Victory Parade

You don’t have to wonder where I’ll be on the first Monday night of December. I’m lining Wayne Road with my fellow Hardin Countians for the annual Christmas Parade. I’m sure there are higher-budget productions in other parts of the country, but I’ll take the marching bands and church choirs, the fire trucks, local business floats, and souped-up lawnmowers, and kids running out into the streets to pick up Jolly Ranchers. It’s a feel-good moment for the whole community.

The setting of Royal Psalm 21 is also a parade—a victory parade! In Psalm 20, which we read yesterday, the king rode off to battle, trusting in God for salvation. In Psalm 21, the king returns victorious. Think of David leading a parade through Jerusalem, people cheering, candy flying, and everyone ending at the tabernacle to give thanks to God. But a few statements are also a bit “too big” to fit David. In v4, for instance, God not only spared the king’s life, but gave him “length of days forever and ever.” It’s a clue that King David’s victory is a little picture of the ultimate victory of the coming Messiah.

When most ancient kings rode in from war, they pounded their chests, boasting in their strength and success. But David rejoices in Yahweh, who saved him in his day of trouble (1). God gave David his heart’s desire by vanquishing his enemies, meeting him with rich blessings, setting a crown of fine gold on his head (2–3). In the worst of the fight, David cried to Yahweh for life, and God answered abundantly (3). God has bestowed splendor and majesty on him, made his glory great through his salvation. Best of all is the Father-son relationship that King David enjoys with the Lord: “For you make him most blessed forever; you make him glad with the joy of your presence (6).”

Why did Yahweh lavish his king with such blessing? Simple: “For the king trusts in Yahweh (7).” The Most High’s “steadfast love” makes David confident that “he shall not be moved” in the future (7). As he vividly describes in v8–12, God will deal with every last one of his enemies. So the king leads the people in humble praise: “Be exalted, O Yahweh, in your strength! We will sing and praise your power.”

By the time the New Testament begins, God’s people have been waiting a long time for a victory parade like this. But at Christmas, King Jesus rode into battle, trusting in Yahweh. In the Garden of Gethsemane, he made known the desire of his heart: “That they may see me in my glory (John 17:24).” But that required the King to receive the punishment God’s enemies deserve in our place. At the cross, Jesus clothed himself in our sins and was made like a blazing oven; God’s wrath swallowed him up so that there would be none left for us; that’s what Paul means when he says that God made Jesus a “propitiation” for us (Rom 3:25).” But even as darkness fell on him, King Jesus cried out to God for life. And three days later, God granted him the desires of his heart! The evil that his enemies plotted against him did not succeed. The King triumphed!

When you trust in Jesus, you share in his victory, and you can join his song. You get the salvation he won. You get the crown he earned. You get the endless life of his resurrection. You get the benefit of a King whose prayers for us are always answered! You are blessed forever in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus. You can be glad in the joy of God’s presence today and forever because our King came at Christmas. Rejoice in his strength today! In Christ, we will never be moved.

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Article by Eric Smith
Senior Pastor, Sharon Baptist Church