Psalm 21

Order of Service

• Sermon
• Pastoral Prayer

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Sermon Title: The King's Victory and Our Joy

Scripture: Psalm 21

I. Praise for Victory — Psalm 21:1–7

A. The king rejoices in the Lord's strength and salvation

1. The Hebrew word for "salvation" in Psalm 21:1 is the same word used in Psalm 20:5, connecting the people's request in Psalm 20 with the king's rejoicing in Psalm 21
2. The joy of the king in his victory is the joy of the people — the two psalms form a pair: petition followed by praise

B. The king's victory points to Christ's victory

1. Hebrews 12:1–2 — Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, endured the cross for the joy set before him and is now seated at the right hand of God
2. Christ's joy in victory at the Father's right hand is the perfection and completion of our faith
3. John 14:19–20 — because Christ lives, we live; his victory is our victory through union with him

C. The victorious king is the fountainhead of blessing for his people

1. Psalm 21:4 — the king asked for life and received it; length of days forever and ever
2. Psalm 21:6 — the king is made glad with the joy of God's presence; he can be read as a source of blessing forever
3. Ephesians 1:3 — God has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, where the victorious King now sits
4. Puritan Thomas Goodwin's image of two great men (Adam and Christ) with people hanging on hooks: to be in Christ by faith is to go where Christ goes — including being seated with him in the heavenly places

II. Certainty for the Future — Psalm 21:8–13

A. The psalmist moves from one particular victory to eschatological certainty

1. God's past deliverance of the king becomes the foundation for confidence in his final cosmic victory over all enemies
2. Psalm 21:9 — the enemies will be made as a blazing oven; stark imagery of the fiery wrath of God poured out on his enemies

B. The New Testament fulfillment: Christ is the divine judge

1. 2 Thessalonians 1:5–10 — the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels in flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God
2. In Psalm 21 the judge is Yahweh; in 2 Thessalonians 1 the judge is Christ — identifying Jesus as Yahweh in the flesh, the God-man coming in judgment
3. The language of appearing and fire in both texts may indicate Paul has Psalm 21 in view

C. Application: Christ's resurrection is the guarantee of final judgment

1. As we approach Resurrection Sunday, Christ's victory over sin and death assures us that God will judge all wickedness
2. The imprecatory psalms are given for God's people to pray — longing for the Lord to come and crush unrepentant wickedness
3. Psalm 20 and Psalm 21 together, read through a Christ-centered lens, offer rich Christology and comfort for believers living this side of the cross