Psalm 21:1-13
1 O
Lord, in your strength the king rejoices,
and in your salvation how greatly he exults!
2 You
have given him his heart’s desire
and have not withheld the request of his lips. Selah
3 For
you meet him with rich blessings;
you set a crown of fine gold upon his head.
4 He
asked life of you; you gave it to him,
length of days forever and ever.
5 His
glory is great through your salvation;
splendor and majesty you bestow on him.
6 For
you make him most blessed forever;
you make him glad with the 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 moved.
8 Your
hand will find out all your enemies;
your right hand will find out those who hate you.
9 You
will make them as a blazing oven
when you appear.
The Lord will swallow them up in his wrath,
and fire will consume them.
10 You
will destroy their descendants from the earth,
and their offspring from among the children of man.
11 Though
they plan evil against you,
though they devise mischief, they will not succeed.
12 For
you will put them to flight;
you will aim at their faces with your bows.
13 Be
exalted, O Lord, in your strength!
We will sing and praise your power.
"This psalm not only offers thanks to God for Israel's king but also encourages him with promises of the Lord's blessing. Part of our Christian responsibility, as this psalm and St Paul remind us, is to offer thanksgiving and petitions on behalf of our ruling authorities. Failing to do so is an act of ingratitude. The Scriptures testify throughout that God establishes and uses the various governments of the world not only to serve His people's earthly needs, but even to further the spread of the Gospel." TLSB
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