PSALM 21 VICTORY – YESTERDAY, TODAY AND TOMORROW

Written by , Rector of St. Matthew's Episcopal Church, Richmond, Virginia
 
¹ O LORD, the king rejoices in your strength. How great is his joy in the victories you give!
² You have granted him the desire of his heart and have not withheld the request of his lips.
Selah
³ You welcomed him with rich blessings and placed a crown of pure gold on his head.
⁴ He asked you for life, and you gave it to him—length of days, for ever and ever.
⁵ Through the victories you gave, his glory is great; you have bestowed on him splendor and majesty.
⁶ Surely you have granted him eternal blessings and made him glad with the joy of your presence.
⁷ For the king trusts in the LORD; through the unfailing love of the Most High he will not be shaken.
⁸ Your hand will lay hold on all your enemies; your right hand will seize your foes.
⁹ At the time of your appearing you will make them like a fiery furnace. In his wrath the LORD will swallow them up, and his fire will consume them.
¹⁰ You will destroy their descendants from the earth, their posterity from mankind.
¹¹ Though they plot evil against you and devise wicked schemes, they cannot succeed;
¹² for you will make them turn their backs when you aim at them with drawn bow.
¹³ Be exalted, O LORD, in your strength; we will sing and praise your might.

The battle has been won. God has been with the king and he has prevailed. What joy and encouragement this is to the people as they look at all their foes in this world. They see their king who trusts in God and has his favor.

We have such a King in Jesus Christ. On Calvary, through his perfect relationship of love with the Father he won the victory over sin, death and the devil. Jesus desired to fulfill his Father’s will and offer salvation and forgiveness to humankind, and it was granted. Through the resurrection and ascension, the Father welcomed Jesus and crowned him in glory. Our King asked for life for his people and the Father raised him and through him his people to life eternal. Jesus is at the right hand of the Father forever and ever.

Who then shall we fear? As our King stayed close to the Father, if we stay close to our King, there is no foe that can possibly prevail. There can be no greater encouragement in the face of adversity than knowing that the outcome has already been determined. Who would not enter a burning building to save someone if he knew he would come out unscathed? We can confront any challenge with the knowledge that our King has already given us the victory and know that the only way we can fail is by not standing firm in faith before the enemy.

Lord Jesus, even as I stand before the slings and arrows of this world, I rejoice and give thanks for the victory you have won for your people. Keep your praises on my lips as an encouragement for me to stand firm in faithful obedience to your will. May those same praises remind me of your presence with me in adversity and your victory which you have made mine. Amen.