Do you want to be happy? I do and I bet that you do. I and some like me find it is not easy to be happy. Here David writes from his happiness. He writes from his joy, his fulfillment which do not seem to have been his aim yet it came. He rejoiced in that happiness, and his rejoicing was neither passive nor fleeting. It was an inner satisfaction that was very full having happened as a result of God’s doing. Since it happened for David it can happen for us so let us read what he wrote in Psalm 21 and learn from him.
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. 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. (Psalm 21:1-8–ESV)
David speaks to the Lord
David wrote this to God. We are merely observers into his thoughts, but those thoughts were very good. David’s life had become something excellent. That excellence was felt; David rejoiced in it.
Good comes from the Lord – or – God did for David
God gave the victories.
The desires of David’s heart were granted.
God did not hold back but was generous to David.
God was welcoming to David and that was expressed with a richness of blessing. God was exuberant to David all the way to the kingship. David was given a crown and not merely a symbolic one. The crown was rich; it was made from gold.
David had asked for life. God gave and not just a little. He went over and above.
God gave victory to David and David came into great glory, splendor and majesty.
David expressed faith that these things would continue for ever and ever. David was to be glad because God would be near.
David continued to speak of his ongoing trust in the Lord. Through that properly placed faith he will continue to stand firm. He will not be shaken from his sturdy place.
Now back to verse one
The verb in verse one is rejoice, but that verb is not saying rejoice so that something good will happen. It is just David telling God what has been happening. It is an expression to God. David was very happy not for his blessings but IN God’s strength. David exults, glories in the salvation David had already known.
David has no question that the victories he had experienced were the result of God’s strength. David rejoiced in that strength. That strength came from God’s character and David rejoiced in that.
Let’s go on our own blessing hunt.
Before we go on a blessing hunt a thing of great importance here is to remember this maxim: Don’t compare yourself to others. David was who David was to be. God had a plan for David and God has a plan for us. The specifics of blessing that came to David are not to be our guide, the dependence upon God is.
So, has God done for me? Absolutely. Do I forget that? Absolutely. I may even have very bleak outlooks despite great blessings.
God gives me victory over the futility of life.
God gives me certainty in the impermanence that is all around.
God gives me strength to address anxiety.
God has given me the truths of scripture.
God has given me health
God has helped me face the sincerity of people of other faiths.
God is my foundation preventing fear over uncertainty of job, money and the future.
These are some of the things that I bank upon. When the winds of trouble blow I do not waver so very much. In reality I bank on these things God has given. Well, I should recognize that they are just that: given.
David said, “The King rejoices in your strength.” I say, “Lane rejoices in your strength.”
Key points from this passage:
- We must live in the present
- A person who lives for God in the present develops a legacy
- A godly legacy shapes
- Our joys
- Our praises
- How others see us
- How others see God–Most important!!
- God’s good things give happiness like nothing else