“He asked life of you; you gave it to him, length of days forever and ever” (Psa 21:4).
Psalm 21 thanks the Lord for answering the prayer for
victory that the people prayed in Psalm 20 as the king set out for the battle.
The people had confessed that it was not their military strength but the Lord’s
might that made their army win the war. Now, the king and the military have
come back victorious.
The first part of the Psalm (verses 1—7) elaborates on what the Lord has done for the king, while the second part (verses 8—12) expresses their hope for a future free of threats from the enemies. In the last verse, they praise the Lord for his strength and mercy in preserving them. “Be exalted, O LORD, in your strength! We will sing and praise your power” (Psa 21:13). Ancient Israel was a tiny nation among powerful and more prominent nations. They had never been an empire except during the period of David, who had subdued some smaller countries. Still, that is enough to make an empire. They were bullied by the small nations and raiders and were controlled by powerful nations such as Assyria, Babylon, Persia, Greece, and Rome. They had to keep alive throughout history, resisting the forces that demanded their life.
An overview of Biblical history teaches that the Lord
protected them against their mighty enemies when they trusted him but had to
give them up when they failed to acknowledge him and sought his protection.
Psalms 20 and 21 teach us an essential truth about our life
with the Lord. Trusting in our strength alone is the recipe for failure since
we never have the strength to protect ourselves. On the contrary, acknowledging
the power of God and being totally dependent on him is the way to victory.