Ps 21

Rejoicing in the Abundance of God's Salvation

Intro

Introduction – Psalm 21 Sermon

Good morning. As we open God's Word together, we’re continuing our study in the Psalms with Psalm 21—a Royal Psalm that draws our attention to God’s covenant faithfulness, His kingship, and His power to save. Psalm 21 is closely connected with Psalm 20. Where Psalm 20 is a prayer for victory before battle, Psalm 21 is a song of praise for victory after the battle has been won.

These Psalms are part of a group known as the Royal Psalms—songs that focus on the king of Israel, God's anointed servant. But they do more than honor a human king; they point forward to God’s eternal promise made in 2 Samuel 7—that David’s throne would be established forever. That covenant points ultimately to Jesus, the true and eternal King.

Background

Today we continue in our study of the Psalms with Psalm 21. Psalm 21 goes together with Psalm 20 as what many refer to as the Royal Psalms. One of only eleven Royal Psalms, these were placed in seemingly random places thoughout the Psalms to be songs to remind the people of Israel of the promise of God from 2 Samuel 7:8-16—that God established David as the anointed king to rule God’s people and that this promise would not only be for him but for his son after him, to establish his kingdom forever. This covenant, .

These Royal Psalms were a constant reminder to the people of God that they belonged to God and that God would be theirs forever.

This Psalm refers to the king in chapter 20 leading the nation into battle, and now in chapter 21, the king’s victorious return. The king in these Psalms serves on behalf of the nation—these are not the king’s battles, but the nation’s battles and, ultimately, God’s battles. The king, as the head, represents the nation.

Bible Passage: Ps 21:1–13

Summary: Psalm 21 expresses the joy and gratitude of a king who recognizes the strength and blessings bestowed upon him by the Lord. It highlights the abundance of God's goodness in granting victory, joy, and fulfillment of desires.

Application: This sermon can help Christians understand the importance of recognizing and rejoicing in the goodness of God in their lives. In times of struggle, focusing on God's past provision can cultivate a heart of gratitude and joy, reminding believers of His faithfulness.

Teaching: This sermon could teach that true joy comes from acknowledging God's strength and goodness, which leads to celebrating His blessings in our lives. It's about shifting our focus from our circumstances to God's sovereignty and grace.

How this passage could point to Christ: The psalm points to Christ as the ultimate King who rejoices in the strength of the Lord, fulfilling the promise of salvation and demonstrating God's goodness through His life, death, and resurrection. Just as the king rejoices, we should find our joy in Christ's finished work.

Big Idea: We should rejoice in the abundance of God’s goodness, recognizing His strength as the source of our joy and victory.

Recommended Study: Consider delving deeper into the historical context of Psalm 21 and its liturgical use within Israel's worship. You might also explore its connections to other royal psalms and the Messianic implications tied to Christ. Use your Logos library to examine commentaries that discuss both the Hebrew text and various translations, paying close attention to any nuances that could enrich your understanding and preaching of the text.

1. Generous Grace for God’s Children

Ps 21:1-2

You could explore how these verses highlight the joy and satisfaction found in recognizing God's strength and fulfillment of desires. Discuss how believers, like the king, can find joy in acknowledging past victories God has provided. Perhaps stress the importance of gratitude for the blessings we often overlook, suggesting that this acknowledgment draws us closer to the source of true joy—God's presence and provision.

Psalm 21:2 (continued) In the beginning of verse 2, we see another familiar phrase: “You have given him the desires of his heart.” This phrase is a direct response to chapter 20, where the psalmist asked that God would grant the king his heart’s desire and fulfill all his plans.

Now, in chapter 21, the psalmist declares, “You have given him his heart’s desire and have not withheld the request of his lips.” Again, this is praise—praise for a God who answers not just external requests, but the inward longings of the heart. He doesn’t only respond to what is spoken aloud; he sees and fulfills what is deeply held within.

In context, this is about a military victory—a response to cries for help in battle. But there is a principle here that we must not overlook. As Christians, as those who belong to Christ and have been brought into relationship with God through the blood of Jesus, we too can come confidently before the throne of grace. We can make our requests known, not hesitantly, but boldly—knowing that our heavenly Father is not stingy or indifferent. He is generous. He is good. He delights to give good gifts to his children. And yes, even the desires of our hearts.

God has answered David’s prayer. This verse is a direct response to the petition of Psalm 20, where the people prayed that God would grant the king’s desires and fulfill all his plans. Here, the psalmist acknowledges that the Lord has done exactly that—he has not withheld the request of David’s lips. God hears, and God answers.

At the end of verse 2 we see a musical pause, often denoting for those singing to stop—for the musical instruments to stop—and reflect and think about what has just been spoken or sung. The last time we saw a Selah was in the previous chapter, where the psalmist was asking for God to remember the offerings offered up to God and that he would regard with favor their burnt sacrifices.

This shows us that just as often as we need to pause and reflect in our petition for God to save us—for God to remember our obedience to him—we must also reflect on what God has done. How quickly do we forget the things that God has done? How quickly do we forget what he has promised us in the answers to our prayers?

Here the psalmist is including in the worship of the people of God that we must remember: not only does God answer our cries, not only should we cry out to God before he answers our cries, but we should remember, annotate, and rejoice and praise him for the good that he has done.

2. Plenty from God's Grace

Ps 21:3-6

Perhaps these verses illustrate how God's goodness and blessings are abundant and personal. Emphasize how the king's joy is not only in receiving but in God's deliberate kindness and grace. Suggest that believers can find joy in knowing that God delights in giving us good things, encouraging them to count their blessings and meditate on God's generosity.

Psalm 21:3–4 In verses 3 and 4, we see the psalmist praising God because God has met him with not just a blessing, but rich blessing. Not just a crown, but a crown of fine gold. He hasn't just asked, he hasn't just answered his petition for life, but he is giving him, he's giving him length of days forever and ever.

Here, I think we see the character of God and his desire not just to bless his children, but to bless them abundantly. And I think sometimes we get afraid of this aspect of God, seeing him as not just a loving father, but a generous father, that's not stingy, but wants to lavish his children with all blessings and goodness.

And think of the fact that God, as the scripture says, did not withhold anything from us, but in Christ, he's given us the most precious gifts. So if Christ, if he has given us Christ, he will freely give us all things.

And I think sometimes that is taken out of context. We have some Christians who have kind of taken that scripture and relegated God to just a holy ATM machine that we just go to and we ask and he gives, we ask and he gives, we ask and he gives, with no context of honoring God and trusting in God, but he just is there to simply meet the desires of our hearts.

But I also think that so many times our prayers and our requests to God fall short because he is a God. And when we ask, he gives and we make requests. He's seeking to give us the desires of our heart, not for just selfish ambition, but because we are his children who trust in him.

The scripture says, what father, when he asked, when his child asked for bread, would give him a stone. What father, when he asked for bread, would give him a serpent. God is, God is much more than our heavenly father and he will give us all things.

So may that inform our prayers and not only our prayers and petitions, but also our prayers of thanksgiving. As we reflect back on the good that God has done, all the myriad of ways that he has answered us. He's been faithful to answer us and to save us from our own sin, to save us from turbulent times that we found ourselves in. He is a good God and he has given us, many of us, the desires of our hearts.

May we, may we remember these things and may we reflect on these things as, as future victories are needed.

Psalm 21:5 In verse 5, the psalmist instructs the choir to sing that through the salvation of the Lord, God's people, and the King will receive glory and splendor and majesty. This is a reminder to us again of God's goodness, and that He doesn't just call us to be children, but He calls us to be co-heirs with Christ.

And we look at Psalms chapter 8, verse 5. The psalmist says, after recalling God's goodness and the mighty works of His hands by hanging up the stars and the moon, he asks, "What is man that you are mindful of him? And the son of man that you care for him?" In verse 5 he says, "Yet you have made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor." And in verse 6, he says, "You have given him dominion over the works of your hands; you have put all things under his feet."

Again here, we see the extent to the generosity of our God, and that in God's salvation, those that are chosen by Him, those that are loved by Him, get all of the benefits of the majestic King. Dominance and majesty and dominion are ours through the salvation of Christ.

3. Peace Through Trust

Ps 21:7-9

You might show how these verses highlight the steadfastness of trust in God despite challenges. Discuss how reliance on God's strength ensures stability and victory over adversities. Maybe encourage the congregation to place their confidence in Christ, the true King, drawing a parallel to how Jesus' kingship offers security and peace.

4. Crushing Curses for God’s Enemies

Ps 21:10-13

Perhaps conclude with the theme of ultimate triumph, as these verses foresee the defeat of all that opposes God's kingdom. Suggest how believers can look forward to a future where God's dominion is complete, mirroring the victory we have in Jesus. Stress that rejoicing in the goodness of God not only changes our present but also empowers our hope for the future.