Psalms 21
Psalms 21:1-13 (NLT)
1 For the choir director: A psalm of David. How the king rejoices in your strength, O LORD! He shouts with joy because you give him victory.
2 For you have given him his heart’s desire; you have withheld nothing he requested. Interlude
3 You welcomed him back with success and prosperity. You placed a crown of finest gold on his head.
4 He asked you to preserve his life, and you granted his request. The days of his life stretch on forever.
5 Your victory brings him great honor, and you have clothed him with splendor and majesty.
6 You have endowed him with eternal blessings and given him the joy of your presence.
7 For the king trusts in the LORD. The unfailing love of the Most High will keep him from stumbling.
8 You will capture all your enemies. Your strong right hand will seize all who hate you.
9 You will throw them in a flaming furnace when you appear. The LORD will consume them in his anger; fire will devour them.
10 You will wipe their children from the face of the earth; they will never have descendants.
11 Although they plot against you, their evil schemes will never succeed.
12 For they will turn and run when they see your arrows aimed at them.
13 Rise up, O LORD, in all your power. With music and singing we celebrate your mighty acts.
There is a place of rejoicing in the strength of the Lord for those who don’t concede victory to the threats of evil and wickedness. This conflict is certainly spiritual, but as in David’s experience and ours today, this warring is also in the physical and material realm. Nations that would stand for the way of the Lord in righteousness have very real enemies that are continually launching schemes for their demise. Israel today is engaging in conflict, much like David encountered, with the addition of worldwide political salvos. For them, the spiritual passion for their eradication has occupied the hearts and minds of very real foes. Though they otherwise pose no threat to these people, their mere existence is an offense worthy of annihilation. In our nation today, an overwhelming military might is being overwhelmed by moral depravity that is the very strategic scheming of a much larger mass of very real foes bent on our removal as well.
Like David, though, third-party declarations of God’s incredible protection of His people can be effective in defeating these threats. As there are people responsible for carrying out these evil schemes, proclaiming their demise at the hand of God will release the forces of heaven against them with a power they cannot repel. Rather than being caught up in prayers of anxious fear and worry, though. there is an example here of a needed celebration that will reflect a belief in the power of our Victor. While we, His people, yet remain on the earth, our celebrations in triumphant praise will powerfully repel and destroy all those bent on our elimination. There is a critical part for us to play in releasing God’s power. Only when we are raptured out of this conflict will these scheming foes be able to possess their dream. Until then, there will be a host of wicked wannabes that cannot gain what we claim and proclaim. They will only fall before the faithful Defender of His people and their praises.