Well take the word of God please a copy and we'll turn to the psalm 21 we'll read the psalm together and then we'll bring that which the Lord has given to me I'll give to you and so we'll read psalm 21 together to the chief musician it is a psalm of David and we read the words now has given him his heart's desire and is not withholding the request of his lips, Selah. For thou preventest him with the blessings of goodness, thou settest a crown of pure gold on his head. He asked life of thee, and thou givest it him, even length of days forever and ever. His glory is great. in thy salvation, honor and majesty hast thou laid upon him. For thou hast made him more blessed forever, thou hast made him exceeding glad with thy countenance. For the king trusteth in the Lord, and through the mercy of the Most High he shall not be moved. Thine hand shall find out all thine enemies, thy right hand shall find out those that hate thee. Thou shalt make them as a fiery oven in the time of thine anger. The Lord shall swallow them up in his wrath, the fire shall devour them their fruit shalt thou destroy from the earth and their seed from among the children of men for they intended evil against thee they imagine a mischievous device which they are not able to perform therefore shalt thou make them turn their backs When thou shalt make ready thine arrows upon thy strings against the face of them, be thou exalted, Lord, in thine own strength. So will we sing and praise thy power. Amen. And we'll end our reading at the end of the chapter. Having left the fields of Bethlehem behind and faithfully served his king in the royal palace, albeit under the most difficult of working conditions, David has now ascended to the throne of Israel, seen to the reunification of the kingdom under the house of David. David it is from the throne that David the king comes to compose this sacred composition we can say that with some a great degree of certainty because of certain references that are found in the psalm that point to David's royalty or to David's kingship in verse number one David refers to himself as king the king shall rejoice in thy strength, O Lord. In verse 3, the psalmist speaks of a crown. Thou settest a crown of pure gold on his head. In verse 5, we read about honour and majesty hast thou laid upon him. Words that point to one who occupies the office of a king. He's facing that word, majesty. In verse 7, we have clear evidence that David is no longer a shepherd. he's no longer a servant but rather he is a sovereign when he speaks of himself as king again for the king trusteth in the lord and so as we look at this sam we could call it a royal sam and as we do so i want to consider a number of things with you regarding david the king i want you to notice in the first place the king rejoicing the king Rejoicing verse 1 the king shall joy in thy strength. Oh lord and in thy salvation How greatly shall he? Rejoice now kings would have multiple things that they could rejoice in even in David's day kings can rejoice in their wealth and in their possessions crown jewels estates, castles, stately homes, palaces, stables and horses, cars and carriages, art and jewellery, collections and investments when totaled can come to staggering amounts of money. In the Guardian newspaper recently, I don't buy it by the way, King Charles III, they said, had an estimated net worth of some 1.8 billion pounds. Some have suggested that the assets belonging to the British royal family have an estimated worth of some 22.5 billion pounds. And so some kings can rejoice in their wealth, others rejoice in their power and in their authority. Kings do the king's, servants do the king's bidding. Army generals follow their orders. Citizens would have submitted to their commands and such can feed the ego To think that they hold such authority over others can rejoice the heart of a mere mortal man. military might and strength, the more machinery, the disposal of a king can be something that monarchs can rejoice in. The Napoleons and the Alexander, the greats of this world, were men who boasted in their military strength as they conquered nation after nation, spreading their empires far and wide. But here we find a king, King David, who rejoiced in none of these things. But rather we find that David rejoices in God himself, the King. He said, shall joy in thy strength, O Lord, and in thy salvation, how greatly shall he rejoice. Notice two things about God that David comes to rejoice in. He rejoices firstly in the king's or God's strength. The king shall joy in thy strength, O Lord. Divine strength is certainly something that we can rejoice in. It's certainly something that we need our lives strength to meet the challenges of the day and the battles that we face in all of our personal lives it was a putting forth of divine strength that saw this universe put into its place. Divine strength would see the children of Israel safely through the Red Sea and the River Jordan. Divine strength would see to the destruction of Jericho's battlements, to the sustaining of the three Hebrew boys in the fiery furnace that upheld the Son of God as he gave himself to the task of securing eternal redemption for his people. It's no anemic, it's no powerless God that we come to rejoice in tonight. He is the almighty God. Our foes at best are mighty, but the Lord is almighty. And tonight, as David rejoiced in the strength of God, so we can rejoice in God's strength. The strength that is limitless and one that has rescued us from eternal destruction. David comes to rejoice not only in god's strength, but also in god's salvation in thy salvation He said how greatly shall he rejoice now the salvation that david speaks off here is probably undoubtedly some deliverance That david had experienced on the field of battle some enemy that he had went out against and God had gotten him the victory. However, David, the godly man that he was, I believe would also have rejoiced in the spiritual salvation that he had come to experience in his life as we do. What greater joy What brings greater joy to the heart of the child of God than to know that their past is forgiven and that their future is certain? All because of God's salvation. We rejoice in the fact that our names are written in heaven. That's what the Savior said. Rejoice not that the spirits are subject unto you, but rather rejoice in the fact that your name is written in heaven and whenever comes to rejoicing in salvation you know the believer has many aspects of salvation that they can rejoice in the child of god can rejoice in the very origin of salvation salvation as we said on sunday night does not originate with man and man's goodness or his morality or in his any commendable deed performed by him but rather salvation finds its origin in the eternal purpose of God. God according to Ephesians chapter 1 verses 4 and 5 has chosen us in him before the foundation of the world that we should be holy and without blame before him in love having predestinated us onto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself according to the good pleasure of his will this is where our salvation the origin of salvation finds itself in the good pleasure of God's well it was of his good pleasure that He has redeemed us, that He has rescued us, that He has delivered us from the hand of the enemy. One preacher said about the origin of salvation, he said the origin of salvation is found in the sovereign goodness and unmerited compassion and favor of God. Man did not deserve it. He had no equitable title to it, never solicited it. God beheld him as an outcast. pitied him and condescended to save him. We can rejoice in the origin of salvation. God ordained it. Child of God can rejoice in the securing of salvation. Although that requires suffering, though that required ignominy and death on the part of the Son of God, Yet we can rejoice in the fact that the captain of our salvation has paid the full price for our sins. Since God secured salvation, then we can be assured that what he secured on our behalf is solid. It's enduring, and thank God it's permanent. And in that we can rejoice tonight that the price has been paid, and the work has been done, and the atonement has been made, the securing of salvation. We can rejoice in that. We can rejoice in the fact of the application of salvation. Oh, it's nothing third-hand that we're talking about tonight. We're talking about something that we've experienced. God applying salvation to our hearts. The Christian comes to rejoice when salvation is applied to the soul. Before this occurs, salvation is but a distant hope, but now salvation has been applied to the believer and they rejoice in the fact that they have come to experience God's salvation. I trust tonight that you're rejoicing in God's salvation. We trust you're not enduring it, but you're enjoying it. The application of its salvation, redemption has been applied to you by the Spirit of God. Oh, there is rejoicing in this, that he has not passed you by, that he has not cast you off, that tonight you're not having lived, having then died without a saving interest in Jesus Christ, that you would be in hell and in its torment, but rather rejoice that salvation has been applied, redemption has been applied to your soul and to your heart, that you're a child of the King. Rejoice in this tonight. This is where the psalmist begins. He begins not in the doldrums, but rather he begins rejoicing, rejoicing in salvation. There's where you'll find your rejoicing, child of God. You'll not find your rejoicing in the news headlines tomorrow. You'll not find your rejoicing maybe in your circumstances within your family, within the workplace, but you'll find your rejoicing in the fact that you're pardoned, that you're forgiven, that you're reconciled to God, that you're a member of God's family, that your past has been blotted out, your future is certain and sure, your place in heaven is guaranteed. Rejoice, child of God. Rejoice in God's salvation. Rejoice in the benefits of salvation. What rejoicing enters the life when the guilt and shame of sin is removed, its condemnation is passed, the bondage of sin is broken, the servitude of Satan is ended. Gospel light floods into the darkened as understanding. Peace floods the soul. Happy day, happy day when Jesus washed. my sins away. That's the testimony of the child of God who's rejoicing. I am child of God. You can rejoice in the end or the consummation of salvation. Beloved, this isn't the end. This is only the beginning. It's, as it were, the first installment of salvation, what you're presently experiencing. It's only the beginning. We're still to see the face of God. We're still to dwell in His presence. We're still to sing His praise. We're still to serve Him day and night in His temple. We're still to bask forever in His light. We're still to dwell with Him in heaven with a glorified body that will never sin again. This is the consummation. This is the end of our salvation. What joy awaits us when we get home. Therefore, rejoice. And so away with all the gloom and the melancholy spirit and the despair. Child of God, rejoice. Rejoice in the fact that your name is written in heaven. Take a leaf out of Habakkuk's book. Rejoice in the God of your salvation tonight. This is where the king begins. This is his joy. Not in his wealth or his palaces. not in his military prowess or the lands that he conquered, but rather he rejoices in the strength and in the salvation of God. And so we find the king rejoicing. Not only do we find the king rejoicing in the psalm, notice that we find the king praying in the psalm. Though David was a king, David was not so proud that he refused to humble himself before God and pray. In verse two, God is said to have given to David his heart's desire and has not withholden the requests of his lips. The language there at the end of that verse number two suggests that David had gone in before God to pray and laid before God certain requests. David, like every genuine Christian, knew the value of prayer because David knew the blessing of answered prayer. Notice that his requests were granted. God had not withholden the request off his lips. Oh, that that would be our testimony tonight, as we come before God and as we lay our request before Him, that we would leave this house assured that God has not withholden the request of our lips. Here's a king praying. Would to God that our king would pray. Would to God that our rulers would pray. If only they would, maybe we wouldn't be in the moral or economic or political mess that we're presently in. But brethren and sisters, if the king feels to pray, we should not feel to obey the counsel given to us by Paul in 1 Timothy 2 verses 1 to 3, to pray for those who are in authority over us. with Nero ruling as the Roman Emperor. Paul wrote these words, I exhort therefore that first of all supplications, prayers, intercessions and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and for all that are in authority that we might lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty, for this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior. Did we do that today? Did we pray for our king? Did we pray for our queen? Did we pray for the house of Windsor? Did we pray for our prime minister and his cabinet? Did we pray for judges and all who enforce the law? Did we pray for their salvation? Did we pray that they might rule righteously? Did we pray that they might be guided by the word of God in all of their decisions? Praying that we might, under them, lead a quiet and a peaceable life. Here we find the king praying. And if our king doesn't pray, let us pray. Let us pray for his salvation. I suppose we could ask, well, what did David pray for? Well, look at the verse number four, because it gives us one of the king's petitions. It says there, he asked life of thee and thou givest it him even length of days forever and ever. Now whether this petition was asked from a bed of sickness, or whilst David was standing on a battlefield, we're not told. But obviously it seems that his life was under threat. But life is what he comes to ask God for. And God gives it to him. Now notice it, child of God. He gives it to him in abundance, because that's what our God does. Because David, he asked for life in verse number four. And notice what it says. And thou gavest it him even length of days forever and ever. Albert Barnes made this comment. It is by no means an uncommon thing that God gives us more than we ask in our prayers. The offering of prayer is not only the means of securing the blessing which we asked, but also often of securing much more important blessings which we did not ask. Here he asks for length, he asks for life, and God gives to him length of days forever and ever. Now you might be saying, well, does 1 Chronicles 29 not speak of David's death? And it does. Read in 1 Chronicles 29 verse 28 that David died in a good old age full of days, riches and honor and Solomon his son reigned in his stead. And so how could David have died and for this statement in verse number four to be still true that God gave to him length of days forever and ever? Well it can be true. because the Christian life doesn't end at the grave. In fact, life for the Christian only begins at the grave. David's soul departed this world at death, but his soul has continued to exist in heaven as part of that company referred to in the book of Hebrews with the spirits of just men made perfect. David came at death. to dwell in the house of the Lord forever, as he wrote about in Psalm 23. And so length of days forever and ever is David's present and is his future portion. God has given him length of days forever and ever. And beloved, this will be our portion. Length of days. Forever and ever. This is what we're headed for after death. I don't know about you, but the longer that I live in the world, the more I'm looking forward to getting home. As we see God granting David his request in a manner that really exceeded his asking. All he asked was for life. But God gives him more than that. He gives him length of days forever and ever. As we see God granting David his requests in a manner that exceeded his asking, then we are encouraged to know that whenever we come to pray, God can answer our prayers in a similar way because he is able to do exceeding abundantly. Above all, we ask or think according to the power that worketh in us. Let us not then limit the Lord tonight as we come to pray. The King rejoicing, the King praying. Thirdly, the keen trusting, the keen trusting. In verse seven, we read, for the keen trusteth in the Lord, and through the mercy of the Most High, he shall not be moved. David's trust was not in himself, or in his friends, and his counselors, or in his armies, but David's trust was firmly in the Lord. The word trust, it signifies dependence, Reliance, confidence. Herein is my confidence. My confidence is in the Lord. David had obviously come to the conclusion that there was no one more worthy of his trust than God himself, who is altogether trustworthy. And so we find him here putting his trust entirely, his trust exclusively in the Lord. For the king trusteth in the Lord. Repeatedly, we are encouraged to put our trust in the Lord. Psalm 62 verse 8, trust in him at all times. Speaking of the Lord, trust in him at all times. Pour out your heart before him. God is a refuge for us. Selah. Psalm 115 verse 11. Ye that fear the Lord, trust in the Lord. He is their help and their shield. Psalm 118 verses 8 and 9, it is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man. It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in princes. Proverbs 3 verse 5, trust in the Lord with all thine heart and lean not on to thine own understanding. Isaiah 50 verse 10, who is among you that feareth the Lord, that obeyeth the voice of his servant, that walketh in darkness and hath no light? Let him trust in the name of the Lord and stay upon his God. Here's the question to ask yourself tonight, a question that comes to us from Isaiah chapter 36 verse 5. On whom dost thou trust? On whom dost thou trust? The child of God is able to say, I trust in God. I trust in God the Father, and God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. Beloved, as we trust in the triune God, we trust in Him whose power will never be exhausted, whose love will never cease, whose kindness will never change, whose faithfulness will never be withdrawn, whose wisdom will never be faulty, and whose goodness can never know a decrease. If David could trust in the Lord, so can we. And since he is worth the trusting, let us endeavor to do then all that we can and all in our power to bring others to trust in him too. Having trusted in him ourselves for life and for death and eternity, let us do all in our power to introduce others to him, and encourage them and exhort them to trust in him too. Trust in the one in whom I have trusted in. One final thought this evening regarding David the king. Notice the king singing and praising. With trust firmly placed in the Lord, David is convinced that God's enemies would soon be routed by him. This belief, David, he comes to express in the closing verses off the psalm, particularly the verses 8 through to the verse number 12. And you can read those verses again at a later date. Fully convinced that God would ultimately triumph over his foes, David expects that soon his mourning would be turned into singing and praising God as he exhibited his power over his enemies. He says in the closing verse, so well we sing. and praise thy power. You see, the rejoicing of the heart that we read about in verse number one, as the king rejoiced and rejoiced in the Lord, the rejoicing of the heart comes to express itself on the lips of the psalmist. It reaches from the heart to the lips. And there he rejoices and sings of God's power You know, there are times when God manifests His power in our lives. There are other times that He comes and He manifests and displays His mercy or His grace. Or maybe there's times that He manifests His wisdom. Maybe it's His patience or His longsuffering. Maybe at times it's His fatherly care of us. Or maybe he comes to display his holiness, or his justice, or his truth, or his goodness. But whatever attribute, whatever perfection he chooses to exhibit in our lives, that should be the chief subject of his children's praise. Here David has seen the power of God in the defeat of his enemies, and thus he sings of his power. And thus, whatever attribute God displays or manifests to us in our personal lives, that we should praise God for. Let me explain it. Brother, sister, did you experience God's grace in your life this week? Well, if you did, then praise Him tonight for that grace. But maybe it wasn't grace. Maybe God preserved your life this week. Well then, praise him tonight for his preserving hand on your life. Or maybe it was his forgiveness you experienced. You feel the Lord. Well, why not tonight praise him for that forgiveness? Or maybe he was patient towards you throughout the week. Well then, praise him for his patience. Or maybe he provided for you in the past week. Why not praise him for his provision? Whatever way God has shown himself to you in the past seven days, whatever way God has shown himself to you in the last 24 hours, praise God for it when we get to prayer. Thank him for it. As Robert Hockner considered this concluding verse in the verse, the chapter 21, he wrote this comment in his Bible commentary. He said, a beautiful close. to this most glorious psalmist here, in which the church offers up a joyful acclamation to her sovereign Redeemer, that being now exalted in his own strength and having gotten himself the victory, and a name being given to him above every name, all the ransomed of Zion, the whole church of God redeemed ones, shout aloud his praises, devotedly bend the knee, the heart, the whole soul before him, And with one heart and one tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Amen. So will we sing and praise thy power. May faith rise in these hearts of ours. And let our prayers reflect that as we praise God for what he is. and what he has yet to do in our lives. The King, the King rejoicing, the King praying, the King trusting, the King singing and praising, all that we who have been made kings and priests unto God, that we too would be found rejoicing, praying, trusting, and then singing and praising God for answers to our prayers. May God strengthen our faith as we have found ourselves under the means of grace once again in the house of God. Let's bow our heads in prayer together. If you want to stand, let's stand and change your position. Our gracious Father and our loving God, how glad we are that we have a God who answers prayer, the one who is not withholding the requests of our lips. We thank thee for thy word, and we pray that as we have watched and viewed the King, the King rejoicing, the King praying, him trusting, him singing and praising, may we follow after our great King, who himself rejoiced, even knowing the joy that was set before him, He would endure the cross. He who prayed in Gethsemane's garden. He who trusted in his God. He who sings over us with singing. As we read in the book of Malachi. Oh may we follow after our great king. And may even we leave this house rejoicing that God has heard and that God has answered our prayers. Lord come now and help us as we soon get around the throne of grace. We pray these are prayers. through the same.