Victory

Psalm 21

I. Remember the Victories of Christ

A. The psalmist speaks of Christ’s ultimate victory. “To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. The king shall joy in thy strength, O LORD; and in thy salvation how greatly shall he rejoice!” (Psalm 21:1)

B. King Jesus brings perfect and perpetual peace. “Thou hast given him his heart’s desire, and hast not withholden the request of his lips. Selah.” (Psalm 21:2) “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” (John 14:27)

C. God the Father will eventually show everyone that Jesus is king. “For thou preventest him with the blessings of goodness: thou settest a crown of pure gold on his head.” (Psalm 21:3) [prevent—come before or prepare in advance]

1. Scripture leads to the final triumph of Christ. “After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter. And immediately I was in the spirit: and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne.” (Revelation 4:1-2)

2. God will bring a people unable to bring itself and He will do whatever must be done to establish that final order described in Revelation. “And I will bring the blind by a way that they knew not; I will lead them in paths that they have not known: I will make darkness light before them, and crooked things straight. These things will I do unto them, and not forsake them.” (Isaiah 42:16)

D. God’s sovereign grace will produce the unending kingdom; God gives more than His people ask. “He asked life of thee, and thou gavest it him, even length of days for ever and ever.” (Psalm 21:4) “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.” (Isaiah 9:6-7)

E. The Resurrection and Ascension introduced the kingdom. “His glory is great in thy salvation: honour and majesty hast thou laid upon him.” (Psalm 21:5) “And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead:” (Romans 1:4)

F. An eternal prize reduces the importance of present problems. “For thou hast made him most blessed for ever: thou hast made him exceeding glad with thy countenance.” (Psalm 21:6) “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.” (Hebrews 12:2)

II. The Future Will Be Filled with Victories

A. What God settles remains settled for ever; the turbulence of human kingdoms will pass away before King Jesus. “For the king trusteth in the LORD, and through the mercy of the most High he shall not be moved.” (Psalm 21:7) “Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the LORD our God. They are brought down and fallen: but we are risen, and stand upright.” (Psalm 20:7-8) “LAMED. For ever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven.” (Psalm 119:89)

B. No pockets of resistance will hold out for sin and rebellion in the coming kingdom. “Thine hand shall find out all thine enemies: thy right hand shall find out those that hate thee.” (Psalm 21:8) “It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.” (Hebrews 10:31)

C. The settling of accounts will be terrible and total. “Thou shalt make them as a fiery oven in the time of thine anger: the LORD shall swallow them up in his wrath, and the fire shall devour them. Their fruit shalt thou destroy from the earth, and their seed from among the children of men.” (Psalm 21:9,10) “But who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? for he is like a refiner’s fire, and like fullers’ soap:” (Malachi 3:2)

D. Evil holds an unnaturally high opinion of itself which history demonstrates is unable to prevail against Providence. “For they intended evil against thee: they imagined a mischievous device, which they are not able to perform. Therefore shalt thou make them turn their back, when thou shalt make ready thine arrows upon thy strings against the face of them.” (Psalm 21:11-12) “Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me; And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.” (Exodus 20:5-6)

III. Praise the Victorious King

A. Praise God for the King and the coming kingdom. “Be thou exalted, LORD, in thine own strength: so will we sing and praise thy power.” (Psalm 21:13)

B. The final settlement will be impressive. “Then the Lord awaked as one out of sleep, and like a mighty man that shouteth by reason of wine. And he smote his enemies in the hinder parts: he put them to a perpetual reproach.” (Psalm 78:65-66)