Psalm 21:1-13 | By: Pastor Dan Parton | Preached on October 10, 2010 | Web site: http://timberlinebaptist.org |
Introduction: A good mechanic or carpenter knows which tool he needs for a particular job. He also knows where that tool is kept. There is no random searching of the tool chest for him, because he knows which tool he needs and where it is.
The Bible is a mighty handy Tool the Lord has given to us. What a shame It is oft-neglected as a Tool God wants us to readily use in our lives! All-too-often, God’s people first run to tools other than the Word of God when difficulties arise in their lives. The Bible ought to be their first line of defense.
This is what God’s people did in Bible times; it should be no different today. For example, the Jewish people would read this particular Psalm before entering a tough battle. There is a wonderful comforting statement found in verse 3, “…for Thou preventest him with the blessings of goodness.” The word “prevent” carried a different meaning in David’s time than what some of us might be familiar with. It meant “to go before or in front of and prepare the way.” Before the Jewish person would enter into battle, testing, or adversity, he would remind himself that God was before him in the battle by reading Psalm 21. This made the Tool of the Word of God useful in the time of need. There was no random searching of the Scriptures for him; he knew which tool he needed and where it was when he needed it!
At the writing of this Psalm, David was facing a battle with the Syrians. It seemed that David faced many battles. He, by way of necessity, had to learn to trust in the Lord in all things and hold onto nothing else. So, in Psalm 21, we see how David used the very words of God as the Tools to trust. We must learn to use the Word of God as God intended It to be used. This message will illustrate one way to do just that.
1. Fully trusting God brings joy. – Psalm 21:1-6
“The king shall joy in thy strength, O LORD; and in thy salvation how greatly shall he rejoice! Thou hast given him his heart’s desire, and hast not withholden the request of his lips. Selah. For thou preventest him with the blessings of goodness: 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: honour and majesty hast thou laid upon him. For thou hast made him most blessed for ever: thou hast made him exceeding glad with thy countenance.”
It’s wonderful when a friend lends a hand, but how much greater our joy when we know that God’s hand did it all! Trusting the Lord is really like being in the very presence of God. Psalm 16:11 states, “Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.”
2. Fully trusting God brings blessing. – Psalm 21:2
“Thou hast given him his heart’s desire, and hast not withholden the request of his lips. Selah.”
When we fully trust God, we can trust Him with the desires He places within our hearts. Psalm 37:3-4 say, “Trust in the LORD, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed. Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.” Even though these verses speak of God’s actually giving us what to desire, they also show us that God is pleased when we fully trust in Him.
3. Fully trusting God brings victory. – Psalm 21:3
“For thou preventest him with the blessings of goodness: thou settest a crown of pure gold on his head.”
As we’ve already learned, the word “prevent” means “to go before or in front of and prepare the way.” How wonderful to know that God paves the road to victory for us!
Look at verses 7-12, “For the king trusteth in the LORD, and through the mercy of the most High he shall not be moved. 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 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. 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.” Imagine with me a soldier walking behind a tank during a battle. In a real sense, he is not able to be stopped by the enemy because the tank is out in front of him. The enemy would have to get around the tank to reach him. Psalm 20:7 shows us that the enemy cannot get around the Lord Who is out in front of us, “Some trust in chariots, and some in horses [some even in tanks and guns, and bank accounts!]: but we will remember the name of the LORD our God.” In Psalm 20, David was faced with the same battle with the Syrians as he was in Psalm 21. Some things just never change!
4. Fully trusting God brings praise. – Psalm 21:13
“Be thou exalted, LORD, in thine own strength: so will we sing and praise thy power.”
Trusting Christians are praising Christians. Trusting Christians are singing Christians. Trusting Christians are testifying Christians. When was the last time you testified for Jesus? “Let the redeemed of the Lord say so.” (Psalm 107:2) Remember, bragging on what you do is pride, but bragging on what God does is praise!
* Why is it that so many of God’s people are strangely silent when it comes to praise and so vocal when it comes to complaining and negativity? Somehow, it seems that it should be the other way around!
Conclusion: Are you fully trusting in the Lord? In 1876, Edgar Stites penned the words to the hymn Trusting Jesus. The lyrics first appeared as a poem in a newspaper. They were given to Ira Sankey’s partner Dwight L. Moody who asked Sankey to set them to music.
Simply trusting every day,
Trusting through a stormy way;Even when my faith is small,
Trusting Jesus, that is all.Trusting as the moments fly,
Trusting as the days go by;
Trusting Him what e’er befall,
Trusting Jesus, that is all.Brightly does His Spirit shine
Into this poor heart of mine;
While He leads I cannot fall;
Trusting Jesus, that is all.Singing if my way is clear,
Praying if the path be drear;
If in danger for Him call;
Trusting Jesus, that is all.Trusting Him while life shall last,
Trusting Him till earth be past;
Till within the jasper wall,
Trusting Jesus, that is all.One stanza of Like a River Glorious is particularly appropriate for this message:
Every joy or trial falleth from above,
Traced upon our dial by the Sun of Love;
We may trust Him fully all for us to do.
They who trust Him wholly find Him wholly true.
Are you fully trusting in the Lord? Fully trusting the Lord brings joy, blessing, victory, and praise. The Bible is a mighty handy Tool the Lord has given to us. What a shame It is oft-neglected as a Tool God wants us to use in our lives! We must learn to use the Word of God as God intended.
Remember, a good mechanic or carpenter knows which tool he needs for a particular job. He also knows where that tool is kept. There is no random searching of the tool chest for him, because he knows which tool he needs and where it is. In the same way, the Word of God is the Tool to trust in the time of need. There should be no random searching of the Scriptures for the Christian in times of need. He should know which tool is needed and where it is kept.
By: Pastor Dan Parton
Preached on October 10, 2010
Timberline Baptist Church
512 Canon Avenue
Manitou Springs, Colorado 80829
E-mail: danparton@timberlinebaptist.org
Web site: http://timberlinebaptist.org
