Clergy/Leaders’ Mail-list No. 3-147 Sunday 17 Aug 2003

Psalms on Sundays Reading: Psalm 21 – REJOICE IN GOD’S GOODNESS

God is no killjoy! He wants to give us good gifts,(Matt 7:11) and ‘richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment’.(1 Tim 6:17)

A sense of joy permeates this psalm. In the first half (vs 1-6), this is expressed as rejoicing in God’s past goodness to the king. This, of course, benefited the whole nation. In the second half (vs 8-13) it takes the form of confidence in God’s blessing, and his protection in the future. The first half is addressed to God, on behalf of the king, the second is addressed to the king.

The reference to the king’s coronation (v 3) suggests that this psalm may have been written for some anniversary of that event. Verse 4 may support this. The king had asked for ‘life’ vitality, the strength to reign. God had enabled him to have a lengthy and blessed reign (‘for ever and ever’ is conventional court language, meaning ‘for a long time’). (See also Neh 2:3; Dan 2:4)

Christians are sometimes seen as people who can’t, or won’t, enjoy the good things of life. This psalm reminds us that God wants to bless us, and that it is right to enjoy life; however, there are two things that can prevent us enjoying God’s blessings: guilt and ingratitude. We can imagine that we don’t deserve God’s blessing, and so feel guilty about enjoying the good things he gives – not really believing that they come from him for our use. Alternatively, we can take his good gifts for granted and use them selfishly which often spoils enjoyment of them. The answer to both problems is found in verse 7 which links together the two halves of the psalm. It is the recognition that God doesn’t bless us because we deserve it, but because of his unfailing love. This knowledge frees us to enjoy his gifts and is an antidote to ingratitude.

List some of the good gifts with which God has blessed you, and which you enjoy – rejoice in his ‘unfailing love’ for you!

– Ernest Lucas

Copyright Scripture Union, 2003, Encounter with God

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