The King and His Kingdom (Psalm #21)

Text: Psalm 21

This Psalm fits the bill of one man, Jesus Christ.  Specifically it fits the Lord Jesus Christ at his coronation as King of kings and Lord of lords.  Right now Jesus Christ is not the King of kings. He is the great High Priest and mediator between God and man.

Your Bible is put in that order.  Jesus Christ as prophet in the gospels.  Jesus Christ as priest in his death, burial, and resurrection from the dead as he is now at the right hand of God the Father.  Then in Revelation he is crowned King of kings and Lord of lords and returns to rule this earth.

Secondly, when Jesus Christ is made King of kings and Lord of lords, apparently there are other kings and lords who will be around.  But Jesus Christ’s distinction is that he is the King of kings and the Lord of lords.

In this Psalm David goes back and forth between himself and Jesus Christ, but the only man this entire Psalm will apply to is the Lord Jesus Christ at his coronation.  This is VERY important to know because many Christian mess up in the scripture when they confuse Jesus Christ the King, but he is not the King of the church. He is the Head of the church.  He is the husband. Only when he returns to reign on this earth will he be king. So let’s consider these things.

Rejoice in God’s salvation (vss 1-2)

  • Salvation of God is where Jesus Christ finds joy and will find joy.
  • Proven when Jesus Christ was in the world
    • He pursued God’s salvation for others earnestly and vigorously with prayer.
    • He pursued God’s salvation for others earnestly and vigorously with suffering.
    • He pursued God’s salvation for others earnestly and vigorously with fasting.
    • He pursued God’s salvation for others earnestly and vigorously with preaching.
    • He pursued God’s salvation for others earnestly and vigorously with teaching.
    • He pursued God’s salvation for others earnestly and vigorously with personal holiness.
  • Christlikeness will include finding joy in God’s salvation.
    • Where is God’s salvation in your prayers?
    • Where is God’s salvation in your sacrifice?
    • Where is God’s salvation in your fasting?
    • Where is God’s salvation in your preaching?
    • Where is God’s salvation in your teaching others?
    • Where is God’s salvation in your personal holiness?

Blessings of goodness (vs 3)

  • Prevent is a way of saying go before or ahead of someone.
  • We say blessings and we think of stuff generally.  But goodness is a blessing more than those things.
  • Goodness is a part of the fruit of the Spirit of God.
  • So the blessings of goodness went before Jesus Christ.  He would have that reputation when he came. Acts 10:38 How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.
  • The other blessings of goodness were the prophecies that went before the Lord Jesus Christ.  He would bring tidings of good news.
    • Isaiah 61:1-4
    • Luke 4:16-21
  • Followed by a crown that Jesus Christ has not yet received.
  • Oftentimes God will prevent a sinner with goodness in order to lead them to salvation.  Romans 2:4 Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?

Possessor of eternal life (vs 4)

  • Notice eternal life is ASKED for.  It is a request.
  • Jesus Christ is eternal life.
    • That means he has the ability to give you his righteousness, then give you a new body patterned after his.
    • I am the way, the truth, and the life…
    • John 3:15-16
    • Romans 6:23 …gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
    • 1 John 5:12
    • Romans 2:7

Glory, honor, and majesty are his (vss 5-7)

  • First when God the Father spoke from heaven – 2 Peter 1:17 For he received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.
  • Then physically Jesus Christ will receive honour and glory
    • Revelation 4:11, 5:12-13 (from Lamb to Lion of tribe of Judah, from priest to King), 19:1, 21:24-26
  • Lastly, all who honoured Jesus Christ in their lives will share in that honour – 1 Peter 1:7-9 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: 8 Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: 9 Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.
  • Notice in verse 7 how trust in the Lord is tied to mercy and stability.

All his enemies are destroyed (vss 8-12)

  • God’s hand
    • Hand of God will arrest the enemies.
    • In another sense the work of God draws the enemy out.
  • Punishment on sin is a fiery end
    • It is not separation from God.
    • Hell is in the earth and will come up one day.  Until then, every so often hell hath enlarged herself.
  • The extinction of God’s enemies
    • Their fruit and the seed are both destroyed so there is no way to continue.
  • The enemies of Jesus Christ will not see it coming
    • God will cause them to turn their back
    • Matthew 24:37
    • 2 Thessalonians 2:10-12

Acceptable music about the Second Coming (vs 13)

  • So will we sing…
  • Songs about Jesus Christ’s return and destroying sin and the enemies of God is acceptable music.
  • In fact, you’ll find several songs about the second coming from Exodus, Judges, Samuel, and the Psalms of course.