MEDITATIONS IN THE PSALMS [An outline of the Psalm, A good devotional study when using the scriptures indicated] Psalm 21 David’s Triumphant Song
This Psalm is a companion to Psalm 20, they may have been written as a pair. Ps 20 gave a catalog of things desired by the people for the benefit of the king, their requests: it anticipated what Ps 21 realized, a celebration to their request. This Psalm is relating to David and referring to David’s Lord; another of those Psalms where we must look beyond David and his triumphs to David’s King and His triumphs, speaking prophetically of that day when the Lord Jesus returns and rules. As David, we must crown Him with the glory of our salvation and sing of His love, and praise Him for His power. David testifies that his joy was in God’s strength and salvation, not in the strength or success of his armies. He directs his subjects to rejoice giving God all the glory. Would it not be a wonderful thing to serve under a national leadership that gave God all the glory for its successes? We see here the consistency of the testimony of the scriptures: “The king shall joy in THY strength.” One of the premiere marks of God’s people is their acknowledgement of their natural weakness. “How much less man, that is a worm? And the son of man, which is a worm” (Job 25:6)? “But I am a worm, and no man; a reproach of men, and despised of the people” (Ps.22:6): look at Isaiah 41:14-15. “God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty.” “Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong” (2 Cor.12:10). (I Cor.2:3; 1 Cor.12:9; Heb.11:32-34). This Church, Calvary Baptist Church, to the world represents weakness, BUT “in THY salvation how greatly shall it rejoice”; “I have waited for Thy salvation, O LORD” said Jacob; “My mouth is enlarged over mine enemies; because I rejoice in Thy salvation” testified Hanna. David attributes salvation to the LORD no less than 24 times in the Psalms: Jon, 2:9. Why are such confessions so rare today? Our King, whom David was a type of, has received His heart’s desires (Ps.20:4), and in Him His people have received theirs vs. 2-6. “Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession” Ps. 2:8. Has the Father ever turned a single request of His Son away? Is He praying for you? You shall have all needful then, “And have not withheld the request of His lips” 2b. “The Father is so willing to give blessings through His Son that instead of His being constrained to bestow His grace; He outstrips the Mediatory March of Mercy, ‘I say not unto you, that I will pray the Father for you’” John 16:26 (CHS). Vs 7-13 we see the Kingdom’s Hope. Do you pray for God’s Kingdom and daily benefits? Do you realize them? During this New Year let us not let the sun go down on answered prayer without offering praise to Him who answers. ~~WTW
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