JOY IN GOD’S STRENGTH, SALVATION, AND PRESENCE
O LORD, the king rejoicesH8055 in Your strength. How greatly he exultsH1523 in Your salvation! You have granted his heart’s desire and have not withheld the request of his lips. Selah For You welcomed him with rich blessings; You placed on his head a crown of pure gold. He asked You for life, and You granted it—length of days, forever and ever. Great is his glory in Your salvation; You bestow on him splendor and majesty. For You grant him blessings forever; You cheer him with joyH8057 in Your presence. For the king trusts in the LORD; through the loving devotion of the Most High, he will not be shaken.
Psalm 21:5-7
21:2 his heart’s desire. Similar language is used in 20:4, though it is uncertain whether the same occasion inspired both psalms. The first part of Ps. 21 sounds like the answer to the prayer in Ps. 20.
Reformation Study Bible
21:4 In response to the king’s request for preservation God gave him life—yes, length of days forever and ever. This latter expression probably means long life in David’s case, but it is literally true of the endless resurrection life of the Messiah.
Believer’s Bible Commentary
King David rejoiced in the Lord’s strength, salvation, and presence. He praised the Lord for making him victorious in battle, for blessing him, and for the gift of long life. David did live a long life on earth and is now with his Lord for eternity. However, the “length of days, forever and ever” probably refers to the length of the Davidic dynasty in which the Messiah, Jesus, will reign eternally. Exactly what did David do to earn these blessings from God? He trusted God. Period. End of story. Yes, David gave sacrifices, and participated in the annual feasts, but these are not what gained God’s favor. David placed his trust, his life, the totality of his being in the hands of his loving Lord. David was completely dependent on His lovingly, devoted God to sustain him. Similarly, we do not earn salvation through good works. We place our trust in Jesus Christ alone who died to purchase our redemption from slavery to sin. Jesus satisfied the wrath of God on our behalf, and all we have to “do” is answer His call by placing our complete trust in Him. Then He will bless us to win the daily battles against the influence of this world and our enemy, Satan. He has blessed us with length of days forever because we will be resurrected and given an incorruptible (indestructible) body when He returns.
We can rejoice in the Lord’s strength to sustain us, salvation to deliver us, and presence to guide us just as David did because He is still lovingly devoted to His children. Have you had a praise party yet today? Take a moment to meditate on the joy that is ours because of Christ. As brother Jimmy Draper used to say, “If that don’t light your fire, your wood’s wet!”
Father, we rejoice in the reality that we can place our total dependence on You and know that we will not be shaken from our faith because You will enable us to stand (Romans 14:4). Our wood is dry and burning brightly to light the way to You for others.