Psalms 21 — In Thy Strength, O Lord
The king shall joy in thy strength, O Lord. Thou hast given him his heart's desire. Thou settest a crown of pure gold on his head. He asked life of thee, and thou gavest it him, even length of days for ever and ever. His glory is great in thy salvation. For thou hast made him most blessed for ever: thou hast made him exceeding glad with thy countenance. For the king trusteth in the Lord. Be thou exalted, Lord, in thine own strength.
“The king shall joy in thy strength, O Lord; and in thy salvation how greatly shall he rejoice!”
— Psalm 21:1
- v.1-7 The king's blessings
- v.8-13 God's triumph over enemies
Verse 1 reorders leadership. The leader's joy is in the strength supplied, not the strength possessed. Credit goes upward; the joy is doubled.
The King in this psalm finds final fulfillment in Christ. His joy in the Father's strength carried Him to the cross and through it.
The king's joy is in God's strength, not his own. The verse is a model for any leader — credit the source.
A companion to Psalm 20's prayer for the king. There the people pray; here the king rejoices in answered prayer.