Awesome in Power: Help for Trusting in the Trustworthy God (Ps 21)

Read Psalm 21:

To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David.

¹ O LORD, in your strength the king rejoices, and in your salvation how greatly he exults!

² You have given him his heart’s desire and have not withheld the request of his lips. Selah ³ For you meet him with rich blessings; you set a crown of fine gold upon his head. ⁴ He asked life of you; you gave it to him, length of days forever and ever. ⁵ His glory is great through your salvation; splendor and majesty you bestow on him. ⁶ For you make him most blessed forever; you make him glad with the joy of your presence.

⁷ For the king trusts in the LORD, and through the steadfast love of the Most High he shall not be moved.

⁸ Your hand will find out all your enemies; your right hand will find out those who hate you. ⁹ 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. ¹⁰ You will destroy their descendants from the earth, and their offspring from among the children of man. ¹¹ Though they plan evil against you, though they devise mischief, they will not succeed. ¹² For you will put them to flight; you will aim at their faces with your bows.

¹³ Be exalted, O LORD, in your strength! We will sing and praise your power.

Understand Psalm 21:

I. Rejoice in the Lord who Blesses You (vv. 1-6)

David does not rejoice over his own power and strength, but in the God who has saved him (v. 1). Thus, he pours out his heart before the Lord and the Lord grants his earnest desire (v. 2): “rich blessings” and “a crown of fine gold” (v. 3); “length of days forever and ever” (v. 4); “glory,” “splendor,” and “majesty” (v. 5); eternal blessings and gladness in the joy of God’s presence (v. 6). So rehearse God’s answers to prayer, relate them to his goodness, then rejoice in the One who overwhelms you with blessings.

II. Rely on the Lord who Loves You (v. 7)

Verse 7 includes covenantal language: “For the king trusts in the LORD, and through the steadfast love of the Most High he shall not be moved.” Hesed is the “steadfast love” of God and “trust” is the human response to God’s promises. Yahweh then reveals God’s personal covenant name as spoken to all the saints throughout Israel’s storied history. The title, “Most High,” depicts God’s power and sovereignty over all the earth (see Deut 32:8) and “the king” refers to God’s representative leader of the nation. Because of the Lord’s steadfast love, his servant will never be shaken. The blessings (Ps 21:2-6) and the judgments (vv. 8-12) are only guaranteed because of Yahweh’s awesome power and covenant love.

III. Request of the Lord to Defend You (vv. 8-13)

David then calls down God’s judgment on his enemies (vv. 8-12) and concludes by repeating his initial proclamation: “Be exalted, O LORD, in your strength! We will sing and praise your power” (v. 13; see v. 1). He exhorts the peoples to corporately praise the Lord with instruments and with voices. In addition, David sings about an even greater messianic King who would fulfill the royal psalms:

This King of kings is Jesus Christ who rejoices in the glory of his Father (v. 1; see John 17:1-5).
This King is given his heart’s desire because he submitted his will to God (Ps 21:2; Luke 22:42).
This King receives the crown of gold because he took the crown of thorns (Ps 21:3).
This King is promised “length of days” though he died upon a cross (v. 4a).
This King reigns “forever and ever” now that God has raised him from the dead (v. 4b; see Rom 6:9).
This King is radiant in “glory,” beautiful in “splendor,” and is now seated “at the right hand of the Majesty on high” (Heb 1:3; see Ps 21:5).
This King is blessed eternally as he rejoices in his Father’s presence (Ps 21:6).
This King trusts in the Lord his God and stands firm upon his steadfast love (v. 7).
This King will judge our enemies and vindicate his people. He has conquered sin and death through the power of the cross (vv. 8-12).
Therefore, we will sing of his praises forever as we gather around his heavenly throne (v. 13). May this psalm direct our hearts to Jesus our Victorious King.

Apply Psalm 21:

List all the blessings of God available to you in Christ Jesus (Eph 1). How do these relate to the way God blessed the king in Psalm 21?
How does the Lord’s steadfast love make him absolutely trustworthy? Make a list of his promises in Scripture which you find the hardest to believe.
How is God’s judgment of our enemies (vv. 8-12) compatible with Jesus’ command to love our enemies (Matt 5:43-48)? How do you pray for those who oppose you?
Are you ever tempted to trust in horses (personal power), wives (relational maneuvering), or gold and silver (financial resources)? (Ps 20; see Deut 17:14-20). How do you choose between self-reliance and trusting fully in the Lord?
Read or sing the lyrics of How Firm a Foundation. Consider how this modern hymn relates to Psalm 21. Rejoice today in the strength and salvation of our God!

Pray Psalm 21:

I praise you, O Lord, for saving me (v. 1).
Thank you for your bountiful blessings and the joy of dwelling in your presence (vv. 2-6).
Teach me to fully trust in your steadfast love (v. 7).
Protect me with your powerful right hand (vv. 8-12).
You are my strength and my song (v. 13).

Counsel Psalm 21:

Psalm 21 praises the Lord for answering the king’s prayer in Psalm 20. Teach your counselee how to thank God for his blessings and how to anticipate his goodness even in troubling times.