Psalm 21--The King Rejoices in the LORD's Strength

Psalm 21
English Standard Version

The King Rejoices in the Lord's Strength
To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David.

21 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.

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The last psalm we studied was David calling on the LORD to protect and defend him as king.  Now David is writing a psalm of praise rejoicing in the LORD's strength and His protection and defense that He did indeed provide.

The king (that's David) rejoices in the LORD's strength and in the blessings that the LORD has provided to him, but that was not David's request--David simply asked for life (probably eternal life) and God has given him that and so much more.

David is ecstatic to be a part of God's plan of salvation and to experience it for himself.  He wants to let everyone know about it so they too can be saved by the great salvation that the LORD provides.  David trusts in the LORD and his trust and hope are secure because the LORD's love is immovable.

None of the LORD's enemies will escape His judgment or wrath (which is described as a blazing oven and a fire that will consume His enemies).  They will be destroyed and no record of them or their generations will remain on the earth.  The LORD will make His plans succeed and their plans to stand in opposition to the LORD, His work and those who belong to Him will never succeed.

We together sing with David exalting the name of the LORD our God, and singing of His great strength to save His people.