For King and Country

…of David...

If David penned this, he wrote of himself in the third person

Not beyond the realm of possibility

Or, do we understand “of David” as “about” or “concerning” David

In the final analysis, it doesn’t matter—we can get the point either way

I look at it as though David did write it…in the third person

Connection

Most likely relates to Ps 20.

One is the prayer before battle, the other upon victory

Scholars suggest a link between both psalms to 2nd Sam 12:30,

2 Samuel 12:30 ESV

And he took the crown of their king from his head. The weight of it was a talent of gold, and in it was a precious stone, and it was placed on David’s head. And he brought out the spoil of the city, a very great amount.

That would be about 75 POUNDS of gold on his head! …about $1.7 Million

This relating to the conquest of the king of the Amorite city, Rabbah

This would be, in the timeline of 2 Sam, after the Bathsheba incident and before Absalom’s conspiracy (already dealt with in previous psalm)

These two psalms have a similar structure, we’ll deal only with 21—you’re encouraged to go back to 20 and figure it out for yourselves

A note on poetic structure

2nd line expands on the first; e.g. v.1

…in your strength the king rejoices

…your salvation … he exults

or v.3

…rich blessings

…a crown of fine gold...

Components

1-7 is 1st part—deals with praise to God for the actions of God toward the king

The praise by, or toward, the king within the congregation

8-12 is not so clear, praising the actions of the king, by the congregation

King David? or the Almighty King? Some of each? Both?

VV. 1-7

It is in the strength of God the king rejoices

Though David is recognized as having been something of a military genius, and phenomenal warrior

Underlying word for salvation holds the sense of help toward victory

This is echoed in Ps 144 1-2

Psalm 144:1–2 ESV

Blessed be the Lord, my rock, who trains my hands for war, and my fingers for battle; he is my steadfast love and my fortress, my stronghold and my deliverer, my shield and he in whom I take refuge, who subdues peoples under me.

He recognizes that God has blessed him, withholding noting for which he asked

Makes the presumption that he asked according to the will of God

I would not suggest you ask God to let you win the lottery...

The issue of long life, “for ever and ever” make be just hyperbole; may be a hint toward everlasting life; certainly opens the thought

God himself is responsible for making the king great

Here salvation is again related to y-shu-ah…taking us toward Jesus…though they would not have realized it at the time

There is splendor and majesty with his position

May reflect the robing/clothing of kingship, or just the honor of the position

There is reflection that the king is aware that his blessing comes from God himself

Finally, there is the trust issue

In the one true God, Yahweh, the LORD

It is His hesed that allows him to be firm

God is his Rock; he also become immovable because he stands on the Rock

VV. 8-12

This is the trickier part

Does this apply to the congregation’s thoughts to the king, or to the KING?

Interesting that some of the congregation singing this response would likely have been among those who turned on David in Absalom’s rebellion ! !

Some places it doesn’t take much to see the Messianic connections,

David would have all his enemies come to light—Absalom’s conspirators among them

David’s anger would certainly burn against his enemies

He would destroy his enemies, wiping them out completely

No one…no foreign power…was able to bring David down

So, it certainly applies

But...

2 Thessalonians 1:7–8 (ESV)

... when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels in flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.

We look forward yet to this, the 2nd coming of our Lord

His first one has already brought us much

His first coming…that promised, that foreseen Messiah had come

He had fulfilled the Law of Moses

He had lived a perfect life

He had died, an innocent man, yet bearing the penalty for all of our sins

Herein is the Gospel, the good news

Romans 5:8 ESV

but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Jesus, Messiah, Son of David, rightfully called the King is seen in this Psalm

He will find out His enemies; destroy them, consume them; purge the earth from their evil

Crescendo

This is the strong finish

The praises have been building and building, finally:

Psalm 21:13 ESV

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

The King, and the congregation saw that it was God’s doing that brought the power and glory to the throne of Israel

It was His strength, not their worldly king or any army that brought glory to their kingdom

It was the one and only high king of heaven!

(our) Context

Despite his occasional failures, David was focused on the Living God

1&2 Samuel recount his life—read it and see

vv. 1-7 of this Psalm show us his response and acknowledgement of God in this specific situation

vv. 8-12 (surface reading) show us that the people noticed and also acknowledged God because of what they saw

The deeper reading of the text, taking us to the 2nd coming, should make us more and more aware of our need to follow David’s pattern

First, we should fear what lies ahead for those who do not heed the Gospel message:

inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.

But, we should be looking at far more than just fire insurance

If we have truly surrendered to Christ, truly repented, our lives should be like Davids

Not just savior; but Lord

Not just a part of our life; the priority in our life

We should be living, daily, hourly, moment by moment, for Christ Col 3 17 is a key verse

Colossians 3:17 ESV

And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

There are more verses with the same impact

…and our lives should be noted, as was David’s; as expressed by Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount, Matthew 5 16

Matthew 5:16 (ESV)

...let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

We must continually be conscious that it’s all done in the strength of Jesus Christ

Our lives should be building intensity to the point where we can say Ps 21 13

Psalm 21:13 ESV

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