Psalm 21:1-7

“The king shall have joy in Your strength, O LORD; and in Your salvation how greatly shall he rejoice! You have given him his heart’s desire, and have not withheld the request of his lips. Selah. For You meet him with the blessings of goodness; You set a crown of pure gold upon his head. He asked life from You, and You gave it to him—Length of days forever and ever. His glory is great in Your salvation. Honor and majesty You have placed upon him. For You have made him most blessed forever; You have made him exceedingly glad with Your presence. For the king trusts in the LORD, and through the mercy of the Most High he shall not be moved.”

This Psalm is appointed by the Church to be read on the day of our Lord’s Ascension; and on a close examination, it will appear to be well suited to that occasion.

I. We will explain this Psalm.

In its primary and literal sense, it expresses David’s gratitude on his advancement to the throne of Israel.

After acknowledging, in general terms, God’s goodness towards him in this dispensation, David speaks of his elevation as an answer to his prayers, though in its origin it was altogether unsolicited and unsought for, verse 1-4.

Impressed with the greatness of the honor conferred upon him, he exults in it, especially as affording him an opportunity of benefiting others, verses 5-6.

Then David declares his confidence that his enemies, so far from ever being able to subvert his government, shall all be crushed before him, verses 7-12.

Passing over this view of the Psalm, we proceed to observe: that it is yet more applicable to Christ, as expressing his feelings on his ascension to the throne of glory.

David was a type of Christ, as David’s kingdom was a type of Christ’s kingdom; and Christ, on his ascension to Heaven, may be considered as addressing his Father in the words of this Psalm.

He declares his joy and gratitude on account of the blessedness given to him, and on account of the blessedness which he was now empowered to bestow on others. With respect to his own blessedness we observe, that his conflicts were now terminated. These had been numerous and severe. From his first entrance into the world to the instant of his departure from it, he “was a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief.” View him especially during the three years of his public ministry, what “contradiction of sinners against himself did he endure!” View more particularly the four last days of his life, what grievous and accumulated wrongs did he sustain! Consider his conflicts also with the powers of darkness, and the terrors of his Father’s wrath; O what reason had he to rejoice in the termination of such sufferings, and to magnify his Father who had brought him in safety through them! For this he had prayed; and God had given him the fullest answer to his prayers, Hebrews 5:7 with verses 2, 4.

Now also he was restored to glory. He had “a glory with the Father before the worlds were made, John 1:1; John 1:18; John 17:5;” and of that glory he had divested himself when he assumed our nature, Philippians 2:6-8. But now he was restored to it; and what a contrast did it form with that state, from which he had been delivered!

A few days ago he had nowhere to lay his head—and now he is received into his Father’s house, his Father’s bosom. Lately he was derided, mocked, insulted, spit upon, buffeted, and scourged by the vilest of the human race—and now he is seated on his throne of glory, and worshiped and adored by all the hosts of Heaven! Great indeed was the glory that now accrued to him, and great “the majesty that was now laid upon him, verse 5.” and, as it had proceeded from his Father, Philippians 2:9-11, so he justly acknowledges it as his Father’s gift.

But it was not to himself only that Jesus had respect; he blesses his Father also for the blessedness which he was empowered to bestow on others. The words, “You have made him most blessed forever,” are translated in the margin of our Bibles, “You have set him to be blessings forever.” This version opens a new and important view of the subject, a view which particularly accords with all the prophecies respecting Christ. It is said again and again concerning him, that “in him shall all the nations of the earth be blessed;” and we are well assured, that to communicate blessings to a ruined world is a source of inconceivable happiness to himself. We apprehend that to have been a very principal idea in the mind of the Apostle, when, speaking of Christ, he said, “Who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God, Hebrews 12:2.”

With what joy must he behold the myriads who had been exalted to glory through the virtue of his sacrifice, while yet it remained to be offered! It was through “his obedience unto death” that all the antediluvian and patriarchal saints were saved. Our First Parents looked to him as “the Seed of the woman who should bruise the serpent’s head.” To him righteous Abel had respect, in the offering which was honored with visible tokens of God’s acceptance. To him Noah looked, when he offered the burnt-offerings, from which “God smelled a sweet savor Genesis 8:20-21.”

In a word, it is through his righteousness that forbearance and forgiveness were exercised from the beginning, just as they will be exercised even to the end; and all who were saved before his advent are in that respect on the same level with those who have been saved since; there is but one song among all the glorified saints in Heaven; they are all harmonious in singing “to Him who loved them and washed them from their sins in his own blood, etc.” What a joy must it be to Christ to see in so many myriads the travail of his soul, who “were brought forth, as it were, to God, even before he travailed!” With what joy, too, did he then take upon him to dispense his blessings to the myriads yet unborn! He is “Head over all things,” not for his own sake merely, but “for the Church’s sake.”

Knowing then how many of his most cruel enemies were given to him by the Father, with what pleasure would he look down upon them, (even while their hands were yet reeking with his blood,) and anticipate their conversion to God by the influence of his Spirit on the day of Pentecost! Every man that shall at any period of the world participate his grace, was at that moment before his eyes; and with what delight would he view them:

as drawn by his Word,

as nourished by his grace,

as comforted by his Spirit,

as made more than conquerors over all their enemies! Zephaniah 3:17. At that moment he saw, as it were, the whole company of the redeemed, the multitudes which no man can number—all enthroned around him as:

the monuments of his love,

the heirs of his glory,

the partners of his throne!

He saw:

that the kingdom which he had now established upon earth “should never be moved;”

that “the gates of Hell should never prevail against it;”

and that it should stand forever and ever! verse 7.

Well therefore might he say, “The King shall rejoice in your strength, O Lord; and in your salvation how greatly shall he rejoice!”

Having thus explained the Psalm,

II. We will show what improvement we should make of this Psalm.

From its literal sense we learn how thankful we should be for any blessings given unto us.

In many respects God has “gone before us with the blessings of goodness;” and in many respects he has given them in answer to our prayers. We may “account even his patience towards us to be salvation,” and much more the gift of his grace, and the knowledge of his dear Son.

Can we reflect on “the salvation to which he has called us,” even “the salvation that is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory,” and not be thankful for it? Can we reflect on the exaltation which we ourselves have received:

from death to life,

from Satan’s slaves to Christ’s free-men,

from children of the devil to sons of God,

and not rejoice in it?

Can we think of our having been made “kings and priests unto God,” “heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ,” yes, partners of his throne, and partakers of his glory for evermore; can we contemplate all this, and not say, “In your salvation how greatly shall I rejoice!” Truly, if we do not rejoice and shout for joy, “the very stones will cry out against us”.

From its mystical or prophetic sense we learn what should be our disposition and conduct towards the Lord Jesus.

Methinks, we should rejoice in his joy. If it were but a common friend that was released from heavy sufferings and exalted to glory, we should rejoice with him in the blessed change; how much more then should we participate in our minds of the joy and glory of our adorable Redeemer!

But more particularly we should submit to his government. This is strongly suggested in all the latter part of the Psalm before us. “God has highly exalted Jesus, that at his name every knee should bow!” Yes, he has sworn, that every knee shall bow to him; and that all who will not bow to the scepter of his grace, shall be broken in pieces with a rod of iron. Read from the text to the end of the Psalm; and endeavor to realize every expression in it.

O that we may be wise before it is too late! Let us “kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and we perish!” For though now he condescends to follow us with entreaties to be reconciled towards him, the time is quickly coming when he will say, “Bring here those that were my enemies, who would not that I should reign over them, and slay them before me!”

A further improvement we should make of this subject is, to confide in his care. “He is set to be blessings” to a ruined world. He has “ascended up on high that he might fill all things;” “he has received gifts, even for the rebellious;” and “has all fullness treasured up in him,” on purpose that we may “receive out of his fullness grace for grace.” There is nothing that we can want, but it may be found in him; nor anything which he is not willing to bestow on the very chief of sinners. Let us then look to him, and trust in him; and assure ourselves, that, as “he lost none that had been given him” in the days of his flesh, so now will he allow “none to be plucked out of his hands.” We cannot expect too much from such a King; however “wide we open our mouths, he will fill them.”

To seek the enlargement of his kingdom is the last duty we shall mention as suggested by the subject before us. In the prayer that he has taught us, we say, “May your kingdom come;” and we close that prayer with ascribing to him “the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever and ever; and it is with similar opinions that the Psalm before us concludes. Let us enter into the spirit of them, saying, “Be exalted, O Lord, in your own strength; so will we sing and praise your power.” Nothing should be so dear to us as the advancement of his glory. Let us reflect, how we may best promote it; and let the extension of his kingdom be our chief joy! Psalm 72:18-19.

Charles Simeon