Psalms 21

Psalms 21THEME: The ascension of ChristThis is another psalm which I consider messianic, although it is not on the list of messianic psalms that I gave in the introduction, nor is it quoted verbatim in the New Testament as referring to Christ. However, I don’t think you can read it without coming to the judgment that it has reference to Him. In fact, Israel from the beginning said this psalm spoke of the Messiah. The Targum, which is the Chaldean paraphrase of the Old Testament, and the Talmud teach that the king mentioned in this psalm is the Messiah. The great Talmud scholar, Rabbi Solomon Isaaci, known as Rashi, born in B.C. 1040, endorsed this interpretation but suggested that it should be given up because of Christians making use of this psalm as an evidence that Jesus of Nazareth is the Messiah. I feel that this is a very good testimony to the fact that this psalm does refer to the Lord Jesus. It is interesting to note that this psalm is used by the liturgical churches that observe certain days such as Ascension Day. They use this psalm as commemorating the Ascension, that is, the return of the Lord Jesus to glory and His presence there as our Great High Priest. I don’t know why those of us who are fundamental in the faith have paid so little attention to the ascension of Christ. We observe Christmas and Easter and the Day of Pentecost, but we forget the ascension of Christ. To me that is a great day. Well, this psalm gives us the opportunity to give some thought to our Lord’s ascension. We will see Him as king in heaven, and we will see the judgment that is to come upon those who have rejected Him. This is another psalm of David, according to the inspired text, and includes Christ’s coming reign as king on the earth. This psalm was undoubtedly used in temple worship. Dr. J. J. Stewart Perowne has made this comment: “Each Jewish Monarch was but a feeble type of Israel’s true King: and all the hopes and aspirations of pious hearts, however, they might have for their immediate object the then reigning Monarch, whether David himself or one of his sons, still looked beyond these to Him, who should be David’s Lord as well as his son” (The Book of Psalms, p. 207). That is quite a testimony coming from a man who was liberal in his theology. Now notice how this psalm opens.

Psalms 21:1

Although David is speaking of his personal experience, the primary interpretation refers to the Lord Jesus Christ. “The king shall joy in thy strength.” In Heb_12:2 it was said of the Lord, “…who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame,“and He ascended into heaven"and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.” This verse speaks of the joy of our Lord in having wrought our salvation for us. He rejoices in the power and strength that have been bestowed upon Him. He has gone to heaven, and the angels and principalities have been made subject to Him. Today He is able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him (Heb_7:25). This is a wonderful psalm.

Psalms 21:2

When the Lord made His final report to His Father in His High Priestly prayer in John 17, He said, “…Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee” (Joh_17:1). This prayer, and all of the Lord’s other requests, have been and will be answered, as we see in this prayer. This is the prayer of ascension. He is at God’s right hand. “Thou hast given him his heart’s desire.” When He was here on earth, the Lord could say, “Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world” (Joh_17:24). This prayer will be answered in the future when we are with Him. He came to earth to make this possible. The Father has not withheld the request of His Son’s lips. “Selah"this is something we ought to meditate about.

Psalms 21:4

Now notice Dr. Gaebelein’s translation of these verses: “He asked life of Thee, Thou gavest it Him: length of days for ever and ever. His glory is great in Thy salvation; Honour and majesty hast Thou laid upon Him. For Thou hast made Him most blessed for ever: Thou dost delight Him with joy in Thy presence” (The Book of Psalms, p. 98). The Lord Jesus Christ came to give His life a ransom for many down here. On earth you find Him in humiliation, and you find Him pleading again and again in prayer. He agonized in the Garden of Gethsemane. Psa_102:23-24 says of the Lord: “He weakened my strength in the way; he shortened my days. I said, O my God, take me not away in the midst of my days: thy years are throughout all generations.” He asked for life. He died in the very prime of life.

He was thirty-three years old. He prayed, “…Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done” (Luk_22:42). In Heb_5:7 we are told: “Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared.” How was He heard? He died! But God raised Him from the dead. Now He lives in His glorified human body for ever and ever.

He is now at God’s right hand. “His glory is great in Thy salvation.” Oh, the glory that should accrue to Him because He saved you, and He saved me!

Psalms 21:7

Dr. Gaebelein translates it: “Thine hand shall find out all Thine enemies; Thy right hand shall find out those that hate Thee. Thou shalt make them as a fiery oven in the time of Thy coming” (The Book of Psalms, p. 99). Not only is He a God of salvation but, because of His death upon the cross for sinners, He is also a God of judgment. Those who have rejected Him are His enemies. You don’t believe in hell? The Bible teaches it. If you don’t believe there is a hell, you are in disagreement with the Bible. A man once came to me and said, “I don’t believe in hell.” I replied, “Do you know that you are in disagreement with the Bible?” He said, “I don’t care. I don’t believe there is a hell.” Well, I told him, “You will someday. The day will come when you will find that it is true.” Hell is not a pleasant subject. Who said that it was? God does not take any delight in the lost. God’s judgment is called His strange work. His wonderful work is salvation. He wants to save. If you won’t come to Him His way, or if you don’t want His salvation, then there is nothing but judgment that remains. “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.” This verse is clear. Fire is fire, and judgment is judgment.

Psalms 21:10

In this marvelous psalm we see Christ’s cross and suffering. He endured the cross “…for the joy that was set before him” (Heb_12:2). His prayers have been answered. Now the King is in heaven. We see Him there crowned with glory and honor. He is there on behalf of His people. He is there in unspeakable joy and waiting for His manifestation and kingly glory. I would like to give you another picture of the Lord Jesus Christ today. The first time He came to earth He was a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. Somebody says, “Every picture I have ever seen of Him is a solemn, serious looking Christ.” I don’t care for the pictures that have been painted of Christ, and I know He doesn’t look like that today. He is sitting at God’s right hand, and His heart is filled with joy. He wants to communicate that joy to you and me. Oh, that we might get a glimpse of Him today!

When the Lord was on earth, His enemies conspired against Him, but He trusted in Jehovah. In John’s vision in Revelation 12 the dragon, representing Satan, wanted to devour the manchild, representing Christ. (The woman is Israel.) Before the dragon could devour the manchild, He was caught up to God and to His throne. That is where He is right now. Also this psalm gives us a picture of judgment, which is amplified greatly in the Book of Revelation. That is a serious picture that is given to us there. Paul the apostle mentions it also in 2Th_1:7-8: “And to you who are troubled, rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.” This is a picture of the Lord’s coming in judgment upon His enemies. 2Th_1:9-10 goes on to say, “Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power; When he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe (because our testimony among you was believed) in that day.” This is a glorious psalm of the Ascension of Christ. What is your relationship to Him today? If He is not your Savior, if you have not trusted the One who came down here to die, then judgment is coming upon you someday. But today He is filled with joy up yonder at God’s right hand, because He has wrought out your salvation and mine. This wonderful ascension psalm makes very clear the glorious grace of God in Christ Jesus.