Thy Strong Word — Psalm 21. Keep praying saints: Rejoicing in the strength and salvation of our LORD.

Rev. Dr. Donald Fondow, President of the LCMS Minnesota North District, joins Rev. Brady Finnern to study and pray Psalm 21.

King David prays after battle. Psalm 20 says, “O LORD, save the king” and Psalm 21 shows that God is victorious. David can not help but rejoice in the LORD’s strength and salvation. The LORD had sustained David and his lineage not only in battle, but in faith in the saving King who has had the victory on the cross. We rejoice in His faithfulness to destroy death and evil that on the last day, the wrath we deserve, has been placed on our Savior, the King. “Lord God, steadfast is Your love in Christ as You have had the victory. Keep us from evil knowing that evil will not win the day. Help us to sing our praises in Your power and in Your power we rest in peace. Lord in Your mercy, Amen”

Thy Strong Word reveals the light of our salvation in Christ through study of God’s Word, breaking our darkness with His redeeming light. Each weekday, two pastors fix our eyes on Jesus by considering Holy Scripture, verse by verse, in order to be strengthened in the Word and be equipped to faithfully serve in our daily vocations.

Thy Strong Word is hosted by Rev. Brady Finnern, pastor of Messiah Lutheran Church in Sartell, MN, and graciously underwritten by the Lutheran Heritage Foundation.

Psalm 21

The King Rejoices in the Lord‘s Strength

To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David.

21 O Lord, in your strength the king rejoices,
    and in your salvation how greatly he exults!
²You have given him his heart’s desire
    and have not withheld the request of his lips. Selah
³For you meet him with rich blessings;
    you set a crown of fine gold upon his head.
⁴He asked life of you; you gave it to him,
    length of days forever and ever.
⁵His glory is great through your salvation;
    splendor and majesty you bestow on him.
⁶For you make him most blessed forever;^[a]
    you make him glad with the joy of your presence.
⁷For the king trusts in the Lord,
    and through the steadfast love of the Most High he shall not be moved.

⁸Your hand will find out all your enemies;
    your right hand will find out those who hate you.
⁹You will make them as a blazing oven
    when you appear.
The Lord will swallow them up in his wrath,
    and fire will consume them.
¹⁰You will destroy their descendants from the earth,
    and their offspring from among the children of man.
¹¹Though they plan evil against you,
    though they devise mischief, they will not succeed.
¹²For you will put them to flight;
    you will aim at their faces with your bows.

¹³Be exalted, O Lord, in your strength!
We will sing and praise your power.

Footnotes

Psalm 21:6 Or make him a source of blessing forever

Rev. Brady Finnern

Rev. Brady Finnern, host of Thy Strong Word. is an expert in all things Minnesota, including hiking the great mountains of the 5th flattest state in the Union and making his own maple syrup. Although chow mein, fried ice cream, and Peanut Persian donuts with maple frosting are at the top of his foodie list, his prized possessions include his gas station refillable fountain soda cup (which, he says, the savings will pay for college for his 4 kids). Pastor Finnern's Divine Call is as President of the LCMS Minnesota North District, and in addition he also enjoys traveling, coaching track, and movie nights with his wife and kids that may or may not include Shawshank Redemption or any of the Thriller movies. When he's not singing his favorite hymns or listening to his favorite metal music, you might find him working out or taking naps. (Probably naps.)