Psalm 21

“The king rejoices in your strength, Lord. How great is his joy in the victories you give!” (1). Israel’s kings were not meant to lead like ordinary human rulers. Their blessings – crowns, wealth, long life (2-6) – came directly from the Lord, just as God gave King Solomon extraordinary wisdom. Ideally, Israel’s kings modeled faithfulness: rejecting the temptations of idols, obeying the Law, and calling on God for help. “For the king trusts in the Lord; through the unfailing love of the Most High, he will not be shaken (7).

Israel’s kings failed, but our Messiah-King Jesus demonstrated a life of trust and “joy in God’s presence” (6). Following him, we too will not be shaken.