor and majesty.
Surely you have granted him unending blessings
and made him glad with the joy of your presence.” (2-6)
God placed a crown on David’s head. But what’s even more important is that God answered David’s prayer.
Psalm 21 – Part 2
The psalm then shifts from addressing God to addressing the king. The people tell the king that his hands will gain victory because of God.
“Your hand will lay hold on all your enemies;
your right hand will seize your foes.
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.
You will destroy their descendants from the earth,
their posterity from mankind.
Though they plot evil against you
and devise wicked schemes, they cannot succeed.
You will make them turn their backs
when you aim at them with drawn bow.” (8-12)
Not only has God placed a crown of gold on the king’s head, he will continue to protect the king and give him victory in battle. Based on his experience of answered prayer, the psalmist is confident in predicting future victories. All reasons for praising God:
“Be exalted in your strength, Lord;
we will sing and praise your might.” (13)
Reasons for Rejoicing
It is not only the king who rejoices at his victory, his people do to. They take part in his victory. I can imagine crowds cheering for the king and his army as they return victorious. It is a reason for rejoicing, but a shallow one. I’m reminded of Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem before the tide turned and the fickle crowd that cheered him one moment, jeered at him and called for his crucifixion the next. Such is the nature of human popularity. It shifts in the wind.
When our school’s sports team wins, we bask in reflected glory. “We won!” We clamor with the crowds. But when they lose it quickly changes to “they lost.” The one victory gives way to the need for another, and another, and another.
Though it may be thousands of years since this psalm was written, human nature remains much the same. The people cheer at the victory of the king. Then when he imposes laws and taxes, or if he loses a battle, they will mumble amongst themselves.
No, the real reason for rejoicing is not for victory that is momentary and gives way to the need for more victories. The reason for rejoicing is because God answered the prayers of God’s people.
Answered Prayer
As stated in one commentary: “Every Christian should know the thrill of frequent, wonderful answers to prayer. When a Christian does not enjoy the blessing of answered prayer, it is because he is prayerless, he is praying wrongly, or he has some hindrance in prayer.” (Enduring Word Bible Commentary Psalm 21)
If you don’t know what it is to have a prayer answered, then you aren’t praying. How wonderful to have a prayer answered. This is a reason to rejoice, one that lasts and isn’t determined by a limited event.
Psalm 21 – The King Rejoices
In Psalm 21 – the king rejoices, and so do we. We rejoice because we have a God who listens and responds when we turn to God in prayer. Just as God came out to meet David and placed a crown on David’s head, our God meets us, extending grace and blessings upon us.
What has been your experience of answered prayer?
(For another take on this psalm see Psalm 21: Would You Like to be Queen for a Day! – Patricia M Robertson)
This post is part of a series of blog posts on the Psalms. Sign up to follow this blog and receive a free copy of Still Dancing, the second book in my Dancing through Life Series. click here to sign up
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