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After the Battle
Psalm 21 is a song of joy and praise. It celebrates the king’s rejoicing in Yahweh’s strength, thanks Yahweh for answered prayer and blessing, and ends by exalting Yahweh’s power over enemies.
Understanding the passage
Read these words in context
This passage is presented as poetry and song. The words speak about the king, Yahweh’s salvation, blessings, life, honour, trust, judgement on enemies, and a closing commitment to sing and praise Yahweh’s power. The psalm moves from thanksgiving into confidence about Yahweh’s strength.
Psalms 21:1–13Main takeaway
This psalm teaches that the king’s joy, safety, honour and victory are all spoken of as coming from Yahweh’s strength and salvation.
Explore the poem and its images
Open a card to explore the full explanation and its Bible references.
01Joy in Yahweh’s strengthThe psalm begins with the king rejoicing, not first in himself, but in Yahweh’s strength and salvation.
Explanation
The psalm begins with the king rejoicing, not first in himself, but in Yahweh’s strength and salvation. That sets the main focus for the whole song. The king’s gladness is linked to what Yahweh has done. Salvation here is presented as Yahweh’s saving help, and the king openly celebrates it.
02Yahweh gives blessing, life and honourThe next lines describe Yahweh answering the king’s desire and request. Yahweh meets him with “blessings of goodness”, gives him a crown, grants life, and lays honour and majesty on him.
Explanation
The next lines describe Yahweh answering the king’s desire and request. Yahweh meets him with “blessings of goodness”, gives him a crown, grants life, and lays honour and majesty on him. The king is also made glad with joy in Yahweh’s presence. The psalm keeps naming Yahweh as the giver of these gifts.
03Trust and loving kindnessVerse 7 gives an important reason for the king’s security. The king trusts in Yahweh, and through the loving kindness of the Most High he shall not be moved.
Explanation
Verse 7 gives an important reason for the king’s security. The king trusts in Yahweh, and through the loving kindness of the Most High he shall not be moved. In this song, stability is connected with trust in Yahweh and with his loving kindness. The verse states confidence without explaining every circumstance.
04Enemies judged, Yahweh praisedThe final part turns to Yahweh’s enemies in strong judgement language. The psalm says Yahweh’s hand will find them, their evil plans will not succeed, and they will turn back before his power.
Explanation
The final part turns to Yahweh’s enemies in strong judgement language. The psalm says Yahweh’s hand will find them, their evil plans will not succeed, and they will turn back before his power. The closing response is worship: “Be exalted, Yahweh”, followed by singing and praise for his strength and power.
Questions to explore
Pause, look back at the verses and talk together.
01What does the king rejoice in at the start of the psalm?
Look closely at whether the joy is centred on the king’s own strength or on Yahweh’s strength and salvation.
02Which gifts and blessings in the middle of the psalm are said to come from Yahweh?
List the words the psalm uses, such as desire, blessing, crown, life, honour, majesty and joy in Yahweh’s presence.
03Why do the enemies’ plans fail in this psalm?
Notice that the passage says they intended and plotted evil, but also says Yahweh’s hand finds them and their plans cannot succeed.
Read the Bible passage
World English Bible ClassicScripture quotation · Public domain
Psalms 21:1–13
1The king rejoices in your strength, Yahweh! How greatly he rejoices in your salvation!
2You have given him his heart’s desire, and have not withheld the request of his lips. Selah.
3For you meet him with the blessings of goodness. You set a crown of fine gold on his head.
4He asked life of you and you gave it to him, even length of days forever and ever.
5His glory is great in your salvation. You lay honor and majesty on him.
6For you make him most blessed forever. You make him glad with joy in your presence.
7For the king trusts in Yahweh. Through the loving kindness of the Most High, he shall not be moved.
8Your hand will find out all of your enemies. Your right hand will find out those who hate you.
9You will make them as a fiery furnace in the time of your anger. Yahweh will swallow them up in his wrath. The fire shall devour them.
10You will destroy their descendants from the earth, their posterity from among the children of men.
11For they intended evil against you. They plotted evil against you which cannot succeed.
12For you will make them turn their back, when you aim drawn bows at their face.
13Be exalted, Yahweh, in your strength, so we will sing and praise your power.