LOVE GOD FIRST
Key verse: 6
NIV
Psalm 21[a]
For the director of music. A psalm of David.
2 You have granted him his heart’s desire(C)
and have not withheld the request of his lips.[b]
3 You came to greet him with rich blessings
and placed a crown of pure gold(D) on his head.(E)
4 He asked you for life, and you gave it to him—
length of days, for ever and ever.(F)
5 Through the victories(G) you gave, his glory is great;
you have bestowed on him splendor and majesty.(H)
6 Surely you have granted him unending blessings
and made him glad with the joy(I) of your presence.(J)
7 For the king trusts in the Lord;(K)
through the unfailing love(L) of the Most High(M)
he will not be shaken.(N)
8 Your hand will lay hold(O) on all your enemies;
your right hand will seize your foes.
9 When you appear for battle,
you will burn them up as in a blazing furnace.
The Lord will swallow them up in his wrath,
and his fire will consume them.(P)
10 You will destroy their descendants from the earth,
their posterity from mankind.(Q)
11 Though they plot evil(R) against you
and devise wicked schemes,(S) they cannot succeed.
12 You will make them turn their backs(T)
when you aim at them with drawn bow.
Footnotes
- Psalm 21:1 In Hebrew texts 21:1-13 is numbered 21:2-14.
- Psalm 21:2 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here.
Cross references
- Psalm 21:1 : S 1Sa 2:10
- Psalm 21:1 : S 2Sa 22:51
- Psalm 21:2 : S Ps 20:4
- Psalm 21:3 : S 2Sa 12:30; Rev 14:14
- Psalm 21:3 : Zec 6:11
- Psalm 21:4 : Ps 10:16; 45:17; 48:14; 133:3
- Psalm 21:5 : ver 1; Ps 18:50; 44:4
- Psalm 21:5 : S Ps 8:5; 45:3; 93:1; 96:6; 104:1
- Psalm 21:6 : Ps 43:4; 126:3
- Psalm 21:6 : S 1Ch 17:27
- Psalm 21:7 : S 2Ki 18:5
- Psalm 21:7 : Ps 6:4
- Psalm 21:7 : Ge 14:18
- Psalm 21:7 : S Ps 15:5; S 55:22
- Psalm 21:8 : Isa 10:10
- Psalm 21:9 : S Dt 32:22; Ps 50:3; Jer 15:14
- Psalm 21:10 : Dt 28:18
- Psalm 21:11 : Ps 2:1
- Psalm 21:11 : Job 10:3; Ps 10:2; 26:10; 37:7
- Psalm 21:12 : S Ex 23:27
- Psalm 21:13 : S Ps 18:46
- Psalm 21:13 : Ps 18:1
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway
ESV
The King Rejoices in the Lord's Strength
To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David.21 O Lord, in your (A)strength the king rejoices,
and in your (B)salvation how greatly he exults!
2 You have (C)given him his heart's desire
and have not withheld the request of his lips. Selah
3 For you (D)meet him with rich blessings;
you set (E)a crown of (F)fine gold upon his head.
4 He asked life of you; you (G)gave it to him,
(H)length of days forever and ever.
5 His (I)glory is great through your salvation;
(J)splendor and majesty you bestow on him.
6 For you make him most blessed forever;[a]
you make him glad with the (K)joy of your presence.
7 For the king trusts in the Lord,
and through the steadfast love of the Most High he shall not be (L)moved.
8 Your hand will (M)find out all your enemies;
your right hand will find out those who hate you.
9 You will make them as (N)a blazing oven
when you appear.
The Lord will swallow them up in his (O)wrath,
and (P)fire will consume them.
10 You (Q)will destroy their (R)descendants from the earth,
and their offspring from among the children of man.
11 Though they plan evil against you,
though they (S)devise mischief, they will not succeed.
12 For you will put them (T)to flight;
you will (U)aim at their faces with your bows.
13 Be exalted, O Lord, in your strength!
We will sing and praise your power.
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Footnotes
- Psalm 21:6 Or make him a source of blessing forever
Cross references
- Psalm 21:1 : Ps. 8:2; 28:7, 8
- Psalm 21:1 : Ps. 9:14
- Psalm 21:2 : Ps. 20:4, 5
- Psalm 21:3 : Ps. 59:10
- Psalm 21:3 : [2 Sam. 12:30; 1 Chr. 20:2]
- Psalm 21:3 : Ps. 19:10
- Psalm 21:4 : Ps. 61:6; [2 Sam. 7:19]
- Psalm 21:4 : Ps. 91:16; [1 Kgs. 1:31; Neh. 2:3]
- Psalm 21:5 : Ps. 8:5
- Psalm 21:5 : Ps. 45:3; 96:6
- Psalm 21:6 : Ps. 45:7; See Ps. 16:11
- Psalm 21:7 : Ps. 10:6; 16:8
- Psalm 21:8 : [Isa. 10:10]
- Psalm 21:9 : Mal. 4:1; [Ps. 83:14]
- Psalm 21:9 : Ps. 2:5
- Psalm 21:9 : Ps. 18:8; 50:3; 97:3; Isa. 26:11; [Job 20:26; Dan. 7:10; Hab. 3:5]
- Psalm 21:10 : Ps. 34:16; 1 Kgs. 13:34
- Psalm 21:10 : Ps. 37:28; 109:13; Job 18:16, 17, 19; Isa. 14:20
- Psalm 21:11 : Ps. 2:1; 10:2
- Psalm 21:12 : Ps. 18:40
- Psalm 21:12 : Ps. 7:12; 11:2
21 O Lord, in your (A)strength the king rejoices,
and in your (B)salvation how greatly he exults!
2 You have (C)given him his heart's desire
and have not withheld the request of his lips. Selah
3 For you (D)meet him with rich blessings;
you set (E)a crown of (F)fine gold upon his head.
4 He asked life of you; you (G)gave it to him,
(H)length of days forever and ever.
5 His (I)glory is great through your salvation;
(J)splendor and majesty you bestow on him.
6 For you make him most blessed forever;[a]
you make him glad with the (K)joy of your presence.
7 For the king trusts in the Lord,
and through the steadfast love of the Most High he shall not be (L)moved.
8 Your hand will (M)find out all your enemies;
your right hand will find out those who hate you.
9 You will make them as (N)a blazing oven
when you appear.
The Lord will swallow them up in his (O)wrath,
and (P)fire will consume them.
10 You (Q)will destroy their (R)descendants from the earth,
and their offspring from among the children of man.
11 Though they plan evil against you,
though they (S)devise mischief, they will not succeed.
12 For you will put them (T)to flight;
you will (U)aim at their faces with your bows.
13 Be exalted, O Lord, in your strength!
We will sing and praise your power.
Footnotes
- Psalm 21:6 Or make him a source of blessing forever
Cross references
- Psalm 21:1 : Ps. 8:2; 28:7, 8
- Psalm 21:1 : Ps. 9:14
- Psalm 21:2 : Ps. 20:4, 5
- Psalm 21:3 : Ps. 59:10
- Psalm 21:3 : [2 Sam. 12:30; 1 Chr. 20:2]
- Psalm 21:3 : Ps. 19:10
- Psalm 21:4 : Ps. 61:6; [2 Sam. 7:19]
- Psalm 21:4 : Ps. 91:16; [1 Kgs. 1:31; Neh. 2:3]
- Psalm 21:5 : Ps. 8:5
- Psalm 21:5 : Ps. 45:3; 96:6
- Psalm 21:6 : Ps. 45:7; See Ps. 16:11
- Psalm 21:7 : Ps. 10:6; 16:8
- Psalm 21:8 : [Isa. 10:10]
- Psalm 21:9 : Mal. 4:1; [Ps. 83:14]
- Psalm 21:9 : Ps. 2:5
- Psalm 21:9 : Ps. 18:8; 50:3; 97:3; Isa. 26:11; [Job 20:26; Dan. 7:10; Hab. 3:5]
- Psalm 21:10 : Ps. 34:16; 1 Kgs. 13:34
- Psalm 21:10 : Ps. 37:28; 109:13; Job 18:16, 17, 19; Isa. 14:20
- Psalm 21:11 : Ps. 2:1; 10:2
- Psalm 21:12 : Ps. 18:40
- Psalm 21:12 : Ps. 7:12; 11:2
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway
1. Glad in the joy of God's presence (1-7)
King David loved God. He was a warrior, but he was also a man of prayer. His real joy did not come from victory in battle nor from the glory and honor which he received as a beloved and successful king. His real joy came from God's presence with him. God answered his prayers. Victory in battle brought joy because it made him aware of God's presence and power. Earthly glory and honor paled to insignificance when he tasted God's love. God granted him eternal blessings and filled him with the joy of his presence.
2. The time of his appearing (8-13)
The unfailing love of the Most High is our bulwark. When Jesus comes again, he will destroy evil. At the time of his appearing he will burn up the enemies of God as in a furnace. David looked forward to the coming of the Lord. On that day, the Lord will destroy the wicked who have rebelled against him.
Prayer: Lord, help me to love you more than anyone else so that I may be ready on the day of your appearing.
One Word: Love God
