Praying Psalm 21

What is the title of Psalm 21? To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David.

Read Psalm 21:1-3

1 YHWH, in your strength the king rejoices, and in your salvation how greatly he exults!
² You have given him his heart's desire and have not withheld the request of his lips. Selah
³ FOR you meet him with rich blessings; you set a crown of fine gold upon his head.

What is the happy news? The King rejoices! Prayers are answered!

How does this answer Psalm 20? He is asking for things to be done. Answer, protection, help, support, remember offerings – he does these things on behalf of the people. Here, these things have happened.

Read Psalm 21:4-7

⁴ He asked life of you; you gave it to him, length of days forever and ever.

⁵ His glory is great through your salvation; splendor and majesty you bestow on him.
⁶ FOR you make him most blessed forever; you make him glad with the joy of your presence.
⁷ FOR the king trusts in YHWH, and through the steadfast love (chesed) of the Most High he shall not be moved.

 What did YHWH do for the king?

Life, glory, salvation, blessed, joy
BY presence, "chesed" (steadfast love)= the King will  NOT be moved  This is that incredible relationship of trust!!

Read 21:8-12

⁸ Your hand will find out all your enemies; your right hand will find out those who hate you.
⁹ You will make them as a blazing oven when you appear. YHWH will swallow them up in his wrath, and fire will consume them.
¹⁰ You will destroy their descendants from the earth, and their offspring from among the children of man.
¹¹ FOR they plan evil against you, though they devise mischief, they will not succeed.
¹² FOR you will put them to flight; you will aim at their faces with your bows.

What does YHWH do to his enemies?

Destroy them – this is a blessing
Read Bonhoeffer, Psalms, The Prayer Book of the Bible, “The enemies”. We pray for God’s good judgement.

Read 21:13

¹³ Be exalted, YHWH, in your strength! We will sing and praise your power.

How does the psalmist end?

Praise! In YHWH’s strength.

WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR ME?

What is the purpose of this Psalm/prayer?

Praise! Answered prayer.
Description How YHWH saved the King.

How does Christ fulfill this psalm?

We have not yet SEEN this reality. In small parts maybe, but overall we are waiting for a "king" to end it all. This is what God's followers hoped to find when Christ walked on this earth. (Remember "hosanna!"?)

But, Christ is our king. We see the happy answer in Christ’s resurrection from the dead. We are still waiting for the final victory - when Christ returns in glory.

How can we pray this?

Praise YHWH for his answer in Christ. Look forward to judgment to come.

WE PRAY:

Thy kingdom come.

What does this mean? The kingdom of God comes indeed without our prayer, of itself; but we pray in this petition that it may come unto us also.

How is this done? When our heavenly Father gives us His Holy Spirit, so that by His grace we believe His holy Word and lead a godly life here in time and yonder in eternity.