David
Psalm 21
To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David.
Scripture (KJV)
1The king shall joy in thy strength, O LORD; and in thy salvation how greatly shall he rejoice!
2Thou hast given him his heart’s desire, and hast not withholden the request of his lips. Selah.
3For thou preventest him with the blessings of goodness: thou settest a crown of pure gold on his head.
4He asked life of thee, and thou gavest it him, even length of days for ever and ever.
5His glory is great in thy salvation: honour and majesty hast thou laid upon him.
6For thou hast made him most blessed for ever: thou hast made him exceeding glad with thy countenance.
7For the king trusteth in the LORD, and through the mercy of the most High he shall not be moved.
8Thine hand shall find out all thine enemies: thy right hand shall find out those that hate thee.
9Thou shalt make them as a fiery oven in the time of thine anger: the LORD shall swallow them up in his wrath, and the fire shall devour them.
10Their fruit shalt thou destroy from the earth, and their seed from among the children of men.
11For they intended evil against thee: they imagined a mischievous device, which they are not able to perform.
12Therefore shalt thou make them turn their back, when thou shalt make ready thine arrows upon thy strings against the face of them.
13Be thou exalted, LORD, in thine own strength: so will we sing and praise thy power.
Summary
Psalm 21 is a thanksgiving psalm that pairs with Psalm 20: where Psalm 20 prayed for the king before battle, Psalm 21 celebrates God’s answer after victory. The king rejoices in the LORD’s strength, for God has given him his heart’s desire, set a crown of pure gold on his head, and granted him length of days forever. The king’s stability is rooted not in his own power but in his trust in the LORD and the mercy of the Most High.
The second half of the psalm turns to God’s judgment on the king’s enemies, whose evil intentions against the LORD cannot succeed. The psalm closes with a vow of praise: "Be thou exalted, LORD, in thine own strength: so will we sing and praise thy power." The major themes are thanksgiving, salvation, blessing, mercy, and praise. Practically, the psalm teaches that answered prayer should lead to worship, not self-congratulation. The great lesson is that every victory is a gift of God’s strength and mercy.
Key Themes
A Prayer from Psalm 21
O LORD, I rejoice in Your strength and in Your salvation. You have given me the desires of my heart and have not withheld the request of my lips. You have met me with blessings of goodness and crowned me with Your favor. You asked and You give life, length of days, and glory. I trust in You, and through the mercy of the Most High I shall not be moved. When enemies intend evil, let their devices fail. Exalt Yourself, LORD, in Your own strength, and I will sing and praise Your power. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Reflection Questions
- 1For what recent victory or answered prayer have I forgotten to thank God?
- 2How does the king’s trust in the LORD’s mercy model my own stability?
- 3What does it mean to be "most blessed for ever" through God’s countenance?
- 4How can my response to God’s goodness become singing and praise?
Related Psalms
Psalm 20
“The Lord hear thee in the day of trouble; the name of the God of Jacob defend thee;”
A prayer for the king before battle, trusting in the name of God.
Read morePsalm 18
“I will love thee, O Lord, my strength.”
A royal thanksgiving for deliverance, praising God as rock and rescuer.
Read morePsalm 27
“The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?”
Courage from seeking God’s presence and waiting patiently on Him.
Read morePsalm 61
“Hear my cry, O God; attend unto my prayer.”
A prayer from the ends of the earth, longing to dwell in God’s tent.
Read morePsalm 63
“O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is;”
Thirst for God in the wilderness; His lovingkindness is better than life.
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