Psalm 21
This ode of triumph celebrates our exalted Head. May we
thus sing on earth by faith, and lengthen out the strain through endless
days!
1, 2. "The king shall rejoice in Your strength, O
Lord; and in Your salvation how greatly shall he rejoice! You have given him
his heart's desire, and have not withheld the request of his lips."
We fall far short of this psalm's precious teaching if we
restrict our musings to the type. Let David first be seen rejoicing in his
royal crown, but let him soon fade before the rising of the King of kings.
Here we may bathe our souls in the deep waters of Christ's truth. For the
joy set before Him, He endured the cross, despising the shame. But the joy
then in prospect is joy now fully realized. He sits rejoicing on the
Father's right hand. The conflict is past; the battle is fought; the victory
is won; every peril is escaped; every foe is vanquished. He has been strong
to conquer, and He ascribes the strength to God's empowering hand. Salvation
is achieved; it is salvation through the will and help of God, and in it
greatly He exults. The utmost desires of His heart are granted. He could not
wish nor ask for more. The cup of gladness overflows.
3. "For You welcomed him with the blessings of
goodness; You set a crown of pure gold on his head."
During the struggle and the deep abasement, God ever went
before Him, strewing blessings in His path; God's goodness ever paved His
way. And now He is crowned—crowned as Conqueror, crowned as King. High is
the throne on which He sits; omnipotent is the scepter which He wields. The
government is placed upon His shoulders. All power is given to Him in heaven
and in earth. Happy the subjects of this triumphant Lord!
4. "He asked life from You, and You gave it to him,
even length of days forever and ever."
In deepest agony He cried to God, who was able to save
Him from death, and His prayer was heard. The word is fulfilled, "With long
life will I satisfy Him, and show Him my salvation." Our High Priest
appears, and His happy testimony is, "I am He who lives and was dead; and
behold I am alive forevermore, Amen, and have the keys of hell and of
death." He is the resurrection and the life. He is our life. All who are one
with Him have for their portion the everlasting life of glory.
5, 6, 7. "His glory is great in Your salvation; You
have laid honor and majesty upon him. For You have made him most blessed
forever; You have made him exceeding glad with Your countenance. For the
king trusts in the Lord; and through the mercy of the Most High he shall not
be moved."
The Spirit multiplies to show Christ's present
blessedness. Great is His glory through God's saving hand. He is heir of all
the majesty which heaven can give. He is God over all, blessed forevermore.
Blessed Himself, He holds all blessings for His people. We, also, are
blessed with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Him. But what is
His all-surpassing joy? It is to bask forever in His heavenly Father's
smile. If He has sympathy with us, should not we, also, have sympathy with
Him? If our sorrows are His sorrows, should not His joy be ours? It is added
that His joy is the fruit of faith. He trusted and is thus exalted. Let us
believe and we shall similarly triumph.
8 - 12. "You will capture all your enemies. Your
strong right hand will seize all those who hate you. You will destroy them
as in a flaming furnace when you appear. The Lord will consume them in his
anger; fire will devour them. You will wipe their children from the face of
the earth; they will never have descendants. Although they plot against you,
their evil schemes will never succeed. For they will turn and run when they
see your arrows aimed at them."
Jesus arises from His throne to consummate His final
victory. Then obstructing refuges shall fail. They shall call upon rocks and
mountains to conceal. They shall flee into every hiding-place which terror
can devise. But wrath shall drag them forth. Fearful images portray their
hopeless ruin. They shall agonize as in the flames of burning ovens. Fire
shall seize them as its prey. Unceasing anguish shall devour them. How vain
will be their flight when the arrows of the Most High pursue them! When that
day shall come, may we be on the Conqueror's side!
13. "Be exalted, Lord, in Your own strength; so will
we sing and praise Your power."
Such is the fitting chorus to this song of triumph. Let
every believer's voice call Jesus to His final exaltation. When that great
day shall come, may we lift up the voice and celebrate His glorious power!
Let us exalt Him now in heart, by life, in lip, by every faculty, and at
each moment. Let the eternal song be no new song to us!