PSALM 21:1 & 8–13 In Your Strength
READ: PSALM 21:1 & 8–13
v. 1 “O LORD, in your strength the king rejoices, and in your salvation how greatly he exults!”
In Psalm 21 David celebrates the office of king. God gave his ancient people Israel a king to rule and guide them. As their ruler, he was instructed to maintain law and order in society. The king blessed God’s people by his leadership and wisdom, by protecting the people from their enemies, and delivering them.
Human kings and government officials enjoy great prestige and power. They command nations and armies. They determine policy and make law. Psalm 21:1 reminds the king that he is God’s representative. He can do no more and no less than God commands. Here David teaches that the king’s strength is in the LORD. The king should rejoice in God’s might and power. The king’s arm is only as strong as God makes it.
Psalm 21 strikes a thankful tone in regard to the king. The first half of the psalm praises God for his many blessings to the king. If the king was blessed, the nation was blessed. A happy, secure, rich king was a sign of God’s favour on the nation. David reminded the king—which meant reminding himself in the first place!—to serve and honour God, so that he might be blessed.
God himself is the highest King and rules over all that he has made through his Son Jesus Christ. The ancient kings of Israel are a model of the kingly authority of the Lord Jesus, who himself was descended in his earthly lineage from King David. God made Jesus King not only of Israel, but of the church and of the whole world. King Jesus follows the will of God perfectly, and he has divine power to accomplish whatever he intends. He is the perfect King who rejoices always in the strength of his Father. In him the church and the world are truly blessed.
Psalm 21 teaches us to celebrate King Jesus. He triumphed over all the enemies of God and made a spectacle of them (Col. 2:15). He freed us from captivity to sin (1 Peter 1:18–19) and showered gifts upon his church (Eph. 4:7–8), including the Holy Spirit (Eph. 1:13). The Lord Jesus, more than any king before him, did his work with divine strength. Not only did he obey his Father perfectly, but he is himself true God. Therefore in him we have the victory. Praise our King!
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