Psalm 21

The King's Triumph and God's Blessings

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Intro

This Bible study highlights the celebration of God's strength, the king's triumph, and God's blessings. It emphasizes the trust in the LORD and the assurance of victory over enemies. The New Covenant perspective invites us to find inspiration in God's power and to actively engage in praise and worship as we recognize His triumph and blessings in our lives.

Section 1: Celebrating God's Strength and Salvation (vs 1-7)

"The king rejoices in Your strength, O LORD. How great is his joy in the victories You give! You have granted him his heart's desire and have not withheld the request of his lips. For You welcomed him with rich blessings and placed on his head a crown of pure gold. He asked You for life, and You granted it—length of days, forever and ever. His glory is great through Your salvation; You bestow on him splendor and majesty. For You grant him blessings forever; You cheer him with the joy of Your presence. For the king trusts in the LORD; through the loving devotion of the Most High, he will not be shaken."

Talking Points:

1. The king's rejoicing in God's strength and the victories bestowed upon him.

2. God's granting of the king's heart's desire and the blessings showered upon him, including a crown of pure gold.

3. The king's trust in the LORD, leading to his unshakable stance and the assurance of blessings and joy in God's presence.

Harmony: Ephesians 3:20-21 (BSB), "Now to Him who is able to do infinitely more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen."

Questions:

1. How does the king's rejoicing in God's strength and victories inspire your own gratitude and praise?

2. What does it mean for you to have your heart's desires granted by God?

3. How can we cultivate a deeper trust in the LORD that leads to an unshakable stance in the face of challenges?

Section 2: God's Judgment and Triumph over Enemies (vs 8-12)

"Your hand will capture all your enemies; Your right hand will seize those who hate You. You will make them burn like a fiery furnace when You appear; the LORD will engulf them in His wrath, and fire will devour them. You will wipe their descendants from the earth, and their offspring from the sons of men. Though they plot evil against You and devise wicked schemes, they will not prevail. For You will put them to flight when You aim Your bow at their faces."

Talking Points:

1. The declaration of God's judgment and triumph over the enemies who hate Him.

2. The vivid imagery of God's wrath and the destruction of the wicked.

3. The assurance that despite the evil schemes and plots, God's ultimate victory will prevail.

Harmony: Romans 12:19 (BSB), "Do not avenge yourselves, beloved, but leave room for God’s wrath. For it is written: 'Vengeance is Mine; I will repay, says the Lord.'"

Questions:

1. How does the depiction of God's judgment and triumph over enemies impact your understanding of His sovereignty and justice?

2. In what ways can we trust in God's ultimate vindication rather than seeking revenge or taking matters into our own hands?

3. How does Romans 12:19 provide guidance and assurance in dealing with those who plot evil and devise wicked schemes?

Section 3: A Call for Praise and Worship (vs 13)

"Rise up, O LORD, in Your strength! We will sing and praise Your power."

Talking Points:

1. The concluding call for God to rise up in His strength.

2. The commitment to sing and praise His power in response to His triumph and blessings.

Harmony: Revelation 5:13 (BSB), "And I heard every creature in heaven, and on earth, and under the earth, and in the sea, and all that is in them, saying: 'To Him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb, be praise and honor and glory and power forever and ever!'"

Questions:

1. How does this call for praise and worship resonate with you in light of God's strength and triumph?

2. How can we actively engage in singing and praising God's power in our daily lives?

3. How does Revelation 5:13 inspire us to join in the universal praise and honor given to God?

Summary

Psalm 21, interpreted from a New Covenant, Christ-centered perspective, beautifully encapsulates the joy of the King in the victories granted by God, prefiguring the victory of Christ, our eternal King. 

David's rejoicing in God's strength and salvation is a foreshadowing of Christ's triumph over sin and death (1 Corinthians 15:57). 

David's blessings and the crown of fine gold echo the resurrection and glorification of Christ, crowned with glory and honor (Hebrews 2:9, Revelation 19:12). 

God's promise to David to make him a "blessing forever" and to gladden him with joy, anticipates the everlasting blessings of the New Covenant established through Christ, and the joy set before Him (Hebrews 12:2). 

The Psalm concludes with trust in God's steadfast love and strength, a trust ultimately vindicated in Christ's self-sacrificial love and resurrection power. This Psalm, therefore, resounds with the praises of Christ's victorious and eternal reign.