Psalm 21 - The Crowned King

 






Lord, similarly to my prayer and reflections on Psalm 20, it isn’t too difficult to use a little sanctified imagination to hear the disciples also praying this psalm. But, this time, it’s the ragtag group of about 120 disciples and followers praying this psalm in the upper room just after they witnessed you ascending into heaven (Acts 1:14).

God, only 50 days earlier, on a hopeless Saturday, they were left wondering how you couldn’t have answered their prayers of psalm 20 when you let the anointed King see defeat at the hands of his enemies. But then, hope returned as you raised the anointed King in victory over the greatest enemies the world has ever known - sin and death.

And then, Jesus, after your resurrection, you opened their minds to the scriptures to see their fulfillment in you (Luke 24:27).

And this brings us, Jesus, to that group of disciples praying in that upper room after your ascension and before the Spirit birthed the church (Acts 2).

As they were huddled together in that prayer meeting, I can hear them praying, “God, you did give Jesus his heart’s desire, You did answer him (v. 2). You have set a crown on his head (v. 3). He asked you for life and length of days, and you gave it to him (v. 4). He has received from You glory and splendor and majesty (v. 5). God, he is truly blessed and has now entered into the joy of Your eternal presence (v. 6).”

And as they continued to pray this psalm, their prayers turned to Jesus and his eventual return, not in humility, but in the ultimate and final victory over all evil that stands in opposition to him. They pray, “Lord, one day you will swallow up all evil in your wrath (v. 9). Though evil is plotted against you, it will not succeed as you will one day destroy every trace of it (v. 11).

They then concluded their prayer time as they proclaimed, “Be exalted, Lord Jesus, in your strength, we will sing and praise your power” (v. 13).

And God, you did come in power among that ragtag group of disciples in that upper room. Your Spirit came upon them and gave them the boldness to do battle with evil by courageously, compellingly, and compassionately proclaiming the resurrected King.

God, let me also praise and proclaim the King of Psalm 21.

Amen

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