PSALM TWENTY ONE

BE THOU EXALTED! 
THE MOST HIGH. 
 
   It is suggested that this psalm was David's song of victory after
his battle with the Ammonites (2 Samuel 12.26-31.). It is undoubtedly a
Messianic Psalm. Some of the expressions in it cannot be applied to
David himself. Christ is the end and perfection of the kingdom of
David. It is interesting to note that in Britain our State Church uses
this psalm on Ascension Day. 
   In the first seven verses there are seven propositions on the
Almightiness of our God. These are they:- 
   1. THE POWER OF THE MOST HIGH. "The king shall joy in Thy strength." 
Messiah shall joy in the strength of Jehovah. Strength, as the word is
used here, implies Might and Power. Our Lord Jesus Christ said, "All
power is given unto me." 
   2. THE PROVIDENCE OF THE MOST HIGH. "Thou hast given him his heart's
desire."  You have SENT him his heart's desire. There are two phrases
in beautiful contrast in verse 2: "Heart's desire" - a silent
wish..and.."Request of his lips" - a spoken prayer. Both have currency
with God. 
   3. THE PREPARATION OF THE MOST HIGH. "Thou preventest him."  It does
not mean 'hinder', but that God goes before and prepares blessings of
goodness. Here is a pre-prepared prosperity in God. 
   4. THE PERPETUITY OF THE MOST HIGH. "Thou gavest him everlasting
days."  David asked for life...for many were the occasions when his
life was in jeopardy. God gave him length of days and he died in peace.
The Lord Jesus had no need to ask for eternal life for himself. He asks
for perpetuity for us. 
   5. THE PROTECTION OF THE MOST HIGH. "His glory is thy great
salvation."  God's greatest Glory is in Redemption - Salvation -
Deliverance - help. The war is not over until the last battle, and in
the end our God will triumph. 
   6. THE PROSPERITY OF THE MOST HIGH. "Thou hast made him blessed for
ever."  Blessedness is the greatest prosperity. The blessing of the
Lord makes rich - and He addeth no sorrow with it. His blessedness
takes you through all depression whether it be physical, mental or
economic. 
   7. THE PERMANENCE OF THE MOST HIGH. "Through the mercy of the most
high, he shall not be moved."  There are two important elements in
verse 7 - TRUST and MERCY. We must trust God even when we cannot trace
Him. Our only plea is His Mercy. 
   All that this psalm says about the Messiah is applicable to those
who are IN HIM:- 
   The Power of God ....... is our joy. 
   The Providence of God... meets our hearts desire. 
   The Preparation of God.. opens the way before us. 
   The Perpetuity of God...is our eternal salvation. 
   The Protection of God... is our deliverance. 
   The Prosperity of God... is our blessedness. 
   The Permanence of God... is our stability.



Copyright (c) 1995, Hedley Palmer. All rights reserved.



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